I learned to love my name in part for the convenience it afforded me. In elementary school, middle school, high school, and so far in college, I have never sat in class with someone who shares my name. I would never have to print my last initial on assignments that I had to submit in elementary school. People also never mess up its pronunciation either because it is not unique or anything – just kind of outdated. 

In Hebrew, Jessica means “behold” or “foresight” and made its first appearance in William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice in 1596 (Lawler), but that’s not what drew my mom to it. She named me after her favorite character in a Hong Kong show called 律政新人王 (Survivor’s Law). The character is a law student described by my mother to be lively, positive, and hardworking. These were characteristics that my parents hoped I would resemble and possess. Did my parents’ aspirations come true? Well, I do not plan to become a lawyer if that was what they hoped initially. My apologies, Mom and Dad. However, I do believe that I possess her characteristics because I am determined, optimistic, and occasionally lively. Implicitly, “Jessica,” has been a role model for me, propelling me to work hard and become the kind of outstanding individual she later becomes with her perseverance and kindness. 

As I got older, I came to realize that having a name associated with a different generation is not a disadvantage; it is a symbol of distinctiveness. In an age where unique names are invented here and there, having an outdated name that recollects back to a different generation makes me stand out. To me, the name Jessica will forever carry pride, meaningful history, and a strong sense of individuality.

Works Cited

Ambrosino, Brandon. “Four Hundred Years Later, Scholars Still Debate Whether Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice” Is Anti-Semitic.” Smithsonian, Smithsonian.com, 21 Apr. 2016, www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-scholars-still-debate-whether-or-not-shakespeares-merchant-venice-anti-semitic-180958867/. Accessed 17 Feb. 2024.

Lawler, Emma. “Jessica - Baby Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity.” Www.thebump.com, 18 Jan. 2024, www.thebump.com/b/jessica-baby-name#:~:text=Meaning%3ATo%20behold%2C%20foresight. Accessed 10 Feb. 2024.

“Popular Baby Names.” Www.ssa.gov, n.d., www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi. Accessed 10 Feb. 2024. 

Wisner, Wendy. “What Does the Name Jessica Mean?” Verywell Family, 4 Oct. 2022, www.verywellfamily.com/jessica-name-meaning-origin-popularity-5176433. Accessed 10 Feb. 2024.