What's in a Name?

A Letter to My Daughters

Before you were born, before we knew whether you would be a boy or a girl, we chose names. It came from a place of love; from people we held in our hearts.

Madeline Rose

We waited until you were born to find out your sex. We wanted to be surprised. If you would have been born a boy, we would have named you after both of our fathers, Michael and Robert. Michael was the grandfather whom you never had the pleasure of meeting. I never really had the pleasure of meeting him either. He died shortly after my first birthday. Robert is your Peepaw, the name that you gave him when you were just learning to speak, and he loves you very much!

But you were not born a boy, you were born a girl, and the names we bestowed upon you came from your great, great Aunt Madeline and your great Grandmother Rose. Aunt Madeline was your dad's great aunt and as soon as I met her I fell in love with her. And Dad and I both knew that if we had a little girl we wanted to name her after the strong, independent woman that she was. Rose came from your great grandmother, whom you've also never met, but she, just like Aunt Madeline, was a strong and independent woman, and her legacy lives on in you.

Lily Marie

Honestly, we were on the fence about your name. We first picked Lily because of the meaning behind it – purity. Just like your older sister, if you would have been born a boy we would have named you after your grandfathers, but you were not born a boy. You were born a beautiful, little girl. And at the last minute we chose Lily. It was meant to be. You see, I had forgotten that Lily was also a family name. My grandfather, your great grandfather, was raised by his beloved Aunt Lily after his mother died. I remember my grandfather telling me stories about the loving woman who raised him when I was a little girl. And by naming you after her, you also carry on the legacy of your family. It also just suited you perfectly. I have told you many times that you have an inner light that emanates from you. And I have seen so many people attracted to that light, that purity.

And Marie comes from me. As I am sure you know, we almost lost you. I know you have heard the story but I wanted to share it here with you again. My body was determined to force you out way too early and I had to fight like hell to keep you in. I laid in a hospital bed for six weeks and then another four at home, and you still were born almost two months early. Again, we chose to be surprised about your sex. And then, there you were, a beautiful little girl. We just knew that we had picked the right name. It fit you so perfectly!

So, what IS in a name?

There is so very much behind your names. And it breaks both of our hearts that you both have so easily thrown them away. The names that were so carefully and lovingly chosen, for you.