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My Shared Name
My Shared Name
by Carson Caldwell
Bala is more than just my middle name—it hums in the rhythm of my family’s laughter, stitched into whispered Hindi lullabies and the scent of chai steeping on the stove. I share the name Bala with my mother, my three sisters, and my grandmother, each of us bound by the weight and warmth of its meaning. In Hindi, our name means strength and power, but it lives in more than words (“Bala”). It is the steady hands that braid my hair before school, the fierce embrace after heartbreak, and the quiet endurance passed from mother to daughter.
Bala is the love and sacrifice I see in my mother and grandmother. It represents the strength it took for my grandmother to leave behind everything that she knew in Jaipur, India to move to a new country. Not a day passes that I don’t admire how she built a safe, loving home in America, despite her unfamiliarity with the culture and language. Bala also lingers in my mothers hands that have spent hours cooking for my sisters and I even through her exhaustion. It reminds me of times when I sat next to her while she meticulously massaged coconut oil through every strand of my hair. I am forever grateful for her emotional intelligence and her capability to always know the right thing to say when I am feeling lost. Bala symbolizes their unwavering presence, their unspoken strength, and the light that steadies me through storms of doubt, heartbreak, and uncertainty.
For me, Bala also represents the bond between my sisters and I. When I look in the mirror, I see the reflections of all of my older sisters. I see Madison’s devotion and passion for helping people; Delaney’s gentle and kind nature; and Ainsley’s dedication to be creative and unapologetically herself. Our name reminds me of the countless hour-long conversations we share after time apart, the spontaneous ice cream runs after dinner, and the cozy evenings spent on the couch with our dogs while binge-watching New Girl. My sisters have effortlessly shaped me, their lessons folded into car rides, shared clothes, and inside jokes that need no explanation. I know that if I fall, they will catch me before I hit the ground.
According to the U.S. Social Security database, Bala has never been among the 1,000 most common baby names since 1900 (“Popular”). It is unique, like the unshakable bond we share. While the world may not recognize it, for me, it carries the weight of generations. Bala is not just a name; it is a promise, an unbroken thread, and the heartbeat of my family.
Works Cited
“Bala Meaning in Hindi.” HinKhoj Dictionary, dict.hinkhoj.com/bala-meaning-in-hindi.words. Accessed 06 Feb. 2025.
“Popularity of name Bala.” U.S. Social Security Administration Baby Name Database, U.S. Social Security Administration, n.d., ssa.gov/oact/babynames, Accessed 06 Feb. 2025
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