What's in a Name- An Expression

A name is a person’s “very first thing”. Bestowed by a parent or caretaker, one’s name is the pivot of one’s identity. “I am……”

The naming of someone is never taken lightly. There are months of discussion, books on name-meanings. Names are chosen for their connotations and for their sounds, to establish connection to others, to establish connection to heritage and to self.
To my knowledge and from what records indicate I was not given a name at birth. I was called “Peggy” by nurses during my six months at the adoption agency. Then, upon my adoption, I was “officially” named.

My adoptive parents suffered terrible losses trying to have a child of their own- five miscarriages, with the fifth nearly claiming my adoptive mother’s life. My adoptive name- Joy- is an expression of their happiness at becoming, at last, parents.

My parents’ families have long traditions of naming children “after” someone who came before. I don’t know that I would feel good being named from a genealogy that isn’t mine. My name is true to who I am in relation to my parents. My name is mine and I’m ok with it.

What is the story of YOUR name, and would you have it otherwise if you could?