Bhow: a tough name. Resembling the sound of a supersized gong, poised at the top of a mountain. A name inspiring courage and bravery. A caretaker. A natural talent (NamesLook). Not my name. 

My father changed our last name – Bhau - when he moved to America. He thought it would be easier to pronounce, like the phrase “taking a bow”. Instead, in my youth, I found myself incessantly repeating the pronunciation of my name. Adding extra syllables, classmates would stand with mouths agape as I explained the true pronunciation. I heard variations from bee-how to ba-hu because an Indian name just “couldn’t be that simple.” Throughout my school years, I gradually learned to navigate these misconceptions and became more understanding when others mispronounced my name.

Armon: my first name. A palace holding strong against enemy invasion. The name “Armon” is often regarded as biblical, descending from the Hebrew word “armown”, which means castle or palace (McNamara). 

Throughout my years, I always felt like the name was weak, like sand slowly eroding against the ocean’s waves – forgettable, delicate. Pronounced Arm-un, I often find myself simplifying the name to Arm-in, its more palatable and easier-to-pronounce sibling. 

I never understood its strength until I learned of its origin – a traditionally middle eastern name, emphasizing one’s protective qualities. After this revelation, rather than meekly introduce myself, I began to speak affirmatively, with the authority I wish I once had. By providing me with this name, my parents effectively granted me a sense of identity in the uniqueness of my name, choosing a biblical one to also add a sense of historical significance. 

None of my three names rank in the top 100 baby names in America, with my first name, Armon, coming the closest at #1674 (Babycenter). That feeling of distinctiveness runs deep in my family, as all our names are similarly uncommon. My parents named me and my brother with that uniqueness in mind, hoping to gift us with uncommon, yet elegant names.  

So, while I may not have always been incredibly receptive to my name, I have learned to be genuinely appreciative of it, viewing it as a gift from my parents, rather than an anchor weighing me down.

Works Cited

“Armon - Baby Boy Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity.” BabyCenter, www.babycenter.com/baby-names/details/armon-1462801. Accessed 21 Sept. 2023.

“Bhow Meaning, Pronunciation, Origin and Numerology.” NamesLook, www.nameslook.com/bhow. Accessed 18 Sept. 2023.

McNamara, Emily. “Armon.” Armon - Baby Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity, 16 May 2023, www.thebump.com/b/armon-baby-name.