12/15/2024
What’s in a Name?
Ever since I started working, I’ve been called many names:
Amina, Ayisha, Fulani, Agbani...
And to be honest, it used to make me really angry.
You see, I’m an Igbo girl, proud of my heritage, and I couldn’t understand why people kept calling me names that didn’t seem to belong to me. Sometimes, I’d ignore anyone who dared to call me these names.
But a few months ago, out of curiosity—or maybe frustration—I decided to Google one of these names. What I found surprised me:
Amina: An Arabic name meaning "safe one, protected," or "trustworthy, loyal, and honest."
Ayisha: A beautiful name meaning "living," or "prosperous."
Agbani: A Yoruba name meaning "benevolent, kind-hearted, full of energy."
Suddenly, those names that used to irritate me were transformed. They weren’t insults or misidentifications. They were compliments in disguise. Each name carried a blessing, a virtue, a reflection of strength and grace.
I learned a powerful lesson that day:
Sometimes, we get so caught up in labels that we forget to look for their meaning.
Now, when someone calls me Amina, Ayisha, or Agbani, I smile. I realize it’s not just about what people call you, but how you embrace it. After all, names can carry love, respect, and even a reminder of the diverse beauty in all of us.
So, here’s my message to you:
Before you dismiss a label, explore its meaning. You might find a hidden treasure in the unexpected.
Happy Sunday wonderful people.