Ever pondered on the question, 'how does your name define you?' If you're among those bestowed with unique names like Salmon or Rogue, you may become the butt of jokes by friends, and grow up resenting that. Fret not, though, because such names have meanings.
Salmon actually refers to a person in the Hebrew Bible. Rogue, on the other hand, may mean savage or unpredictable, but for Marvel Universe fans, she's an X-men member who can absorb other people's thoughts & abilities through physical contact. Rogue's real name happens to be Anna Marie, and Anna is Hebrew for graceful. There are a lot of Annas in the world, and many of them certainly possess Grace.
In similar fashion, feminine sounding names like Hazel, Ella (which may be short for Gabriella or Isabella), may define girls given such names. If you were named Theodora, whose meaning/origin is Greek 'gift of God' or the male counterpart Theodore or Theo, like the British heartthrob of "Divergent" and "Insurgent" fame, then thank your lucky stars. Being named Theo brings to many people's mind the handsome face of the popular actor Theo James. Theodore is also associated with god & saints.
If you're mulling over baby names that'll be associated with greatness, with the hope that your child may tread a similar path, some of the top trending gender-bending names are Jordan or Ali, which is Arabic for 'exalted. Names with Biblical origins/meanings, like Shiloh; colors like Scarlett; or places like Brooklyn have also become hot.
There are lots of other very popular names, thanks to films featuring memorable characters, like Alfie, Beatrice or Tris, Katniss, and more. Individuals who were given these names in recent months may have the advantage of higher recall, but will these names define them? Being named Ellen, which means light, may not make you a shining beacon for countless people, unless maybe you're Ellen DeGeneres.
Kids named after Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg may not grow up exploiting their inner drive ir tapping into their 'creator' instincts. Though some actually try to emulate their namesake. Which leads back to the question, How does your name define you?" Is it the name, then? Or the manner by which parents instill a sense of wonder in their kids and raise free thinkers? Come to think about it, it can be both.
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