The Hidden Identity in Your Name: How Names Reflect Social, Ethnic, and Familial Belonging

Your name is one of the first things you receive in life. Before you take your first steps, before you learn to speak, you are given a name that will follow you wherever you go. It appears on birth certificates, school rosters, passports, and job applications. But beyond its function as an identifier, your name tells a story—a story of ancestry, culture, and social belonging. It reflects the family you come from, the traditions you inherit, and sometimes, the biases you encounter.