I’m never told to be mindful of my name. I’m never told that I should worry about any of my actions. I wasn’t told that my actions had any impact in the real world. When I found myself in trouble for the first time after thinking a pencil sharpener was a toy, I didn’t realize, until then, what it meant to be judged. Everyone gets judged, but sitting there as a pouting three year old, I felt a closer connection to it - and I didn’t know why.

As far I’ve known, the name Dan means “God is my judge”(Moss).  It’s a lot of weight to put into a single name. Not Daniel, just Dan. Those three letters mean that with everything I do, I have a specific moral compass.  I have to weigh every action I do and realize that I’ll always find myself judged for what I do, not just by others, but by the highest power of Judaism - God.

My mom - who wasn’t allowed to practice Judaism in her home country of Georgia -  knew its meaning in Hebrew. She also had high aspirations for Dan, her first-born in her country of opportunity- America. My name tells me how to be what my mom wants me to be. My mom’s wish that her son is the result of all the pain and suffering it took to get there.

It tells me that just because I’m not perfect, it doesn’t mean that any of my actions are invalidated.  It’s now my responsibility to be able to do what my family couldn’t and make sure I remain mindful of my actions and know that I’m always setting the example. To know that I'm my own judge. 

Works Cited

Moss, Jennifer. “Dan: Name Meaning, Popularity and Info on BabyNames.com.” Babynames.com, 21 Oct. 2023, babynames.com/name/dan#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20meaning%20of. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.