Sagar is one of my five names given to me in my naming ceremony, a common Indian Hindu practice. Out of the five names, Sagar, Suraj, Surya, Sudhir, Siddivinayak, I believe that Sagar was the best fit. 

Sagar means ocean in Sanskrit and it contrasts my brother’s name, Akash, whose name means sky (“Sagar”). The sky always appears above the ocean and works in unison with the sea, which boils down to the bond my brother and I share. Akash has always been a role model in my life and has been someone I look up to. He has been the guiding light through the majority of my life. Just like the sky and ocean meet at the horizon, Akash and I have always been a team and have supported each other through the ups and downs of life. 

The ocean independently also represents my character and identity at the core. The ocean can be calm. The ocean can be chaotic. The ocean changes and transforms depending on the environment. Like the ocean, I have this malleability in my personality. Based on the individuals I am around or the situation I am in, I am quite flexible and adaptive. The ocean best describes my go with the flow mentality and my ability to not worry about can’t be controlled. 

My name is very uncommon. It’s never been one of the one thousand most popular names, and it’s nowhere close to that (“Social Security”). I’ve only met one or two other Sagar’s in my whole life, which is a part of my name I have always embraced. It also makes me more identifiable in a way. With a name like mine, the chances you meet someone else with the same name are so rare, so my first name will always be identified with my face and is a part of me I can always call my own. 

There are definitely downsides to having a less common name. Despite being a five letter name, I’ve heard a handful of incorrect pronunciations. Say-ghar, Cigar, Sugar, Say-ger.  I could keep going. No matter how bad the pronunciation, though, I wear my name proudly as it represents who I am. It has always been a key part of my identity and represents the heart of my character.

Works Cited

“Sagar.” The Bump, www.thebump.com/b/sagar-baby-name. Accessed 12 Feb. 2024. 

“Popular Baby Names.” Social Security, www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2024.