Of the Sparrows is a global living archive dedicated to preserving women’s maiden names and the stories connected to them. Across cultures, a name can represent lineage, identity, memory, or transformation—and yet these stories are often undocumented or lost over time.

This project collects personal narratives to explore how identity is shaped through naming traditions, cultural expectations, and individual choice. Each submission becomes part of a growing record of how women around the world carry, change, or reclaim their names across generations.

The name Of the Sparrows reflects the nature of these stories: small in isolation, but powerful in collective movement. Like sparrows, these narratives travel across borders, histories, and families—quietly carrying identity forward.

Of the Sparrows was founded by a student researcher and youth advocate interested in identity, culture, and global storytelling.

The project was inspired by her mother’s maiden name, and her experience as the last in her family to carry it. She chose to keep her name, preserving a piece of family history across borders and generations. This decision highlighted how names can act as living records of identity, even as lives move and change.

Through experiences in youth civic engagement and international spaces, she developed Of the Sparrows as a structured archive to document and preserve these narratives. The project aims to explore how women’s names reflect culture, tradition, and personal agency across societies.

Of the Sparrows is an independent initiative built to grow into a global storytelling and research platform, amplifying voices and preserving identity across generations.

For questions or comments please contact ofthesparrowsarchive@gmail.com