What's In A Name, Anyway?
Robert Edmiston Cary Academy 2002
My name is a family name. It belonged to my
great uncle. I don’t know much about him; in fact, I never knew him. It
came from two Germanic words, which I can’t pronounce. I know that it means
“bright fame”, but in my case I don’t think this is true. Perhaps it does
mean “bright fame”, but in having bright fame within small groups, because
that’s how I feel I am sometimes. Usually, I’m as famous as a rock, but
that’s how I like it. My name is easy-going and kind. It is ordinary.
It’s not very rare, but there’s not many Roberts that I know, which is
different than many other names. It is easily recognized and easy to
spell. It is like clay- able to be changed into many different forms, but
always remaining as clay. My name is also procrastination. “If you can do
something tomorrow, why not?” My name might say. “Why would I do it now?
Why not wait?” it would say. “What would I gain from doing it now?
My name is as versatile as duct tape. It is English, French, and Scottish, in each language having different forms and changes. The Normans brought my name to Britain. Three kings of Scotland have had this name, such as Robert the Bruce, who restored independence of Scotland, author Robert Browning and poets Robert Burns and Robert Frost, and even a Civil War General, Robert E. Lee.
My name is diplomatic, gives others the benefit of the doubt, and tends to avoid strenuous manual work. It sounds like a drum- two sharp, quick taps, with a small space in between. It is short, but not too short; long, but not too long. As Goldilocks would say, it’s just right. And it is.
I’m not too concerned with my name. However, I like it just fine. It feels correct, but that may be because it’s the only name I’ve ever had, and the only one I know. I’ve always been Robert- never Bob or Bobby or Rob. It doesn’t feel out of place, like an apple in a bowl of oranges might. It might be interesting to have a different name, maybe John or Scott or Phillip. Not Joe or Bob- that’s too short. No other name would apply to me. No matter if I change my name, Robert is my name and will always be My Name.