My Name is Adeline: An Exploration of the Power of Names Hello there! My name is Adeline - a name that still sounds foreign to many. Growing up, I was often asked where my name came from and what it meant. My parents, who embraced the eclectic mix of cultures and languages in our family, named me Adeline, which is of Germanic origin and means "noble." But to me, my name is much more than a simple definition - it's a part of my identity that I embrace with pride. As I've gotten older, I've come to realize just how much power names have. They are our first introduction to the world and often serve as a reflection of our cultural, familial, or religious backgrounds. But beyond that, they shape our perception of ourselves and how we are perceived by others. I've had moments where I've met someone and immediately had an idea of who they might be based on their name alone. Or, conversely, found myself thinking differently of someone after hearing their name for the first time. For me, my name has been a source of both pride and confusion. In a society that often values traditional and easy-to-pronounce names, my name has sometimes felt like a burden. I can't count how many times I've cringed when someone mispronounces my name or assumes it's spelled differently. But on the other hand, I've come to characterize my name as a symbol of uniqueness and individuality. Now, as an adult, I've chosen to fully embrace my name and all that it represents. I've taken pride in educating others on its meaning and origins, and as a result, I've been able to connect with people on a deeper level. Names bring us together, and talking about them can be an act of sharing and bonding. So, whether you have a traditional or unique name, embrace it fully and celebrate all that it says about you. Names hold immense power - and it's up to us to use that power to shape our own narratives.