Significance in Names

Names on one hand seem like really simple things we are born with.  On the other, they are a part of our identities.  Losing your name is like losing a part of who you are.  I also believe names mean different things to different people.  Some names are more common than others, but it's rare to have the same exact name as someone else.  In that way, names add to our uniqueness.  I don't think that names define wholly who we are or our personalities.  However, I think they are significant in differentiating us from each other, and passing on some of our heritage throughout generations.

Naming someone is an important decision.  Some people have a hard time deciding, desperately trying to pick the perfect name.  Others know right away what they want to name their child.  That's what it was like for my parents.  When I asked my mom, she said her and my dad both liked the name Kaitlyn.  They had no difficulty.  When I asked her why, she didn't have a reason.  So they agreed on my name.  However, they did have some disagreement about how to spell it.  My mom argued for it to start with a C while my dad wanted a K.  Today, I'm so thankful for my dad writing my name with a K on the birth certificate, because I just think it fits me better for some reason.  I like my first name the way it is.  The name Kaitlyn is a form of Caitlin, which is derived from the name Catherine.  It's an Irish name meaning pure.  I think that meaning is very much me. 

Along with my last name, Colucci, my name connects me to my family and my heritage.  My first name is Irish and my last name is Italian, representing both sides of my family.  A cool story about my last name: Colucci was originally Coluccio until my relatives in Italy moved to America and dropped the "o".  I think what is so great about my last name is that a lot of people find it fun to say.  Because of that, my last name has become one of my nicknames in a way.  Some people just call me Colucci, and two of my friends call me Coluch.  I love that my last name can define me like that because it's so unique and plays a strong role in my life.

"There are two me's, the me who is the individual and the me who is a part of a family of four."  I think this statement by Anna Quindlen can relate to everyone in some way.  I think the way I most relate to being "two" is by being a twin.  All my life, I've been alongside my brother.  We shared a room as kids, gone to the same schools, had the same friends, and shared 17 birthdays together.  There are not a lot of things that one of us has done and not the other.  However, we're also very different individuals.  Even though we have similarities, we also have differences in our personalities, hobbies, etc.  Therefore, I completely believe there is the me who is the individual and the me who is a part of a set of twins, not to mention the rest of my family.  I love being the me who is a part of my family, a part of a larger whole.  We are all strongly connected to each other in a way I can't even begin to explain.  However, I am also the me who is an individual and has different thoughts and perspectives about most aspects. 

I think the dilemma with being both an individual and a part of a larger whole is that it's hard to differentiate between the two.  Growing up, I've always been connected and compared to my brother.  Sometimes I feel like some people only see us as a set of twins rather than the two of us as individuals.  It's frustrating at times, but it's also great being a twin and I wouldn't change it.  I just believe there is a clear difference between the personalities of me as an individual and me as a part of larger whole.  In my opinion, it's great being "two," but there are times when there should be a separation.