The Importance of Names

A name can say a lot about a person.  They come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes with meanings behind them that can represent a vast amount of possibilities. They can represent things like one's heritage, social status, and ultimately their identity. To some people names are everything and they wouldn't be anything without them. However, I wouldn't consider myself one of these people. 

My parents gave me the name Tori Lynn Foster. 

My first name, Tori, was ultimately chosen by my father. My mother wanted my name to be Victoria, but both of my parents couldn't stand the idea of someone mistakenly calling me Vicky. I guess it just rubbed them the wrong way and I'm glad it did since I'm not too fond of that nickname either. Besides Tori being simple and short enough to yell across the house in only two syllables, that name was mostly given to me in honor of my dad's oldest sibling and only sister, my Aunt Lori. Her and I share a lot of common qualities in our personalities so I guess naming me somewhat after her was fitting. We both are very sarcastic, love to read, down to earth, and have a bit of a tom-boy side. 

My middle name, Lynn, unofficially came from my mother's side of the family. Her oldest sister and my aunt, Francesca, always wanted a middle name growing up and decided to make it Lynn at a very young age. She introduced herself with that fake middle name to everyone she met which only slowly, but surely, convinced herself that it really was her middle name. She even requested to be announced as Francesca Lynn Percy during her graduation ceremony. My mother could see how much my aunt wanted the name Lynn to be a part of her, so she decided to make it a part of my name on her behalf. I really like how it is short and simple just like my first name. I think it even has its own sort of flow to it. Tori Lynn. Rolls right off the tongue. 

My last name, Foster, is the one part of my name that I don't know much about to begin with. The only facts I could get out of my parents was how it had only been in my dad's side of the family for a couple generations and that it is of German and Polish descent. To me, Foster sounds very bland and intensely White. Although, I have heard people comment on how much it fits with the rest of my name.

They say a name can make someone who they are, but in my case I would like to believe that I would still be the person I am today even if I was given a different name. The major events that have happened throughout my life span would have still happened whether I was a Tori, a Vicky, or even a Deborah. It definitely adds to your story though.