Rose

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The name I have now is not the name I have on my birth certificate. It’s very similar. But on my birth certificate, I only have one middle name. Now, I have two.

When I was young, I told my parents that I wanted one of my middle names to be Rose. I can’t remember this conversation, and I don’t know how old I was when I made this request. But I suppose I was particularly insistent, or perhaps I simply started including Rose when telling people my name, because when I started school the name I was enrolled under included Rose as one of my middle names. It surprises me now, actually, knowing myself better, and the manner in which I flit from one enthusiasm to another, that I retained the desire to be called Rose for so long.

I’ve continued to use Rose all my life, and every piece of ID I own has all four of my names (which, in this state at least, makes Rose legally part of my name, despite the birth certificate’s evidence to the contrary.)

I find it very empowering to have a name which I chose for myself, even though I can’t remember the circumstances or inspirations behind my choice. It reminds me of societies that give their children several names - a public name for everyone to use, a family name, and a secret name, whispered in their ear, which is their true soul name, for them alone. Now I’ve written that, I can’t remember if there are any cultures who have such a practice, or if this is something fictional I’ve read somewhere and taken to heart.

I hope that if my children ever want to change or make an addition to their name, I will support their decision and allow them the gift of choosing one of their own names. Then again, I have been planning to give any future children of mine enormously lengthy appellations, with at least two middle names. Perhaps they’ll be wanting to remove one, rather than make an addition.

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Filed under childhood, language, names