What Is In A Name

The Cambridge Dictionary describes a ‘name’ as ‘a word that a person, thing, or place is known by.’ William Shakespeare once wrote “What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Does our name really decide who we are? Would I be different if I were to have a different name?

Shakespeare’s words have always resonated through my mind. How differently would the story have ended if she wasn’t a Capulet and he wasn’t a Montague? Would their story have a happy ending? What would happen if that were true? The story of Romeo and Juliet holds an important place in many people’s lives and if the story did have a different ending, would it not drastically change those lives?

I have always wondered why we decide to call a certain thing by the names we call them. Why is a pen called a pen? What if a pen was called pencil, would it not write with ink? What if we call a pencil a pen, would it not write with lead? What is in a name that gives things so much power? And why is it even called a ‘name’?

We all know that everything happens for a reason and in the chain of events, even the smallest change can cause a domino effect. So, can’t the change in the name have the same effect?

The world is how it is, and everything has its own sense of uniqueness. And a name just adds own to a unique world. I can’t imagine a world where names don’t exist. Names give us a sense of belonging. There is more to a name. Our name tells the world who we are. It gives us an identity that we are expected to uphold. A name has more value than it is given credit for.

I cannot imagine living a life with somebody else’s name. How could we live our lives when we lose our sense of originality? My name is Ashmita Ghosh and having to live with another name seems like something entirely crazy.

A name plays a huge role in the grand design of the universe. Our names just add on the unique personalities each of us has.

What’s in a name? Our identity, our sense of self, and even our personality start with something as simple as just a name.