Growing up, “basic” was the only word that would come to mind when thinking about my name. When the teacher would call for attendance, the name Emma triggered five different hands to be raised. During soccer practice, my first and last name were used in conjunction with each other to differentiate the multiple Emmas on the field, a necessity that quickly became part of my everyday encounters. 

This wasn’t just the case for me, though. My parents opted for choosing very traditional names for all of their kids. My older sister’s name is Anna, and when they found out they were having triplet girls 2 years later, they decided on Emma, Claire, and Lauren. All of which were in the top 100 names in 2004, the year we were born. My name, Emma, being the most popular out of the three, has ranked number one most popular name starting in 2014, and then in 2019 it dropped all the way down to number 2, which is its current ranking (“Popular Baby Names”). When I questioned my parents on their name choices, their response had always been “We just like traditional names.” No rhyme or reason for any of our names. In fact, if one of us were to be a boy, their top name would be Jacob, the number one most popular name in 2000, and for 12 years after (“Popular Baby Names”). So, what my parents really mean is that they like to be basic. 

Even though my parents had no particular reason for choosing the name Emma, the meaning of my name now has a remarkable story with it. The meaning is both “whole” and “universal” (Vance). This is ironic because minutes after I was born, the first few minutes of being an Emma, I had a stroke. This caused the left hemisphere of my brain to turn into gray matter. So, if anything, I am the opposite of whole as I only have half a brain. 

Although basic with a contrasting meaning of who I am, I feel as though my name fits me perfectly. I found an identity through my name when finding ways to differentiate myself. The meaning of my name shows who I am, and reminds me that although I have half a brain, I am resilient. I believe that I was supposed to be named Emma all along. Even if it is just a traditional name that my parents liked, it reflects my true self, and I feel that I am truly an Emma inside, even if it is just a name—a very basic name, at that. 

Works Cited

“Popular Baby Names.” SSA, https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/. Accessed 20 September 2023.

Vance, Alex. “Emma: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity.” Verywell Family, 26 September 2021, https://www.verywellfamily.com/emma-name-meaning-origin-popularity-5120070. Accessed 20 September 2023.