My Name

I recently wrote this piece in AP English, and I really enjoyed writing it! I found that it revealed some great aspects of my life, and I would very much like to share it with you.

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My Name

In Israeli, Hebrew, French, and English my name means God is my judge. In the Urban Dictionary it means strong and loyal friend for life. It means hope. It means big dreams. It is the old movies on the shelf. A vibrant shade of red. It is the show tunes blaring from my car, human expression translated through song.

It is a French name. A name picked perfectly by two parents who must have known that she would someday become obsessed with everything French. Whose life ambition would revolve around how she could go to France someday. It was a heaven-sent blessing that they chose Danielle- a name perfect for me- instead of naming me Lindsey, as they had concretely decided.

Danielle, a name that either parent had not even toyed with naming me, somehow became the name they thought of when they first laid eyes on me. Choosing a unique name, for what would become a unique girl. A thorny rose in a garden of daisies. An uncommon name that she would grow to know, love, and cherish. Almost seemingly divine that they chose to have my middle name, not my first name be, Ashley. A name that would prove to be a very tender name to the family of who would become my greatest friend, for it was the name of their daughter who passed away.

With an anomalous name, came an abundance of nicknames. Names such as, Nelly, Danielly, Lelly, Lela-belle, Daniella Belle, Nelly-Belly, Danielly Belly, and Le-la. The nicknames, although many, prove to be special to me individually. For every nickname there is a family member who calls me by it. Just like my Grammy calls me Nelly-Belly, or my six-year-old cousin, Bentley, calls me Le-la. Each name holds a special meaning to me, and has a place in my heart. For they are what my loved ones call me, and that makes them all the more extraordinary to me.

My name is an old name. Which truly is choice, for I am an old soul. I adore everything classic and old. A trait that made me find someone in my family to fit in with. My family and I are all very different. That is all except my Grampy. Although he and I may differ much from the rest of our family, he and I are the same on countless levels. We share a love of the old movies, the old music (especially Tony Bennett), and the classic books- he, a Hemingway man, and I, a Steinbeck girl. In a world where we could have felt out of place, we found a similar soul to get us through the craziness that is called family.

I find that my name is unparalleled, and perfect for me. There is no name I would rather go by. Not Lindsey, and not Ashley. I am Danielle. Simply, classically, uniquely, always, and forever, Danielle.