What's in a Name?
NOTE FROM MRS. BOWLES: Students from the Level Two Academic Writing and Grammar class were asked to write about their name. Here are their essays.
Batmunkh Yansanjav, Mongolia.
Charles Ouedraogo, Burkino Faso.
Lucero Quiroz, Colombia.
Maki Hosoda, Japan.
Ryohei Tanaka, Japan.
Marília Gabriela do Nascimento Gimenes, Brazil.
Kanae Saito, Japan.
Issoufou Tahirou, Niger.
Strong, Powerful, Everlasting.
By Batmunkh Yansanjav
My name is Batmunkh Yansanjav. I came from Ulan Bator, Mongolia.
My name has very interesting history. A long time ago there was a soldier whose name was Batmunkh. He lived about 1162 to 1227. He was a great solder of Genghis Khan, who was the greatest and angriest king in the world. In addition, histories by some people say that he saved Genghis Khan two times.
This name has a very interesting meaning. "Bat" means strong and powerful. "Munkh" means forever and everlasting. That's why my father named me Batmunkh. My great grandfather's name was Batmunkh. He wanted me be strong, smart and powerful.
I like my name a lot. Because there are not many people who have my name. In my opinion, every name has important meaning. I think we have to respect each other's names.
That Special Feeling.
By Issoufou Tahirou
I always feel something special when I hear someone call me Issoufou. I feel good because I like my name.
Some times I feel nervous when the Americans have problems to say my name. Most Americans can't remember my name. If they can do that, the pronunciation is wrong. I really understand that because most Americans have never heard about my name.
Some of my friends call me "Fu","Su",or just "E" because my name starts with "I", which means "E" in French. I feel bad if they call me those nicknames that I don't like.
In Niger, my country, everybody knows how to say my name just because they know what my name means. Something I like here is when I say my name to new friends and they go "what?" I just smile and say it again.
Now all my friends know how to say my name. I really like the way they pronounce it.
Someone's Wish is Realized.
By Kanae Saito
My name is "Kanae", which has a special meaning in Japanese. "Kanae" means "someone’s wish is realized."
My grandmother gave me the name; however, my father made the name have a special meaning. He really wanted a daughter when my mother was expecting me. My father told my future with cards about the distinction of sex. The cards were not serious. It was partly for fun and something like a game.
The cards told him "daughter," and then I was born. My father thought that his dream was realized. My name "Kanae" already granted my father’s wish.
Grandmother and the Journalist.
By Marília Gabriela do Nascimento Gimenes
I have a long name! It's Marilia Gabriela do Nascimento Gimenes!
My mom always thought if she had a girl, she'd give her the name of my great- grandmother, Marilia, but when I was born, a famous jornalist was starting a T.V. show in Brazil and her name was Marlia Gabriela. Then my mom decided to give me two names: Marilia and Gabriela! She asked my dad if he agreed and he did!
My family name is Nascimento Gimenes. Nascimento is my mom's family name and Gimenes is dad's family name. They always call me by my name "Gabi". I'd like to use Marilia more times, but my hearing is automatically tuned to answer to Gabi!
My name is very important to me because it's the first direction in my life.
Good and Equal.
By Ryohei Tanaka
My name is Ryohei Tanaka. I am from Japan. My name has a special meaning.
My name was created by my parents. One day, I asked my father what was the meaning of my name, and he said, "Ryo" which means good and "hei" which means equal. In addition, "hei" has another meaning that includes the word for peace in Japanese. My father did not tell me which meaning is for my name. As the result, my name is really good for me.
I would like to keep my name forever because this is the only name my parents gave me.
Did You Call Me Mao?
By Maki Hosoda
My name is not common. My parents gave me the name Maki, and my family name is Hosoda, which is also the name of my small town. It is also my family's name. You can easily find my phone numbers in telephone book if you want to know.
My first name is why some people often misspell my name in Japan. The reason is because the Chinese character of my first name is difficult to read for some people, and not common. Therefore, they have often called me Mao. First time, they never read Maki.
When I entered elementary school, junior high school, and high school, my teachers looked at the Chinese character in my name, then called me Mao. I have experienced this many times, but I don't care. I like my name because it isn't common or just a common name.
A Big Star.
By Lucero Quiroz
My name has a special meaning in Colombia, but I don’t know if it’s equal in other countries. My name is Lucero, and this word is the name of a big star.
I don’t have many traditions about the names, but I have a nice story that my mother always tells. Many years ago my dad had a frustration dream. He wanted to have a daughter because he loved his mother so much. My father felt so sad. At that moment, he had three beautiful boys, so he thought that maybe he would never have a girl.
One day my mother told him that she was pregnant, and he felt really exited and thought that his dream was coming true. Two months before my birth my parents knew that the baby was a girl. That night my dad invited my mother to a special dinner in a luxury restaurant. They were very happy and talked about the baby all night, but they didn’t choose the name.
After dinner, they walked for long time, and before they came inside our home, my dad looked at the sky for few minutes, and he saw a big star. Then he said that the best name for our daughter is Lucero because she will be a light in our life. My mother was in accord about name, and I know that she really likes my name.
I love this story, and when I talk about my name, I always remember my mother, dad, and brothers. I hope to have a story for my children’s name because I want to have something to tell them forever.
A Beautiful Discovery.
By Charles Ouedraogo
When I was a child, I did not like my name Charles. First of all, I thought that my name was very hard to say, and I wanted to change it.
After that, I had a nickname Papis, and people always used it. Then, when I said my name, they were surprised because it was a common name. In addition, I also liked names such as Patrick or John. People’s pronunciation of my name sounded good to me when I came to the United States.
Finally, I love my name, and I just found out that it is a beautiful name. Since I got here, I don’t think about Patrick or John any more.