My Name Essay

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Another essay from my writing class. This one is about my name (Jennifer).

My Name....

I am Jennifer. My name reached number one in popularity in the 1970’s, and has remained in the top 40 ever since. According to statistics, approximately 1.4 million Jennifers live in the US today. I think it should feel weird that there are so many girls who share my name, but the reality is that I’ve only met a few, and they, unlike me, usually go by Jenny or one of the many variations of the name.

My name means White Wave, or White Phantom. It derives from the name Guinevere, of Welsh origin, meaning Fair One. Most people know the tale of the legendary Guinevere, who was King Arthur’s dishonest wife. While my last name represents my half-Italian blood, my first name illustrates my Welsh ancestry and includes Scottish, English, and Irish roots. I love my name and the history and legend behind it, and I wouldn’t want to change it for this reason.

My name even sounds like its meaning with the gentle pounding of the first syllable like a wave against the sand, and the soft fizz of the end like the current dragging back into the depths. The ocean is a subject of inspiration for me, and when I learned the meaning of my name, I thought it was oddly fitting. The sound of the foam bubbling and the tide pulling is soothing to me. The waves beat down on the shore with a rhythm, like a strangely sad, hopeful song. I can hear the song of the ocean as I rinse away my thoughts of the day during my evening reflection. The waves crash and tumble constantly, never ceasing, twice a day washing away the daily assaults against the beach. The white waves glow in the moonlight, breaking the sea of tangible blackness. I am Jennifer.