Girl, What's Yo Name
My Name (don't wear it out)
My full name is Josephine Russell Ansbacher. Personally I feel like Josephine is kind of an old lady name, so maybe once I hit 70 or so I'll go by that. For now however, that name is associated with me getting in trouble. My brother's name is much more exciting in terms of passing from generation to generation, as it was my grandfather's name, and my dad's middle name, but mine just kind of came out of nowhere. When I was born, my mom didn't want to decide my name and so my dad chose Josephine, and he has since said that that is his favorite name in the whole world.
After some research, I have found that Josephine originated in France as a way to womanize the name Joseph from the Bible. I am not sure that womanizing has worked however, because all through elementary school I received a boy named Jose's papers, and even now when I order Starbucks the name on the side says Jose.
My middle name is Russell, and that is probably the part of my name that has the most meaning. My grandfather on my mom's side was named Russell, and he unfortunately died almost exactly a year before I was born. While I never got to meet him, I always hear stories about him, and feel as though he's with me since I share a name with him. That name is special to my mom's side, as it is also my cousins middle name.
My last name is German, and almost never correctly pronounced. It provides entertainment for me at volleyball games when they call out the roster, because it is always a different special way. It was also the source of bullying from a boy named Carter in the 1st grade when he figured out he could change my name to 'Ans-booger'. In all seriousness however, my name means 'the Ansbach River', meaning that my family grew up next to the river. My great-grandfather was Jewish, and luckily he left Germany in 1938 right before the Nazi's came to power. Once he got to America, he was a psychologist who knew Germans well, and while he was a psychologist at the University of Vermont, he helped to create the propaganda leaflets that would be dropped onto German soldiers to convince them to see the Nazi's in a negative light and try to get them to stop. This specific part of my name is new information to me, and it makes it all the more interesting and special.
'Part of Two'
I have been on a multitude of sports teams in my lifetime, starting all the way from when I was 3 years old playing preschool soccer at the YMCA. Sports are a primary example of dealing with individuality as well as your part as a whole. One tries to be the best that they can be, and in turn helps their team. However, because sports are competitive, everyone wants to play. I personally want to play all of the time, but sometimes you have to realize that it might not be the best thing for the team at the time, and give someone else a chance. In the end, the relationships I have made on sports teams are some of the strongest relationships I've ever had, and I think part of that is the humbling experiences it gives you of having other people be better than you.
My full name is Josephine Russell Ansbacher. Personally I feel like Josephine is kind of an old lady name, so maybe once I hit 70 or so I'll go by that. For now however, that name is associated with me getting in trouble. My brother's name is much more exciting in terms of passing from generation to generation, as it was my grandfather's name, and my dad's middle name, but mine just kind of came out of nowhere. When I was born, my mom didn't want to decide my name and so my dad chose Josephine, and he has since said that that is his favorite name in the whole world.
After some research, I have found that Josephine originated in France as a way to womanize the name Joseph from the Bible. I am not sure that womanizing has worked however, because all through elementary school I received a boy named Jose's papers, and even now when I order Starbucks the name on the side says Jose.
My middle name is Russell, and that is probably the part of my name that has the most meaning. My grandfather on my mom's side was named Russell, and he unfortunately died almost exactly a year before I was born. While I never got to meet him, I always hear stories about him, and feel as though he's with me since I share a name with him. That name is special to my mom's side, as it is also my cousins middle name.
My last name is German, and almost never correctly pronounced. It provides entertainment for me at volleyball games when they call out the roster, because it is always a different special way. It was also the source of bullying from a boy named Carter in the 1st grade when he figured out he could change my name to 'Ans-booger'. In all seriousness however, my name means 'the Ansbach River', meaning that my family grew up next to the river. My great-grandfather was Jewish, and luckily he left Germany in 1938 right before the Nazi's came to power. Once he got to America, he was a psychologist who knew Germans well, and while he was a psychologist at the University of Vermont, he helped to create the propaganda leaflets that would be dropped onto German soldiers to convince them to see the Nazi's in a negative light and try to get them to stop. This specific part of my name is new information to me, and it makes it all the more interesting and special.
'Part of Two'
I have been on a multitude of sports teams in my lifetime, starting all the way from when I was 3 years old playing preschool soccer at the YMCA. Sports are a primary example of dealing with individuality as well as your part as a whole. One tries to be the best that they can be, and in turn helps their team. However, because sports are competitive, everyone wants to play. I personally want to play all of the time, but sometimes you have to realize that it might not be the best thing for the team at the time, and give someone else a chance. In the end, the relationships I have made on sports teams are some of the strongest relationships I've ever had, and I think part of that is the humbling experiences it gives you of having other people be better than you.
I like how you had a backstory to all three parts of your name, even if you first name was only chosen because your dad liked it. The story behind your last name and the connection to your great-grandfather was also really cool. As for the second part, I really enjoyed the perspective on the "two me's" as sacrificing your individual needs for the needs of the whole team. That shows that sometimes we have to make the decision to present one of the "me's" even when we want to be the other.
ReplyDeleteI loved the part about volleyball games and the roster! I can really relate to that, the only difference being that for me, it's all the substitute teachers we've had and the awkward pause during the attendance when they try to say my name. And of course, it's almost always pronounced in a crazy way each time! I also found it interesting to see how it isn't just the meaning that makes your names special to you but also the little stories and the memories of your family that make you cherish your name.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the last part, I think your perspective about sports is a really good example of "individual" and "group" blending well together. The competition forces you to be the best you can but also fosters team spirit. It eventually benefits all. :)
I thought it was quite interesting how your middle name has a meaning connecting you to your grandfather. Although I don't carry my grandfathers name I never got to meet him as well and through the stories my parents share about him I always feel as if im connected to him. I liked the last sentence when you mentioned that through sports you became humble, I like how you own up that others can be better than you and instead of talking down on them you use it as a way to humble yourself!!
ReplyDeleteLol i'm just here cuz ur my gf and im so confused abt this
ReplyDelete