Wordful Wednesday - What's in a Name?

I have one of the most common names in the world. It is an old Bible name and every culture has their own version. My Mom has told me that she had two names picked out for me. I was either going to be Sarah or Emily. Evidently my parents didn't even bother picking out a boys name for me. My mom wanted a girl so much. I am glad I ended up with Sarah. It is a lovely name with a lot of history and means Princess, the perfect name for a me. And it isn't a name kids could do a lot with when they tried to haze me in school. I think they tried Triceratops but usually they just took jabs at my last name, which was way easier.

I was one of 4 girls in my Kindergarden class that all had the same name. So I went by Sarah and my last names initial for the first few years of school. It seems like I have always known other girls, ladies and woman with my name. My brother even married someone with my name. (I remember the first time my sister Julie, who has downs syndrome, realized there were two "Sewahs". She just kept holding up two fingers and laughing and saying "two") Since they live in the town I grew up in she often got mistaken for me when people just saw the name. Often she ended up being called "the other Sarah _____". When I got engaged I told her I was finally going to let her have the name. The family I married into also already has a Sarah. So I will have to share my new name with her until she decides to get married.

Sarah isn't used quite as much any more but I do still hear it given to babies once in awhile. It is nice to hear girls of all different ages called by my name. It will never be an "old woman name". But also doesn't seem too youthful for an older woman. I like my name but then I haven't really had answer to any other except "Sister" (while I was a missionary and sometimes now at church) or "Mama" which is one of the best names around!

For other Wordful Wednesday posts on this topic check out Chocolate on my Cranium