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What’s In A Name Essay | Short and Long Essay on What’s In A Name for Students and Children

October 1, 2021 by Prasanna

What’s In A Name Essay: Names are the identity of a person or object that distinguishes one from another. But human beings put a lot of importance on the power of naming. In childhood, a name is given to someone based on affection, relation, or family background. As a person grows up, a name becomes an identity for him/her and is associated with personal attributes and characteristics.

When a person stands out from others by virtue of his qualities or contribution, his name becomes iconic and synonymous with the character and personality of that person. It suggests that the name not only carries the identity of a person, but also the power and worth associated with it. There are instances in history where the parental name of a person is overshadowed by another popular name that people around him love to use to address him. For example, A classic example of what’s in a name is Netaji is a name that symbolizes courage and leadership, although his actual name is rarely used.

You can also find more Essay Writing articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

A name as given by the parents or family members has a connection with place, family, culture, and traditions. Starting from childhood to adulthood, a person grows through his name. A name is as familiar and as close to us as anything else. In fact, we become more concerned with our name than the person that it identifies. Many believe that what’s in a name is not as important as personality or character, but after all, it’s the name that shapes one’s destiny. Name is considered a powerful tool in shaping one’s personality and self-esteem considering the meanings we associate with a name. But many times an individual demonstrates totally different characteristics than his name actually signifies. The name of that person then carries an identity based on the perception of others around him but not the name itself.

Long Essay on What’s In A Name 700 Words in English

Naming an individual

A name is the first thing that we own after our birth. It is a word that identifies us, remains with us from childhood till death, and is closely knit to our personalities. When a child is born, the parents give him/her a name as per their wish. The name could be in accordance with their cultural practices, customs, events, relatives, birthplace, etc. Some people also like to name their children after some renowned people, who are admired in the society or have some adorable characteristics that the parents may want their children to follow. Every name has some sense of power or value associated with it. Many believe that names have some influences in building the personalities of an individual.

Names as Identity

Names are considered to be an incredibly important part of our identity. They often carry deep personal, cultural, and traditional connections. They also give us a sense of our belonging to the community and the environment. Since childhood, we become so familiar with our name that we develop a very close association with it. Our names become a nice-labeled sound that appeals to us when someone calls us. Some of us grow with our names, maybe we like the way they are used by our loved ones.

Many of us think about what’s in a name and take our name for granted in the sense that we rarely pay attention to the name – what it means, why we have it, how it is to be regarded or valued. It’s also important to consider the meanings associated with names, which are given by our near and dear ones. These are the products of heritage, upbringing, and culture that we are imbibing. In fact, identity not only hinges on a name but also the importance that we place on a name.

Names always play a crucial role in people’s lives. For some, it is like what’s in a name with no deeper sense or meaning. But most of us like to have names that are unique in some way or others. It’s an identity that distinguishes one from the other. Earlier, it was a tradition to give names matching with siblings which were one form of identification that relates one family member with others. With times, this practice has changed especially due to the small family structure. Now the meaning, as well as uniqueness, is given priority while naming a child.

In the world around us, everything that is in existence has a name attached to it be it humans, plants, animals, or objects. Such names help to bring to memory the thing in question when referred by its name. Every name has some sense of perception or significance associated with it. When a child is born, he/she is given an identity through a name, which helps to differentiate one from others. But as the child grows up, this identity includes features like self-esteem and self-awareness that build his personality and character.

The Power of a Name

The origin of this phrase ‘What’s in a Name’ has actually been derived from the famous romantic tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare. The female protagonist in this play says “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. The quotation really has a very profound meaning. It signifies that a name we put on something is simply a label to differentiate one from another. But the identity lies in the unique characteristics that anyone or anything possesses. In a deep sense what creates the true meaning and power of a name is the worth of the individual or thing as reflected in the outer world.

FAQ’s on What’s In A Name Essay

Question 1. What is the origin of the phrase ‘What’s in a name?

Answer: The origin of the phrase ‘what’s in a name’ comes from William Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Question 2. What are the factors influencing the naming of a person in childhood?

Answer: Names given to an individual depend on factors like family, culture, customs, heritage as well as the place of birth.

Question 3. How much importance is given to the meaning of a name given to a child?

Answer: The parents name a child as per their wish. The meanings of the name they choose reflect their cultural & religious beliefs, preference towards any object, person, or event.

Question 4. Why are children named according to some renowned person?

Answer: Parents choose to name a child according to a person who is admired and respected for his character and actions and expects their child to adopt the same in future life.

Question 5. How does a name associate with one’s personality or characteristics?

Answer: We identify a person or object by its name but in the actual sense, we relate the unique features and remarkable qualities in them with their name.

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‘What’s In A Name?’ Soliloquy Analysis

Read Shakespeare’s ‘What’s in a name?’ soliloquy from Romeo and Juliet below with modern English translation and analysis, plus a video performance.

‘What’s In A Name?’ Spoken by Juliet , Act 2 Scene 2

“what’s in a name that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”, ‘what’s in a name’ quote translation.

Juliet is not allowed to associate with Romeo because he is a Montague. If he had any other name it would be fine. She’s complaining that his name is meaningless. If the rose had any other name it would still be the same. So with Romeo; he would still be the same beautiful young man even if he had a different name. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” Juliet knows that the blood feud prevents her from loving a Montague. She ponders it. It’s only your name that’s the enemy. You are what you are, even though you may be a Montague. What’s ‘Montague’? It isn’t hand or foot or arm or face or any other part belonging to a man. Oh I wish you had a different name. What is so special about a name? A rose, even if it were called something else, would smell just as sweet. So Romeo would still have all the perfection that he has, even if he were not called Romeo. Romeo, take off your name and in exchange for that whole name, which is not really a part of what you are, you can have all of me.

Watch ‘What’s In A Name’ Quote Performed (1:37)

See other Shakespeare soliloquies >>

See All Romeo and Juliet Resources

Pinterest 0

cool thanks. that’s so good :D :P x

#nosweatshakespear is awesome thanks very much mate! :)

I want to woo a lady with this!

Don’t try it man

That’s extremely controversial, John. Try going back to Shakespeare’s time. Be Better, John.

this isn’t fair

why you think this sabrina??

i really needed this thank you and great name

Good acting. I like this quote.

Wow great help I was forced to do this in a english lesson!

‘What's in a Name?’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples

'What's in a name?' is an idiom that dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. It means that while a title or name may imply a specific rank, family, designation, or station, the implied information may not be accurate.

To learn more about this figure of speech, read through this guide. In it, you will find the definition, background information, usage examples, and writing tips for using this and other popular idioms.

What Does 'What's in a Name?' Mean?

It is one of the more challenging sayings to define. However, it means that despite a name implying a distinguished rank, title, or association, it is nothing more than a name, and its implication may not be accurate.

Origin of 'What's in a Name?'

The phrase was written by William Shakespeare in his renowned play, Romeo, and Juliet , during the late 16th century. In the play, Juliet is from the Capulet family and her lover, Romeo, is a Montaque. The two met each other and fell in love, only to realize they were from feuding families who would never approve of their union.

Emotionally, Juliet says, "What's in a name?' that which we call a rose. By any other name, would smell as sweet." What she means is that her name does not define her. She would be the same person no matter what name she was given.

In other words, Juliet was saying that her name had nothing to do with who she was. Just as the beauty and aroma of a rose are the same no matter what name you assign it, Juliet was her own person.

Usage Examples of 'What's in a Name?'

As mentioned, the most famous usage of the term was written by William Shakespeare. However , you can apply the idiom to current situations, too. Here are a few examples:

'What's in a name?' He has no real talent, but he received favor due to his father's connections.
'What's in a name?' Having a family name is a blessing if you resonate with your family. For people with a challenging family history, it is a constant reminder that they do not belong.

Similar Sayings

Here are a few other popular idioms you can incorporate into your writing.

'Humble Abode'

People often greet those visiting their homes by saying, 'welcome to my humble abode .' If someone says this to you, they say their house is modest or unpretentious. Famous author Jane Austen used the term in her book Pride and Prejudice.

'Bearer of Bad News'

' Bearer of bad news ' is a term that describes a person who delivers news that may be challenging to accept.

'Blood Moon'

' Blood moon ' is a term people use to describe a total lunar eclipse that causes light from the sun to refract through the Earth's atmosphere and reflect off the moon's surface, causing it to appear as a blood-red color.

Final Advice on the Term 'What's in a Name?'

'What's in a name' is one of the more confusing idioms. It is not as widely used as more popular sayings like 'shoot your shot,' 'along for the ride,' and 'a gentleman and a scholar.' However, it is a good choice if you want your work to have a Shakespearian feel.

Learn More:

'Cutting Corners': Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘Bane of my Existence (Or Life)’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘Narly’ or 'Gnarly': Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘On a Side Note’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘Move Forward’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘Dodge a Bullet’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘In the Pink of Health’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘Put Yourself in Someone's Shoes’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘Dangle a Carrot in Front of Someone’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘Stay Tuned’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘A Gentleman and a Scholar’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘What Goes Around Comes Around’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘Murky Water’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘The Best of the Best’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
‘In and Of Itself’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples

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How to Write an Essay about Your Name

Are you looking for an easy and quick way to write an essay about your name? Then this is the perfect tutorial for you!

I’m Constance, and in this tutorial, I will show you how to write an essay about your name in six simple steps. I will also give you an example of such an essay as we go through the process step by step.

Let’s begin!

Step 1: Choose your main idea.

If you want to organize your thoughts and present them clearly and concisely in an essay, you need to choose your thesis — a main idea for your essay. Simply take a stand and write it down as a simple sentence.

What do you want to say about your name? Do you like your name? Do you think it’s interesting? Whatever you think of will act as your thesis .

For example, you can say, “I love my name.” Note that we kept it really simple. By doing so, we can clearly think of the next things we need for the essay.

Step 2: Think of three supporting ideas.

Trying to write an essay on only one undivided idea or thesis will get you stuck.

So, you need more than one idea. Two ideas are better than one. Three is even better. But four may be too many because you’re just writing a simple essay.

So, coming up with three supporting ideas is the best method. Why? Because three is the perfect number the brain can handle. And it works all the time! We call it the Power of Three.

So, let’s use the Power of Three to keep our ideas flowing.

The Power of Three is a three-part structure that divides your main idea into three distinct supporting points. It helps create your body paragraphs.

Let’s apply it to an essay about your name.

Ask yourself – “why do I love my name?” And write down three answers. Here are mine:

I like its Latin origin .
I like how my parents came up with it.
It sounds great .

Using ideas that are too similar to each other may cause writer’s block. So, note that our three supporting points are totally different from one another.

Keep them distinct and simple to avoid running out of things to write down the line.

Step 3: Write your thesis statement.

Now that we have a clear picture of the essay’s structure, we can write a thesis statement.

When writing a thesis statement, take your main idea and its supporting points and write them out as a sentence or complete sentences in a single paragraph.

Once you’ve written your thesis statement, you have a nice outline for your essay.

Here’s an example of a thesis statement:

“I love my name because I like its Latin origin, the story of how my parents came up with it is pretty cool, and it sounds great, too.”

Note how clear the statement is. We started with our thesis, and the three supporting points sound like great ideas to back it up. So, it works.

Great! Now, we’re ready for the next step.

Step 4: Write the body paragraphs.

After dividing our main idea into three distinct points, we can easily write three body paragraphs for our essay.

When writing a body paragraph , you should start with a topic sentence summarizing the entire paragraph. Then, briefly explain it and illustrate it using examples .

Note that your paragraphs should go from general to specific.

In a body paragraph, your topic sentence (the first sentence) is the most general statement. After writing your topic sentence, you will unpack it by writing more specifically, using an explanation and examples.

Here are examples of body paragraphs for our essay:

Paragraph 1

One of the few things I like about my name is its etymology. It has a Latin origin, rooted in the word “constantem,” which means “faithful” or “steadfast.” It is a name that represents perseverance and dedication regardless of the challenges ahead. I could not be more proud and grateful for my name’s origin. It reflects my determined personality and my loyalty to the people I love.

Paragraph 2

I also love that I was named after my grandmother Constancia. I appreciate my mom and dad naming me after her – someone I loved so much. My grandmother was an amazing woman. She raised eight kids despite her humble status in life, which highlighted her steadfastness. And she was faithful to her family and supported it however she could.

Paragraph 3

My name has a certain sonorous quality to it with its consonants that roll off the tongue. I am thankful for the sound of my name. It has a beautiful melody to it that I always love to hear. Every time I hear it, it brings me a sense of warmth and joy and puts a smile on my face.

Note how each paragraph proceeds from a general statement to more specific points.

Now that we’ve written our body paragraphs, we are ready for the next step.

Step 5: Write the introduction and conclusion.

Introduction.

An introduction can be just one more general sentence, after which you should simply proceed to your thesis statement, which includes your thesis and three supporting points.

Here’s an example of an entire introductory paragraph:

Many of us may not think much about it, but our names are a part of our identity and can have a lasting impact on us. I love my name because of its Latin origin, the story of how my parents came up with it, and its cool sound. My name means “constant” or “steadfast” in Latin, which reflects my determined personality. It came from my grandmother’s name, Constancia, whom I loved so much. And it just sounds amazing, even if I only say so myself.”

If you want a time-proven, easy, and quick way to write a conclusion for your essays, I recommend restating what you stated in your introduction using different words.

Here’s an example of a conclusion for our essay:

My name is an important part of my identity and has a special place in my heart. It has a meaningful linguistic origin from the Latin word constantem, meaning “steadfastness.” It is a special reminder of my grandmother, Constancia. And it has a nice ring to it that brings me joy.

Now, we’re ready for the final step.

Step 6: Proofread.

The final step in writing an essay is going back and proofreading it. Look out for:

Misspellings
Grammatical errors
Irrelevant material (stuff that doesn’t belong in the essay)
Contradictions (make sure you don’t contradict your own points)

And we are done writing an example of an essay about a name.

I hope you learned a lot in this tutorial. Now go ahead and write an essay about your name!

Tutor Phil is an e-learning professional who helps adult learners finish their degrees by teaching them academic writing skills.

Essays About Names: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

Your name is an important part of your identity; if you are writing essays about names, you can start by reading our top essay examples and prompts.

What is a name? Our names are words or groups of words by which we humans, other living organisms, places, things, and ideas are referred to. Everything has a name, from ourselves to our pets to the neighborhoods, cities, and countries we live in. It identifies us, separates us from others, and forms a crucial piece of our identity.

Our names are often regarded as the outermost layer of who we are, as it is how we are known and introduce ourselves. But, at the same time, our names can form the core of our being. Each of us is given a name for different reasons, and if we find those reasons to be significant, we may plan our lives in a way that lives up to our beliefs about our names. Writing an essay but need some help? Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .

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5 Essay Examples

1. embracing the mystery: the story of my name series by maría schindler, 3. what’s in a name reflections on who we are and what we are called by haleema shah, 4. the importance of names by chris giovagnoni, 5. how i changed my name by ellen kittle, 1. the importance of names, 2. the story behind your name, 3. the impact of a name, 4. if you could change your name, 5. how to name a child.

“So in a way, my middle name represents safety, survival and chosen family. Now, as an adult with a chosen family of my own, I understand the importance of finding familial bonds in others who make you feel safe, who feel like home when the world is hostile. I also like that Mikkol resides between my first and last names, that act as buffers, returning the favor of protection that Mikkol provided for my mom.”

Schindler writes about the story behind her middle name, Mikkol. She was named after her mother’s best friend since middle school; Mikkol was always there for her mother when she needed it, and when things got chaotic at home, Schindler’s mother would go to Mikkol’s house for safety and comfort. Perhaps Schindler’s mother recalled these feelings when naming her daughter. Schindler is proud of her name and what it means, giving her safety and protection.

2. What’s Your Name, Girl? by Thelma Austin

“All in all the story was able to capture many views on how the idea of names goes deeper than just the words. Our experience with interaction counts on us to remember our names and in the story it showed a dark side of human engagement where feelings aren’t mutually shared. The author’s job was seen to be very encouraging because it contained the abilities to allow the reader to develop a position and find supporting evidence to back up claims.”

In her essay, Austin analyzes the significance of names in Maya Angelou’s short story, “What’s Your Name, Girl?” In particular, the story emphasizes how names can contribute to our personality. The story, taking place in the segregated South, sees black women’s names being changed by their white employers. Just as their rights are being taken away, so are their names. You might alos be interested in these essays about your name .

“Others may choose to make a statement by retaining the name they have grown comfortable with. After rejecting the institution of marriage for most of her life and throughout her career as a leader of the second-wave feminist movement, Gloria Steinem wed David Bale in 2000. Steinem kept her last name though, while Beyoncé, an icon of the current wave of emancipated femininity, fused her name with her husband’s, becoming a Knowles-Carter in 2008.”

Shah reflects on the importance of our names to our identities and gives several examples of celebrities who exemplify this idea, such as basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who changed his name to reflect his African heritage and culture. She also discusses activist Gloria Steinem and singer Beyoncé, whose status as feminist icons is reflected in their married names; Steinem kept her maiden name while Beyoncé fused her last name, Knowles, with that of her husband’s, becoming a Knowles-Carter.

“When Yudea gave birth to her daughter, “she couldn’t buy milk or vitamins to boost her daughter’s health, so her daughter got sick easily.” After enrolling in the CSP, this changed. She received nutritious food, vitamins, milk and a lot of information that supported her as a pregnant mother. She also was able to go to regular pregnancy checkups at the doctor without having to think twice about what she and her husband would have to pay. So when she gave birth to her second child, a healthy son, Yudea showed her thankfulness to God by naming her son Cisipi.”

Giovagnoni discusses the meaning and importance of names from a more religious perspective, explaining the religious reasoning behind his name, which means “Christ-bearer.” Names can tell us a lot about who we should be if that is something we desire. He also recalls a story about a mother named Yudea, who enrolled in the Compassion Survival Program and got access to food, clean water, and medical care. Her life changed dramatically for the better, so when she gave birth, she named her son Cisipi, which means “grateful to God.”

“My name has never felt like something I can shed easily, putting on a new one; not like going off to college and deciding to tell all your new friends your name is Liz rather than Beth. Were it not for this cosmic wallop to the head, I would still be on the fence. I do know now that for me it’s the right thing; for Cam and I to share the same name.”

Kittle recalls the struggle she and her husband Cam had with cancer and the internal struggle she experienced simultaneously with changing her last name. She had always been proud of her name; she felt it was entirely hers- not her father’s or his family’s. However, after all, they had gone through, Kittle eventually decided to change her last name out of love for her husband.

5 Writing Prompts On Essays About Names

Essays About Names: The importance of names

Our names are important, but why exactly is this the case? Discuss why it is essential to be thoughtful in naming and the role a name plays in our identities. You can also describe what someone’s name can tell you about them. Delve into your own opinions on the importance of names to create a compelling essay for your readers.

Everyone’s name has a meaning and backstory. Explore the reasons behind the name you were given, and explain what your name means to you. Describe how your parents decided on your name and its significance. Perhaps you are named after a loved relative, or maybe your name represents a certain personality trait. Whatever your name is, describe why it is special to you.

A name has many implications; someone’s name may affect how others perceive them. For example, some names might evoke strength, power, and dominance, while others may give others a more laid-back impression. In your essay, consider the impact a name may have on how others see you- base your writings on research. You can also connect this to the importance of a name, as the impact/s you write about should be considered when giving someone a name.

For a fun, engaging essay, think of a name you would like to give yourself if given a chance to change it. Explain why you chose it and what significance, if any, it has to you. If you really can’t think of any name, you can write about your name and explain why you would not change it. However, go beyond simply explaining its importance and history: what makes it better than others? Discuss this fun question for an exciting essay.

Essays About Names: How to name a child?

When deciding on a name for their child, parents consider many factors. Research common naming conventions, for example, naming after religious figures or relatives, and discuss each in detail. Be sure to give examples of names under each category, and explain these examples in context. If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

The New York Times

The learning network | what’s the story behind your name.

What’s the Story Behind Your Name?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

See all Student Opinion »

An article today about a man who did not officially have a first name until he was 19 asks the question, “What’s in a name?” Do you like your name? How did you get it? How has it shaped you? If, like this man, you had to officially name yourself now, would you keep the name you’ve had all your life, or take another? Why?

Erik Eckholm writes about cartoonist Max Pauson and how life without a name shaped him:

…this promising art student’s strong sense of self was hard-earned. It was forged in an unstable, emotionally wrenching childhood and, in an odd detail that might serve as a metaphor for his struggles, it comes after 19 years of life without a legal name. His birth certificate read only “(baby boy) Pauson.” Name to come. His father had disappeared. His mother — in his words, “a pack rat who takes a really long time to decide on anything” — did not pick a first name at the hospital in San Francisco in 1990. And she never followed up, leaving him in a rare and strange limbo. While Mr. Pauson was long aware of the blank spot in his identity, he never quite had the time or means to correct it. He lived with his mother in a house that sometimes lacked electricity. He spent time in foster care and returned to live with his mother in homeless shelters and in public housing. Finally, at 15, he ran away to live with friends’ families. In an era when identities and backgrounds are scrutinized more than ever, he still managed to get into schools, though he never tried to obtain a driver’s license.

Students: Tell us how you got your name, how it defines you, and whether or not you would keep it if you could rename yourself now.

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Teachers: Here are ten ways to teach with this feature.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

i would keep mine i would never change mini

Kelly Fortunato is a name that I have answered to multiple times. It has appeared on bills, on my college transcripts, and has been called out loud at the DMV. Unbeknownst to me, it has changed my gender countless times, and prompted me to explain myself on several occasions. People are suprised when I actually introduce my self as Fortunato Kelly. I know that it sounds like the pen name of a 18th century ex-pat, hints at luck, or even passes as regal, but it’s entirely mine, and of varied construction. The latin roots shine through, but I’m blessed to be named after my mother’s father, who was of Filipino, Chinese, and Malay blood. The Kelly roots come from my father, who lools like his Irish, German, and Portuguee roots suggest he should. In analyzing my personal genealogy, I find myself compelled to get others to seek comfort in their individual histories, know where they come from, and live up to the standards set by our lineage in the American experience. In these capricious times, one constant is the safety and security of knowing yourself, and being comfortable with it. Cheers for reading, Fortunato Kelly

So, if he didnt have a name until he was 19, what was the name that people were calling him up until then? was it hey you? or wat? im just wondering because how would people get his attention if he had no name.

If I had to pick out a name for myself, I would have to choose from five names: 1) Isabella 2)Stella 3)Aila 4)Katherine 5)Theresa I would choose one of these names because they are pretty and just roll out of the mouth, much better than mine.

i was named after the arabic word for perfect but people are constantly mispronouncing it. if i cud change my name, id change it to Zoey

I love my name. It’s really pretty, and it has a nice ring. It’s plain, but I’m not plain, so I kind of like that. And I have neat nicknames, like Em, Emmie, Ems and a whole bunch other! Emily.

I got my name from brian because my mom and dad wanted a boy but when i came out they hurry and put an A at the end to make briana. A lot of people have my name and i have always wanted to have a rare name but i dont think i would change it. even if i wanted to i wouldnt know what to change it to.

I like the names GIRLS: 1. Abigail 2. Hannah Marie 3. Bri Ann BOYS: 1. Johnny 2. andrew 3. Dom

I have liked the girls names from when I was 3 and i still do. I like abigail because i use to be a saftey when i was in 5th grade at my school and one of the girls name was abigain and i fell in love with the name.

I like the name johnny because that is my boyfriends name, i like andrew because it is my boy friends brothers name and i just think dom is a cool name

I officially have 2 names. one is Kathleen and one is Hak Young. Hak Young is the name that my parents gave me and Kathleen is just my english name. I love my english name but sometimes i don’t like my korean name. It kinda sounds like boy’s name in korea, and i do want to change my name to something else but that would be too complicated. Thus, i chose not to change my name after all.

I’m a Rebecca after my grandmother Rebecca and straight from the torah, Rebecca. My name connects me to my family, to my history, to my faith, to myself. I’ve always loved being named after my grandmother; loved not being a Becky or a Becca; loved what my name means to me.

My name, Meris, comes from a classmate of my Mom, at the University of Rhode Island, who had a daughter, Meris. I love it, and I couldn’t do so well, as to give myself this name! I would keep; it for sure.

The story behind my name is actually quit funny. I was suppose to be named Alexandra Sarah S[.] untill my dad realized my initiales were gonna be A.S.S. Alexandra was my great grandmothers first name and my mom wanted me to be named after her but she also liked the name Sarah. So now im Sarah Alexandra S[.]

My name is very common in the way it is originally spelled Christine. But my mother decided to be unique and spell my name Kristine. Plenty of times i have had to correct people because they may spell it incorrectly, and i have always been happy with my name because it is just a part of me. When researching my name i had found that it is of Scandinavian descent and basically means christian which is what i am. I am proud of my name and i would never want to change it because it is what my mother named me and it has become me too.

Your name is the one part of your life that society cannot strip away. Even the most destitute people, those living on the streets, do have one thing to cherish– their identity. A name is only as special as one makes it throughout their life, and is a reflection of how well one lives their life. On the one end of the spectrum, you have those who have ended up making their names known for the wrong reason, aka the FBI Ten Most Wanted Criminals. On the other end, you have those people whose names are to be revered because of the good they have done or the influence they have. And then there are those whose names have been stamped into history. If one is capable of doing something extremely remarkable (or extremely terrible during a critical period) history will remember your name long after you have died and impress upon you legacy. Names are an essential tool, without which one cannot hope to fathom working in the modern world.

My name in particular, Zahra, is derived from Arabic origins meaning “starlight.” I find my name to be a bit out of tune with other people, but generally I am quite fond of it. I sometimes feel queer about it though because I feel that people find it a bit odd to say, but I don’t mind in the least. Originally, my mother wanted to name me Aisha, but a few days after I was born, I became very sick. My grandmother suggested that the name “Aisha” didn’t “suit me very well” and was the cause of my illness. Of course that was not true, but my mm reconsidered and changed my name to Zahra.

My middle name came from my grandmother’s name. I was named after her because my mother is very close with her, and the name has a good message. I got my first name because my mom liked it. It’s Italian, and I am Italian. My mom was going to name both my brothers my name if they were girls.

My name means Rival Torch, from some What Does My Name Mean website. Otherwise, my mom liked Emily and my great grandma’s name was Lena. Emily Lena. ~Emily Lena

I was born named Baby Girl Medrano

I love my name. Amanda- one who is lovable or one eho loves. ^(^

My name is Melissa. I love my name exactly the way it is. My name means honey bee. My mom liked the name Melissa because when she was little her job was to take out the honey for the bees. So she thought to name the youngest a name that means honey bee.

My first name I don’t think describes me, boring normal story my mom read a baby book and found Laura and fell in love with it but my father thought that Lauren sounded better with my last name. I think my middle name is what really defines my personality and is strongly connected to my roots. My middle name is Keating. My mom noticed that my grandma’s maiden name would not be passed on to anyone because her brother never got married. So she decided to carry on the semi-lost family name she passed it to me. I think this defines me because I’m traditional and strongly connected to my roots. Also because Keating is different and I love being unique. Though it is still traditional.

I was born in Vicenza, Italy, on the army base. My mom and other women on the base would pick Italian or Latin names. So I was named Mercedes. Many people compare my name to the car, but I tell them this; Benz, the car maker, got the name Mercedes from the daughter of a friend of his, who was a French Financer. I love my name, not because it is named after the car, but because its’ meaning. Mercedes drivesa latin word that means merciful and I love it!!!

My name is Chrysanthi. I love my name and i would never change it. It means ”golden flower”.

My name is Samantha , and I don’t think I would want to change my name because I can be called by short nick names. Like sammy, or sam is fine with me. My mom and dad thought of the name, but this was going to be my middle name but my dad liked the name Samantha better. I think my name fits me well, and I wouldn’t want to change it at all.

I have been called Mickey, Mickey Mouse, Rob, Robbie, Robinarama. Don’t mind nicknames if they are from good friends or family. Another insulting use of general nicknames for females is, “sweetheart, honey, babe, etc. by men with whom you are NOT familiar. I will always correct them by telling them, “My name is not honey,” or ” I have a name, address me by it.” You don’t hear men being called babe or honey by strangers. Absolutely unacceptable.

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What’s in a Name? Reflections on Who We are and What We are Called

Haleema Shah

July 14, 2015

When you think of a name — or your name — what story or memory comes to mind?

The first thing that many of us are ever given is our name. They are words that identify us, worn on everything from our personalities to neatly filed documents in a doctor’s office.

Our names may be reflections of sounds that appealed to an ear or living memories of a loved one that has passed. Some of us grow into our names — maybe we like the way they roll off the tongue, or maybe we just get used to them. And some of us decide that they just don’t fit.

Those name changes can mark a shift in identity, or a new chapter in life. Last year, one of the NBA’s most beloved players, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, wrote about shedding the name Lew Alcindor , the name he made his basketball debut with. He called the transition “not merely a change in celebrity brand name — like Sean Combs to Puff Daddy to Diddy to P. Diddy — but a transformation of heart, mind and soul…I’m Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the manifestation of my African history, culture and beliefs.”

Our names can reflect the histories that we want to hold on to, or the histories that we want to erase. The transcendental literary icon and luminary of the high school required reading list, Nathaniel Hawthorne, changed his last name by adding the letter “w” to his original family name, Hathorne. It is said that he was trying to escape his family’s association with the Salem witch trials, particularly his relation to John Hathorne, the only judge involved in the trials that never apologized for his actions.

What we are called can have heavy connotations beyond the histories they carry — sometimes it’s just the meaning of a name that can be troubling. During my own experience in Morocco as a student abroad, I met someone named Abdallah, which in Arabic, translates to “servant of God.” While Abdallah eventually moved past the Islamic beliefs he was raised with and now considers himself agnostic, he shared that his name is something he feels trapped in — it doesn’t reflect who he is now, and it’s difficult to change it in an Islamic kingdom.

While some may struggle with their names into adulthood, others may choose to make a statement by retaining the name they have grown comfortable with. After rejecting the institution of marriage for most of her life and throughout her career as a leader of the second-wave feminist movement, Gloria Steinem wed David Bale in 2000. Steinem kept her last name though, while Beyoncé, an icon of the current wave of emancipated femininity, fused her name with her husband’s, becoming a Knowles-Carter in 2008.

Big names like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Gloria Steinem, and Beyoncé weren’t the only ones to discuss and play on identity with their titles. The changing or retention of a name, the most outer part of ourselves, is a powerful means to share our internal selves with others.

So often, the search for a reason behind what we are called serves as a gateway to the past, and we fall into the lap of discussions that took place before or around the time of our birth between people that named us. So I’d like to invite you to be part of a project that explores identity through names:

When you think of a name — or your name — what story or memory comes to mind?

Share a story or a memory about how your name — or any name — has (or hasn’t) been able to shift, reflect, or grow with you over time.

I’ll be keeping an eye out for the stories you share and I will reach out to some of you for On Being ’s Your Audio Selfie project.

Contributors

Haleema Shah was eight when she became a public radio listener thanks to long drives in her mother’s car, and 18 when she made her radio debut — with a story about cats. After shadowing felines with her microphone, occasionally being hissed at by both cats and humans alike, she continued making radio as an intern for Chicago Public Media’s station, Vocalo, and as an intern for Voice of America in Washington, D.C. A graduate from Elmhurst College, Haleema holds a dual degree in history and economics. When she isn’t devouring news and radio stories, Haleema can be found devouring poetry, improv sketches, or last night’s takeout.

Share your reflection

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Home — Application Essay — National Universities — What’s in a Name: College Admission Essay Sample

What’s in a Name: College Admission Essay Sample

University: Tufts University

About this sample

Words: 253 |

Published: Jul 18, 2018

Words: 253 | Pages: 1 | 2 min read

While I was on vacation several years ago, a girl about my age approached me while I was splashing around in the pool. She, like me, was probably an only child on a vacation with two lame parents who wanted to unwind and rest, not rush down slides or glide under waterfalls.

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“What’s your name?” she smiled and asked.

Should I tell her the truth and risk her calling me “Suzie” or asking me if I’m Chinese or struggling to pronounce my name several times until I give up and stop correcting her? “I’m…Sarah,” I stammered out.

When strangers asked my name, I often invented a “normal” name. In most cases, people would struggle to pronounce Sook-Hee or question what it means. While I went to Korean school, the people there could easily enunciate every syllable; however, many of them noticed that I didn’t look like them, sometimes telling me that I “don’t belong at Korean school” or something lovely along those lines. I would then go back to elementary school, where some kids would tell me to “go back to China” or pull their eyes back into slits when they saw me.

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Questioning where I belong or maybe even if I belonged anywhere was typical for me. Why was I eating kimchi and rice with mashed potatoes for dinner? But maybe I was never supposed to fit into one category of stereotypes. I know now that my fusion of Korean-European is something to celebrate, not to hide.

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What's In A Name Essays Examples

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Thinking , Parents , Time , Identity , Children , Life , Design , Family

Words: 2000

Published: 03/16/2021

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Discussion Essay

When the term ‘name’ comes into mind, there are several other issues that come into thinking. One is the existence of reputation and another is the entity or identity that one tends to embrace especially in the context of determining one’s role in relation to the name that has been given to him. As a person is born into the world, the parents and/or guardians usually spend a relative span of time thinking what specific name they would give the new born child. Notably, such condition of thinking entails the desire of the people surrounding the family that makes up a child’ s circle to define the personality or at least make a distinct identification for the individual that they want the child to grow into. Nevertheless, the family members know that they cannot direct the child’s life fully no matter how much they want to. Their desires would remain as dreams; something that can be true or at some point denied given the circumstances that they are involved in. Question is, how important is it for a child to have the right name? Parents often decide on what to name their child based on different context of understanding the being of their child. For instance, there are parents who are specifically religious; hence, as a result, their infants copy biblical names such as Ruth or Mark or other names that follow identities of biblical characters. Others who may have a direct inkling to entertainment and popular culture may choose to name their children after famous individuals who have made a mark in the industry. Parents who are specifically involved in their familial lineage usually follow the pattern of the names of particular family members. They usually think of giving the family’s honor to their newly born children, allowing them to carry an important lineage that they think is highly important in determining their familial reputation. This is the reason why it is very obvious that there are some names that are considered extremely common in particular cultures and races. In the long run, it would be the child who would determine the value of his name for himself. Considerably, the determination of a person to keep a good name goes beyond just living within the limits of his own given name. Most likely, it could be understood that every person is different from another; nevertheless, the name that they follow specifically gives them an option of whether or not to follow the pattern of life that the ones they have followed lead. For instance, if one is named Ruth, there is a connotation that that woman would become as loyal as did Ruth proved to be with Naomi [as noted in the common and famous account of her life in the Bible]. This is why there are instances when a person having such a name and cannot live by the standards of the personality it suggests are being asked ‘why are you like that? You even have that name’. Beyond one’s personal identity, a particularly given name to a person determines the pattern of living that one is given the chance to take. It is a usual pattern for parents to take note of the hopes they have on the development of their children and how they are likely to mature into responsible individuals. Nevertheless, such hopes could only be proven futile if the children themselves see the importance of their identity in relation to how they personally develop as individuals. All the parents could do is to make sure that their children would be guided accordingly and given the chance to enjoy the life that they hoped for them to embrace. Another concept of consideration that parents take into account is the condition by which they define the gender of their children. There are instances when the name ‘Alex’ is given to a girl. Such a name is traditionally considered as somewhat masculine, nevertheless, through time, the interchange of gender roles in the society has already changed the vision of parents as to how they would name their children according to their gender and the character that comes along with such identity. For instance, a girl named Alex is often expected to grow up to be a brave individual, a person who knows how to deal with life’s trials and distinct troubles that aim to develop one’s capacity to face the option of success and victory in the end. Would a person actually be able to contend with such expectation? Only she could decide upon such matter. There are some individuals who are overly concerned about their names, while some others are simply not concerned enough about the matter. To set a comparison among these individuals and know more about how much they value their names, it is important to give attention to how they actually think about the matter. To examine the situation, an interview has been set accordingly. Three individuals were asked about their names and how they envisioned themselves having such identities tied into their being. One of them is a 12 year old girl named Alpha. When asked what her name meant, she said ‘the beginning’. She mentioned how her parents saw her as the beginning of their new lives. Being a child born out of wedlock, she mentions how much her parents’ lives changed and how they talk about it with her helping her understand that even though their lives have changed at the time that she was born, they knew it would be change for the better cause. When asked how she reacted to such deep meaning, she said that she did not know so much about its meaning until she reached the age of 11 when they discussed in school about the basics of family planning. She mentioned how this particular lesson in class allowed her to see things differently and to accept the fact that she is the ‘hope’ that her parents needed at the time. She was the reason why they are together and she hopes to be the reason why her parents would grow old together. It is because of this name that she has garnered a personal understanding of the real value that she serves in the family for her parents and for herself. Because of this, she wanted to prove herself, to be the hope that her parents actually need her to be. The other individual asked was Chelsea, a 21 year old senior college student who traveled from China towards the States to study. The name Chelsea is what she calls her ‘international name’. Her original Chinese name is Jingfei which means ‘not quiet’. She says that her name was a patterned name from her grandmother’s grandmother towards her generation. All of them had the name ‘Jing’ as the first syllables. Her parents made sure that such identity is passed on to her as a mark of her being part of the family. Such a name made her think of herself to have belonged to her family ever since her childhood; it meant a sense of thread that connects her with her great ancestors. She further adds that it meant so much to get such an honor to be named after her great grandparents; it seemed to be an honorable sense of identity for her. The name Chelsea on the other hand was a personal choice of Jingfei. It has been a culture among Asians, particularly Koreans and Chinese individuals to carry on a different international name when they get out of the country. She mentions that they take such an option of changing their names so that others may not have a hard time pronouncing their names. When asked why she chose the name Chelsea, she said it was from an American film she once watched in the past when she was just a child. She loved the female character so much that she took her name and made it her own as she comes into the nation of the white people. She said how it made it easier for her to adjust into the culture of the Americans and become a part of the thriving community that she wanted to be enjoined with. The last interviewee was Rudolf Valentine. He is a56 year old accountant working for a law firm in the city and is considered to be one among the best performers in his company. He smiles whenever somewhat asks of his name and simply answers ‘you can call me Rod’. He said that when it comes to his name, he spent years battling with the idea that he is a red-nosed reindeer with a matching bow and arrow and small wings that carried him out to hunt for lovers in Christmas. It was completely ridiculous, but he accepted the fact that this was the name he needed to contend with. Children, during his elementary days, cannot keep off from teasing him and calling him names. He said he survived such an era and learned how to deal with the matter in a much positive manner. Instead of getting pissed off with what others imply on him about his name, he learned to laugh matters out and simply make relative comments that would make it easier for him to relate to what others think of his name. In relation to the discussion points presented in this paper and the experiences presented through the interviews, it could be understood that a name is something that cannot be simply set aside. It needs to be recognized along with the worth that it carries for the one owning it. A person may be given the worst name but could still flourish to be a better individual whose existence could be celebrated by those surrounding him and those who are directly involved with him. True, a person may be given different names, but it is him who would identify the value of such identity towards the individual that he becomes in the future. The personality that one develops through time is what is considered important in the process of making a name. The decision of a person to be good or bad, to be productive or not, to be worthy of being called a good person, would be the basis of noting whether or not such a person has a good name. In a way, parents my give their children whatever name they may want to give them. In the end, it is their teaching and their guidance that would determine the real worth of such a name in the lives of their children. No one can ever control another, especially in making a name that is capable of defining one’s being and one’s worth as a person. Hence, given the chance to prove one’s self, it is suggested that one take the option of making a name and not changing one’s identity just so to be accepted by the society that he or she is living in.

References:

Matthews, Elaine; Hornblower, Simon; Fraser, Peter Marshall, Greek Personal Names: Their Value as Evidence, Proceedings of The British Academy (104), Oxford University Press, 2000. Boyes, MC and M Chandler, Cognitive development, epistemic doubt, and identity formation in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 1992. Berzonsky, MD. Self-construction over the life-span: A process perspective on identity formation. Advances in personal construct theory, 1990. Hall, RB (Reviewer) Uses of the Other: 'The East' in European Identity Formation (by IB Neumann) University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 1999. 248 pages. Schwartz, SJ and WM Kurtines, MJ Montgomery. A comparison of two strategies for facilitating identity formation processes in emerging adults. Journal of Adolescent Research, 2005.

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Tags: Academic Writing , Essay , Essay Writing

Knowing how to write an essay can help you out significantly in both, your academic and professional life. An essay is a highly versatile nonfiction piece of writing that not only tests your knowledge of a topic but also your literary and argumentative skills.

Each essay requires the same basic process of planning, writing, and editing. Naturally, we’ve used these stages to group our steps on how to write an essay. So w ithout further ado, let’s get into it! Here are the eight steps to write an essay:

Stage 1: Planning

1. Pick an appropriate research topic

In certain cases, your teacher or professor may assign you a topic. However, in many cases, students have the freedom to select a topic of their choice. Make sure you choose a topic that you’re well versed in and have significant knowledge of.

Having prior knowledge of the topic will help you determine the subsequent steps to write an essay. It will also make your research process considerably easier.

2. Form an appropriate thesis statement

A thesis statement is the central idea or premise your essay is based on. It is usually a sentence or two long and is included in the introduction of the essay. The scope of your thesis statement depends on the type of your essay and its length.

For instance, the scope of the thesis statement for a 500–1000 word school essay will be narrower than a 1000–5000 word college essay. A rule of thumb is that your essay topic should be broad enough to gather enough information, but narrow enough to address specific points and not be vague. Here’s an example:

The invention of the airplane by the Wright Brothers in 1903 revolutionized transportation and paved the way for modern aviation. It represents a monumental achievement in human history that forever changed the course of human civilization.

3. Create an essay outline

Creating a well-organized essay outline not only gives structure and flow to your essay but also makes it more impactful and easy to understand. The idea is to collect the main points of information that support or elaborate on your thesis statement. You can also include references or examples under these main points.

For example, if your thesis statement revolves around the invention of the airplane, your main points will include travel before the invention of the airplane, how it was invented, and its effects on modern-day travel. Take a look:

The Wright Brothers’ invention had a massive impact on modern-day travel. The subsequent growth of the aviation industry led to increased accessibility of air travel to the general public.

Stage 2: Writing

4. Write a comprehensive introduction

After creating the basic outline, it is important to know how to write an essay. Begin your essay by introducing your voice and point of view to the reader. An introduction is usually a paragraph or two long and consists of three main parts:

Background information
Thesis statement

Let’s better understand this with the help of an example:

The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane in 1903 revolutionized the way humans travel and explore the world. Prior to this invention, transportation relied on trains, boats, and cars, which limited the distance and speed of travel. However, the airplane made air travel a reality, allowing people to reach far-off destinations in mere hours. This breakthrough paved the way for modern-day air travel, transforming the world into a smaller, more connected place. In this essay, we will explore the impact of the Wright Brothers’ invention on modern-day travel, including the growth of the aviation industry, increased accessibility of air travel to the general public, and the economic and cultural benefits of air travel.

Let’s understand how to construct each of these sections in more detail.

A. Construct an attractive hook

The opening sentence of an essay, also known as the hook, should include a powerful or startling statement that captures the reader’s attention. Depending on the type of your essay, it can be an interesting fact, a surprising statistic, or an engaging anecdote.

B. Provide relevant background information

While writing the introduction, it’s important to provide context or background information before including the thesis statement. The background information may include the time before a groundbreaking invention, the pros and cons of a significant discovery, or the short- and long-term effects of an event.

C. Edit the thesis statement

If you’ve constructed your thesis statement during the outlining stage, it’s time to edit it based on the background information you’ve provided. Observe the slight changes we’ve made to the scope of the thesis statement in the example above. This accommodates the bits of information we’ve provided in the background history.

5. Form relevant body paragraphs

Body paragraphs play a crucial role in supporting and expanding the central argument presented in the thesis statement. The number of body paragraphs depends on the type of essay as well as the scope of the thesis statement.

Most school-level essays contain three body paragraphs while college-level essays can vary in length depending on the assignment.

A well-crafted body paragraph consists of the following parts:

A topic sentence
Supporting information
An analysis of the information
A smooth transition to the next paragraph

Let’s understand this with the help of an example.

The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane revolutionized air travel. They achieved the first-ever successful powered flight with the Wright Flyer in 1903, after years of conducting experiments and studying flight principles. Despite their first flight lasting only 12 seconds, it was a significant milestone that paved the way for modern aviation. The Wright Brothers’ success can be attributed to their systematic approach to problem-solving, which included numerous experiments with gliders, the development of a wind tunnel to test their designs, and meticulous analysis and recording of their results. Their dedication and ingenuity forever changed the way we travel, making modern aviation possible.

Here’s a detailed overview of how to construct each of these sections.

A. Construct appropriate topic sentences

A topic sentence is the title of the body paragraph that elaborates on the thesis statement. It is the main idea on which the body paragraph is developed. Ensure that each topic sentence is relevant to the thesis statement and makes the essay flow seamlessly.

The order of topic sentences is key in creating an impactful essay. This order varies depending on the type of essay you choose to write. These sentences may be arranged chronologically, in the order of importance, or in a cause-and-effect format.

B. Provide supporting information

It is necessary to provide relevant supporting information and evidence to validate your topic statement. This may include examples, relevant statistics, history, or even personal anecdotes.

You should also remember to cite your sources wherever you use them to substantiate your arguments. Always give researchers and authors credit for their work!

C. Analyze the supporting information

After presenting the appropriate evidence, the next step is to conduct an in-depth analysis. Establish connections and provide additional details to strengthen the link between your topic sentence and the supporting information.

Depending on the type of essay, this step may also involve sharing your subjective opinions and key takeaways.

D. Create a smooth transition

In case you plan to create multiple body paragraphs, it is crucial to create a seamless transition between them. Transitional statements not only make the essay less jarring to read but also guide the reader in the right direction.

However, these statements need not be too lengthy and complicated. Use words such as “however”, “in addition to”, and “therefore” to convey transitions.

6. Construct an impactful conclusion

An impactful conclusion creates a lasting impression on the mind of the reader. Although it varies in length depending on the specific essay, the conclusion is typically a paragraph long.

It consists of

A restated thesis statement
Summary of the main points
The broader implications of the thesis statement

Here’s an example of a well-structured conclusion:

The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane forever changed history by paving the way for modern aviation and countless aerospace advancements. Their persistence, innovation, and dedication to problem-solving led to the first successful powered flight in 1903, sparking a revolution in transportation that transformed the world. Today, air travel remains an integral part of our globalized society, highlighting the undeniable impact of the Wright Brothers’ contribution to human civilization.

Let’s take a closer look at how to construct each of these sections.

A. Restate the thesis statement

Your conclusion should call back to your original argument or thesis statement.

However, this does not mean repeating the thesis statement as is. The essence of your argument should remain the same, but it should also be modified and evolved as per the information presented in your essay.

B. Summarize important points

A powerful conclusion not only lingers in the reader’s mind but also provokes thought. You can create a strong impression on the reader by highlighting the most impactful points of your essay.

C. State the greater implications

End your essay with the most powerful and impactful part: the larger perspective. This can‌ include a question you’d like to leave the reader with, the broader implications and impact of your thesis statement, or the long-term, lingering effects of your experience.

Make sure to include no new evidence or arguments, or to undermine your findings in any way.

Stage 3: Editing

7. Review your essay

Knowing how to write an essay is just one part of essay writing. Properly reviewing and editing your essay is just as important. Make sure to spend enough time going over your essay and adding any bits of information that you’ve missed.

This is also a good time to make minor structural changes in your essay.

8. Thoroughly proofread your essay

After making the necessary structural changes, recheck your essay word by word. It is important to not only correct major grammatical and spelling errors but also minor errors regarding the phrasing or tone of voice.

You can either choose to do this by yourself, ask a friend for assistance, or hire an essay proofreading service to go over your writing. To construct a fool-proof, error-free essay, it is helpful to have a trained pair of eyes go over it. Professional proofreaders can spot errors that are not visible to most people and set the right tone for your essay.

Now that you know the basics of how to write an essay, it’s time to learn about the specifics. Feel free to dig into the articles below and keep reading!

How to Write an Essay Header in 4 Steps
How to Write an Essay Outline
What is an Expository Essay?
How to Start an Essay

Frequently Asked Questions

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The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples

The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples

Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays.

Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At university level, argumentative essays are the most common type.

Essay type	Skills tested	Example prompt
		Has the rise of the internet had a positive or negative impact on education?
		Explain how the invention of the printing press changed European society in the 15th century.
		Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself.
		Describe an object that has sentimental value for you.

In high school and college, you will also often have to write textual analysis essays, which test your skills in close reading and interpretation.

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Argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, textual analysis essays, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about types of essays.

An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence-based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement —a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your thesis using evidence (such as quotations ) and analysis.

Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic. This is the most common type of essay at college level—most papers you write will involve some kind of argumentation.

The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion:

The introduction provides your topic and thesis statement
The body presents your evidence and arguments
The conclusion summarizes your argument and emphasizes its importance

The example below is a paragraph from the body of an argumentative essay about the effects of the internet on education. Mouse over it to learn more.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a topic. It doesn’t require an original argument, just a balanced and well-organized view of the topic.

Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level.

The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented.

A typical body paragraph from an expository essay about the invention of the printing press is shown below. Mouse over it to learn more.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

A narrative essay is one that tells a story. This is usually a story about a personal experience you had, but it may also be an imaginative exploration of something you have not experienced.

Narrative essays test your ability to build up a narrative in an engaging, well-structured way. They are much more personal and creative than other kinds of academic writing . Writing a personal statement for an application requires the same skills as a narrative essay.

A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you.

Mouse over the example below, a short narrative essay responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” to explore its structure.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. Like narrative essays, they allow you to be more creative than most academic writing, but they are more tightly focused than narrative essays. You might describe a specific place or object, rather than telling a whole story.

Descriptive essays test your ability to use language creatively, making striking word choices to convey a memorable picture of what you’re describing.

A descriptive essay can be quite loosely structured, though it should usually begin by introducing the object of your description and end by drawing an overall picture of it. The important thing is to use careful word choices and figurative language to create an original description of your object.

Mouse over the example below, a response to the prompt “Describe a place you love to spend time in,” to learn more about descriptive essays.

On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the tree, the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.

My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to govern from the safety of the kitchen.

With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the insects it shelters…

Sitting out in the garden, I feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.

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Though every essay type tests your writing skills, some essays also test your ability to read carefully and critically. In a textual analysis essay, you don’t just present information on a topic, but closely analyze a text to explain how it achieves certain effects.

Rhetorical analysis

A rhetorical analysis looks at a persuasive text (e.g. a speech, an essay, a political cartoon) in terms of the rhetorical devices it uses, and evaluates their effectiveness.

The goal is not to state whether you agree with the author’s argument but to look at how they have constructed it.

The introduction of a rhetorical analysis presents the text, some background information, and your thesis statement; the body comprises the analysis itself; and the conclusion wraps up your analysis of the text, emphasizing its relevance to broader concerns.

The example below is from a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech . Mouse over it to learn more.

King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.

Literary analysis

A literary analysis essay presents a close reading of a work of literature—e.g. a poem or novel—to explore the choices made by the author and how they help to convey the text’s theme. It is not simply a book report or a review, but an in-depth interpretation of the text.

Literary analysis looks at things like setting, characters, themes, and figurative language. The goal is to closely analyze what the author conveys and how.

The introduction of a literary analysis essay presents the text and background, and provides your thesis statement; the body consists of close readings of the text with quotations and analysis in support of your argument; and the conclusion emphasizes what your approach tells us about the text.

Mouse over the example below, the introduction to a literary analysis essay on Frankenstein , to learn more.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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How to Write a Family Essay with Examples

Writing about your family gives you a chance to think about your own experiences and what matters to you. It lets you look at how your family works together and share important stories from your life. This guide will help you write a good family essay that others will find interesting, whether you're doing it for school or just want to put your family's story on paper.

What is a Family Essay?

A family essay is a personal story that talks about your experiences with your family, your relationships, and what you value. It's a type of personal essay that teachers often ask students to write to see how well they can tell their family stories.

The main goal of a family essay is to share your own thoughts on family values, traditions, and how you're all connected. It's a chance to talk about the love in your family, share favorite memories, or describe the strong bonds between family members.

Useful Tips for Writing an Essay on Family Topics

To write a great family essay, you need to plan and write carefully. Here are some helpful tips:

Start with something interesting: Begin your essay with a fun fact or story about your family to get the reader's attention right away.
Make a clear main point: Write a short statement that sums up the main idea of your essay. This will guide your writing and help readers understand what you're focusing on.
Do your research: Find out more about your family's history, traditions, and cultural background. This will make your essay more real and detailed.
Organize your essay well: Arrange your thoughts into a clear introduction, middle sections, and conclusion. Each part should lead smoothly into the next.
Use clear descriptions: Make your family members and experiences come to life with detailed descriptions. This will help readers feel connected to your story.
Include your own thoughts: Share how you feel about family events or how your family works together. This makes your writing more real and personal.
Check and fix your work: After you finish writing, take time to read over and improve your essay. Look for grammar mistakes, make sentences better, and make sure your ideas are clear.

When thinking about how to write about your family, remember that being real is important. Your own point of view and experiences will make your essay special.

Interesting Ideas on Family Essay Related Topics

Picking a good topic is important when writing about your family. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

How family traditions have changed over time
How technology affects how families talk to each other
Finding a balance between being yourself and what your family expects
How extended family members fit into today's families
What we learn from family arguments and how we solve them
How cultural background affects how families work together
What "family" means in different types of families
Why family support is important for personal growth
Dealing with differences between older and younger family members
How shared experiences make family bonds stronger

When you write about these topics, think about how they relate to your own life. For example, if you're writing about how technology affects family communication, you could share a story about how video calls help you stay in touch with relatives who live far away.

Remember, the best family essays mix personal stories with concepts about how families work and how they fit into society.

Family Essay Example: Why family support is important for personal growth

“ Family support is similar to having a group of people who both encourage you and protect you. It's more than just having people nearby; it's about having individuals who truly want you to succeed. When I was afraid of speaking in front of others, my sister's encouraging words helped me get through my first presentation. And truthfully, who else but family would listen to you practice guitar poorly without complaining? This kind of support without conditions gives us the bravery to try new things outside of what we're used to. It's also a way to learn from others - I've learned many things, from cooking advice to useful life tips, from different family members. Even when we don't agree, we grow; those serious discussions at dinner taught me how to defend my opinions and express my thoughts clearly. Yes, family can be frustrating at times, but they're also the ones who will stop what they're doing to help you move or listen to you when you're worried late at night. This combination of care, challenges, and support creates a special environment where we can be our true selves and slowly become the best versions of ourselves. ”

Closing Remarks

Writing a family essay helps you learn about yourself and think deeply. It's a chance to look closely at your relationships, celebrate what makes your family special, and understand more about how your family affects your life and the world around you.

Remember, the process of writing about your family can be just as rewarding as the finished essay. Take this opportunity to think about how your family has shaped your life and let your true voice come through in your writing.

Ready to bring your family story to life? Let Aithor's intuitive AI writing tools help you write a compelling and heartfelt family essay that captures the essence of your unique experiences.

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Journal Article References

This page contains reference examples for journal articles, including the following:

Journal article
Journal article with an article number
Journal article with missing information
Retracted journal article
Retraction notice for a journal article
Abstract of a journal article from an abstract indexing database
Monograph as part of a journal issue
Online-only supplemental material to a journal article

1. Journal article

Grady, J. S., Her, M., Moreno, G., Perez, C., & Yelinek, J. (2019). Emotions in storybooks: A comparison of storybooks that represent ethnic and racial groups in the United States. Psychology of Popular Media Culture , 8 (3), 207–217. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000185

Parenthetical citation : (Grady et al., 2019)
Narrative citation : Grady et al. (2019)
If a journal article has a DOI, include the DOI in the reference.
Always include the issue number for a journal article.
If the journal article does not have a DOI and is from an academic research database, end the reference after the page range (for an explanation of why, see the database information page ). The reference in this case is the same as for a print journal article.
Do not include database information in the reference unless the journal article comes from a database that publishes works of limited circulation or original, proprietary content, such as UpToDate .
If the journal article does not have a DOI but does have a URL that will resolve for readers (e.g., it is from an online journal that is not part of a database), include the URL of the article at the end of the reference.

2. Journal article with an article number

Jerrentrup, A., Mueller, T., Glowalla, U., Herder, M., Henrichs, N., Neubauer, A., & Schaefer, J. R. (2018). Teaching medicine with the help of “Dr. House.” PLoS ONE , 13 (3), Article e0193972. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193972

Parenthetical citation : (Jerrentrup et al., 2018)
Narrative citation : Jerrentrup et al. (2018)
If the journal article has an article number instead of a page range, include the word “Article” and then the article number instead of the page range.

3. Journal article with missing information

Missing volume number.

Lipscomb, A. Y. (2021, Winter). Addressing trauma in the college essay writing process. The Journal of College Admission , (249), 30–33. https://www.catholiccollegesonline.org/pdf/national_ccaa_in_the_news_-_nacac_journal_of_college_admission_winter_2021.pdf

Missing issue number

Sanchiz, M., Chevalier, A., & Amadieu, F. (2017). How do older and young adults start searching for information? Impact of age, domain knowledge and problem complexity on the different steps of information searching. Computers in Human Behavior , 72 , 67–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.02.038

Missing page or article number

Butler, J. (2017). Where access meets multimodality: The case of ASL music videos. Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy , 21 (1). http://technorhetoric.net/21.1/topoi/butler/index.html

Parenthetical citations : (Butler, 2017; Lipscomb, 2021; Sanchiz et al., 2017)
Narrative citations : Butler (2017), Lipscomb (2021), and Sanchiz et al. (2017)
If the journal does not use volume, issue, and/or article or page numbers, omit the missing element(s) from the reference.
If the journal is published quarterly and the month or season (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) is noted, include that with the date element; see the Lipscomb example.
If the volume, issue, and/or article or page numbers have simply not yet been assigned, use the format for an advance online publication (see Example 7 in the Publication Manual ) or an in-press article (see Example 8 in the Publication Manual ).

4. Retracted journal article

Joly, J. F., Stapel, D. A., & Lindenberg, S. M. (2008). Silence and table manners: When environments activate norms. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin , 34 (8), 1047–1056. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167208318401 (Retraction published 2012, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38 [10], 1378)

Parenthetical citation : (Joly et al., 2008)
Narrative citation : Joly et al. (2008)
Use this format to cite the retracted article itself, for example, to discuss the contents of the retracted article.
First provide publication details of the original article. Then provide information about the retraction in parentheses, including its year, journal, volume, issue, and page number(s).

5. Retraction notice for a journal article

de la Fuente, R., Bernad, A., Garcia-Castro, J., Martin, M. C., & Cigudosa, J. C. (2010). Retraction: Spontaneous human adult stem cell transformation. Cancer Research , 70 (16), 6682. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-10-2451

The Editors of the Lancet. (2010). Retraction—Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. The Lancet , 375 (9713), 445. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60175-4

Parenthetical citations : (de la Fuente et al., 2010; The Editors of the Lancet, 2010)
Narrative citations : de la Fuente et al. (2010) and The Editors of the Lancet (2010)
Use this format to cite a retraction notice rather than a retracted article, for example, to provide information on why an article was retracted.
The author of the retraction notice may be an editor, editorial board, or some or all authors of the article. Examine the retraction notice to determine who to credit as the author.
Reproduce the title of the retraction notice as shown on the work. Note that the title may include the words “retraction,” “retraction notice,” or “retraction note” as well as the title of the original article.

6. Abstract of a journal article from an abstract indexing database

Hare, L. R., & O'Neill, K. (2000). Effectiveness and efficiency in small academic peer groups: A case study (Accession No. 200010185) [Abstract from Sociological Abstracts]. Small Group Research , 31 (1), 24–53. https://doi.org/10.1177/104649640003100102

Parenthetical citation : (Hare & O’Neill, 2000)
Narrative citation : Hare and O’Neill (2000)
Although it is preferable to cite the whole article, the abstract can be cited if that is your only available source.
The foundation of the reference is the same as for a journal article.
If the abstract has a database accession number, place it in parentheses after the title.
Note that you retrieved only the abstract by putting the words “Abstract from” and then the name of the abstract indexing database in square brackets. Place this bracketed description after the title and any accession number.
Accession numbers are sometimes referred to as unique identifiers or as publication numbers (e.g., as PubMed IDs); use the term provided by the database in your reference.

7. Monograph as part of a journal issue

Ganster, D. C., Schaubroeck, J., Sime, W. E., & Mayes, B. T. (1991). The nomological validity of the Type A personality among employed adults [Monograph]. Journal of Applied Psychology , 76 (1), 143–168. http://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.76.1.143

Parenthetical citation : (Ganster et al., 1991)
Narrative citation : Ganster et al. (1991)
For a monograph with an issue (or whole) number, include the issue number in parentheses followed by the serial number, for example, 58 (1, Serial No. 231).
For a monograph bound separately as a supplement to a journal, give the issue number and supplement or part number in parentheses after the volume number, for example, 80 (3, Pt. 2).

8. Online-only supplemental material to a journal article

Freeberg, T. M. (2019). From simple rules of individual proximity, complex and coordinated collective movement [Supplemental material]. Journal of Comparative Psychology , 133 (2), 141–142. https://doi.org/10.1037/com0000181

Parenthetical citation : (Freeberg, 2019)
Narrative citation : Freeberg (2019)
Include the description “[Supplemental material]” in square brackets after the article title.
If you cite both the main article and the supplemental material, provide only a reference for the article.

Journal article references are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 10.1 and the Concise Guide Section 10.1

Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide

Chicago-style source citations come in two varieties: (1) notes and bibliography and (2) author-date. If you already know which system to use, follow one of the links above to see sample citations for a variety of common sources. If you are unsure about which system to use, or how the two systems are related, read on.

Notes and Bibliography or Author-Date?

In the notes and bibliography system, sources are cited in numbered footnotes or endnotes. Each note corresponds to a raised (superscript) number in the text. Sources are also usually listed in a separate bibliography. The notes and bibliography system, Chicago’s oldest and most flexible, can accommodate a wide variety of sources, including unusual ones that don’t fit neatly into the author-date system. For this reason, it is preferred by many working in the humanities, including literature, history, and the arts.

In the author-date system, sources are briefly cited in the text, usually in parentheses, by author’s last name and year of publication. Each in-text citation matches up with an entry in a reference list, where full bibliographic information is provided. Because it credits researchers by name directly in the text while at the same time emphasizing the date of each source, the author-date system is preferred by many in the sciences and social sciences.

Aside from the use of numbered notes versus parenthetical references in the text, the two systems share the same style for authors’ names, titles of works, and other cited components. Follow the links at the top of this page to see examples of some of the more common source types cited in both systems.

Most authors choose the system used by others in their field or required by their publisher. Students should check with their instructor before deciding which system to use.

For a more comprehensive overview of Chicago’s two systems of source citation, see chapter 13 of The Chicago Manual of Style . For many more examples organized by type of source, consult chapter 14 .

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Today's Paper

What’s in a name

Even to this day, I can recite the story of how I was named almost perfectly. My mother loved the name of the famous Olympic skier, Christin Cooper.

However, my mom wanted to incorporate an element of religion in there, so she changed the spelling to Christen (Christ + en).

Even now, when I check my bags at the airport, the shortened version of my name on the luggage tag is Christ.

While this was always a cool story growing up, it made finding things with my name spelled correctly on them difficult.

As fun as this anecdote about my name is, it’s only the start of today’s article because what you’re really going to find out is — it didn’t matter what my mom actually named me, rarely was that name going to be used. Instead, because I grew up in a small rural town and my grandfather was a well-known local character, I developed an entirely new name.

Back when my grandfather was younger, people used to stop by his farm all the time. From people trying to buy raccoon furs to others just stopping to chat, the farm was a hive of activity.

Since I was able to spend lots of hours hanging out at my grandparents house, I was his little shadow. I would constantly hear people ask, “is this your granddaughter?”

It was a constant refrain and his answer would simply be yes, rarely did my actual name get spoken.

As I entered high school, my athletic abilities started to make the paper and people would come up to talk to me.

Most conversations started with the question, “Are you Joe Letwen’s granddaughter?”

My answer, a “yes” always made me wonder when I would get recognition of my own. Even as fewer people began to stop by and life became busier, being identified as Joe Letwen’s granddaughter became standard practice.

My college years were weird. No one at State College knew Joe Letwen and I finally got a chance to be known as Christen Clemson.

I would walk down the street and friends would stop to chat, yelling “Christen” or “Clem” across the street to get my attention. It was only on holiday breaks that the old question, “Are you Joe Letwen’s granddaughter?” would arise.

After life at State College, moving back home was an experience. My grandfather was no longer here physically, but his legacy still was. A few months after moving home, a question I hadn’t heard in a long time was asked. “Are you Joe Letwen’s granddaughter?” was spoken by a face that I knew was familiar, but I couldn’t recall their name. My affirmative answer brought about stories of my grandfather I hadn’t heard.

The speaker regaled me about being a student on my grandfather’s bus and other shenanigans that my famously ornery grandfather was known for in his younger years. I smiled as my grandpa magically came to life again in the stories that this person told me.

This was not simply a one occasion incident. The longer I have lived in Mecca, the more stories I have heard and the more people I have met and the more comfortable I have become in being known as “Joe Letwen’s granddaughter” .

However, it’s not just me that is known by names like “Joe Letwen’s granddaughter.”

One of the wild things about a small town is that I know people by their nicknames as well. I won’t be specific, but there are people that my family has known for years that if you asked me what their real name was, I couldn’t even hazard a guess.

Sometimes, it’s something as simple as the “Last Name Boy” or something as complicated as a nickname earned when they were child that no longer even applies now. It’s one of the joys of living in a small, rural town.

These nicknames, these associations with characters of the past, keep the history of our small rural town alive. Even when the people are no longer physically present, the memories, the names, the legacy lives on.

It’s one of the unique aspects of rural life, a rite of passage so to say, that roots children (no matter if they are 10 or 50) to the family and the land.

It’s similar to the ancient tradition of naming people after their trades, like Fletcher (a fletcher in medieval times made arrows), Taylor (a tailor made the linen to line armor), or Smith (shortened for blacksmith who forged metal).

So just like those whose last names proudly display their heritage, when someone asks, “Are you Joe Letwen’s granddaughter” the answer is a resounding yes. He’s my heritage and my history and he’s played a huge role in who I have become.

Clemson is a member of the Trumbull County Farm Bureau and completed her Ph.D. at the Pennsylvania State University.

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