Juliet:
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
When I was in school I never loved my name “Aparna”, as everyone, used to tease me “Appu” as my pet name which I hated.
As I was bit fat, I used to dislike it when my schoolmates
used to call me Appu.
I disliked my name because it didn’t have any meaning (according
to me).
So one day, after having a bad day at school, I stormed in my
house and asked my parents “What made you select my name as Aparna? Didn’t you get any other name? I hate my name…” And I started crying.
Papa came near me, hugged me and said “Why do
you hate your name? It’s another name for Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva’s wife.”
But still I was never happy with my name, till I got married.
As a custom after marriage, a girl’s name is changed. Some prefer to make the
change official or keep it as a pet name in husband’s house.
Well I decided to keep my 1st name same and changed
only surname. But it was always a relief whenever I heard someone calling me by
my childhood name “Aparna” and not “Rachna” my name after marriage.
Even now my friends keep calling me by various names like
Appu, Aps etc… but still I love it when someone calls me “Aparna”.
On searching the net finally I came to know that Aparna means A=
no, parna = leaf, or leafless. Though I still don’t know what it means, but I LOVE my name Aparna.
Thank you for sharing such a personal experience. i wouldn't have found you without A to Z - so nice to connect
ReplyDeletehttp://aimingforapublishingdeal.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter: WriterBizWoman
So nice of u Comley :)
DeleteChanging first name also after wedding !
ReplyDeleteThis I heard for first time. All shud love their names as that quote is TRUE to the chore :)
all the best for A to Z
Yes Afshan, its a common practice in ours...
DeleteThanks and wishing u also best wishes for A to Z :)
Niceee..but appu got a meaning in kannada :)
ReplyDeleteYa, I kno Ambika... :)
DeleteI did not like my name growing up, either! I think because it's not a very common name. Your name is very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank u Jeanette :)
DeleteI had thought my name was old fashioned but it was an uncommon name in my school and everyone knew me...so, no regrets.
ReplyDeleteI love ur name Janu... :)
DeleteMay be Aaprna means a treasure of good hope... As a leafless tree awaits the spring to blom, n never looses hope... The same leafless tree blossoms with beautiful flowers and valueable fruits... Aparana smiling back at the nature as Suparna
ReplyDeleteThank u Sangee... :)
DeleteHey Aps.. For me ur name means what YOU ARE, not the other way round.. Beautiful, honest, sincere and go-getter.. Really loved your blog!!!
ReplyDeleteThank u Kavi ... m touched :)
DeleteNo one likes their name as a child. I had my new name for when I turned 18. But my name and nicknames were me. Yours is beautiful Aparna
ReplyDeleteThanks Moonie :)
DeleteI completely understand! My first name is Keiley (pronounced Key-Lee). Because of it's grammatical incorrectness, it's caused me problems my entire life. Granted, my Mother did try to fix it on my birth certificate twice (because it wasn't supposed to be spelled that way), but after two court trips, there was no more money and the spelling had to stick. I also used to cry all the time because I was made fun of because of it, but, as I've gotten much much older, I realize it's who I am and I wouldn't want any other name now! With age comes wisdom and tolerance (or acceptance and laziness, depending on your outlook)!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the challenge!
I think every child goes thru the stage of disliking their name...
DeleteThank u n wishing u also good luck for the challenge :)
Yes. I can relate to this little story. My nick name Katy Did was used constantly and I really hated it, until I got older and understood why I was called it. I was given the name when I first learned how to step out the door. I went in and out of it all day. When my father came home from work mother said look what Katy Did. When I started riding motorcycles I heard thay echo in my head. So now I really love the name. Great post! Life's Ride In Between
ReplyDeleteThank u :) each one with their unique name n their unique problems :)
DeleteMany people face such situation during their childhood. I always wonder that name is our but why everyone else uses it. Quite weird but true fact of life. But for the record , I like the name Aparna. Its such a cute post.
ReplyDeleteThank u Anoosha... like ur name too.... different but nice :)
DeleteNice debut,Aparna.
ReplyDeletethank u Vasudha :)
DeleteMy last name was a source of teasing as a kid - Day. It's such a simple name and it's a word used all the time. Like, every day, all day, day and night, day in and day out . . . . I could go on. At some point it stopped bothering me so much, but it didn't really stop until I started college.
ReplyDeletehttp://theramblingsofcharliebrown.blogspot.com
different name same story :)
DeleteHi! Visiting from the A to Z sign up list.
ReplyDeleteI learned something from your post: the custom of changing your first name at marriage. I am American, and our custom, albeit outdated, is that we change our surnames to that of our husband's, which I gladly did, an act that had both practical and rebellious meaning (I wanted to shed by given surname to show my anger and judgment at my dad.) Another blogger wrote a post on her name change, which I found so interesting because, like me, a seemingly automatic act, was loaded with meaning. I asked her permission to let me steal her idea and do my own blog post about my name change journey. Didn't hear back, so one of these days, I'll write it.
Aparna, I love your name too. My name is Elizabeth, which I hated growing up and used all sorts of nicknames: Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Libby. Somewhere in my twenties, I decided I love my name and use it instead of nicknames, although people who have known me my whole life still use the nicknames.
Here's to embracing our names!
Best regards,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, in India changing of surnames is a custom, but in our community along with surname even 1st name is also changed...
Delete:)
Most of us can relate to your post. I am sure there are many of us who didn't liking our name for some or the other reason for once in our life just like you and me. Hoping to read more from you.
ReplyDeleteWishing you best of luck for A-Z Challenge.
Thank u :) and wishing u also best of luck...
DeleteI would appreciate if you leave ur name in comments
Thank u :)
Great start o the challenge, looking forward to your other posts. Ashley x
ReplyDeleteThank u Ashley :)
DeleteI know the members of the Sikh community change the entire name after marriage! I'm glad you kept your original one, even though Rachna is also a lovely name!
ReplyDeleteI love both name Roshni, but Aparna has a special place :)
DeleteI love the name Aparna, it is so serene.
ReplyDeleteThank u Pooja :)
DeleteLoved reading your first blog. waiting for more. proud of you.. way to go..
ReplyDeletethank u Rashu :)
DeleteNice post. Very relevant since I know quite a few persons who hate their names because the name or the shortened version has some undesirable connotations.
ReplyDeleteYou've mentioned that, "As a custom after marriage, a girl’s name is changed."
I had touched on this custom in my post at http://proactiveindian.com/2014/03/15/kyunki-maa-baap-ek-din-saas-sasur-banenge-because-parents-will-one-day-become-parents-in-law/
I got offline feedback from some persons that this custom is no longer prevalent. Could you send me some information on this to proactiveindian@redifmmail.com
I reached here via A-Z. Please do read my A-Z posts as well.
Sorry, that should be proactiveindian@rediffmail.com (Can't allow a mistake on this 'name'! :-))
DeleteHi Aparna,
ReplyDeleteWhen Parvati decided to marry Shiva, And for that she started tapacharya. In that tapacharya, she started praying shiva as her husband. When she think that there much time is going for preparing food, and she is missing that time for tapacharya, So she stopped preparing food and just started eating leafs, So she can get more time for prayer. After some time, she thought like that she is wasting time on collecting leafs.
So she stopped eating leafs as well. So she started praying without eating, without leafs.
Thats it means like Aparna, A-no, parna-leafs. Women who forgot eating food in love of her husband.
I hope this will feels well.