The Meaning of the Name

     Everybody usually has one particular name to identify oneself, such as Akihiko Nishiyama which is my name.  Not only have some people called me Akihiko which is my first name, but also, I have been called Nishiyama which is my last name.  Therefore, I would say that each person has one name named by parents, but, people are called with several nicknames also.  For me, I have been called with so many names, such as Aki, Akky, Aki-San, and so on.  We did not decide what our names are.  So, when I was a child, I recognized my name because my parents and other people called me Akihiko.  After that, I could say my name if I was asked my name because I already know that Akihiko is my name.  In Japan, I am usually called by my last name instead of first name. In Japanese culture, people usually call people by last name. Only your family and close friends call you by your first name.  So, when I came to the United States, it was weird that I was called with my first name from American people.  Also, in the United States, when I introduced myself, I usually would say that my name is Akihiko which is my first name.  Usually, nickname is given by other people instead of oneself.  Usually, nickname is given by other people instead of oneself.  On the other hand, some people changes his/her name sometimes.  My ex-roommate changed his name as RJ.  Honestly, I do not remember his real name but it does not matter because I can still call him. 

     The book called Jasmine, in which the main character constantly changes her name case by case, is written by Bharati Mukherjee. Like RJ, the main character, Jasmine, also changes her name like Jyoti, Jazzy, Jase, Jane, and Jasmine. She has many names but I call her Jasmine in this essay which I am writing.   According to Jasmine “I have had a husband for each of the women I have been, Prakash for Jasmine, Taylor for Jase, Bud for Jane.  Half-Face for Kali” (Mukherjee 197).  Jasmine has curious and bizarre destiny.  Each name named by Jasmine has each episode.  For instance, Jasmine was born in Punjab, India, and, she was called Jyoti. She had a husband called Prakash Vijh.  The husband died by bombing.  After that, she had decided to go to the United States by smuggling.  At that time, she had two destinies which were widowhood and exile.  She had decided to kill herself in the United States where her husband and she were going to go.  And, when she was on the ship for smuggling which was going to go to the United States, she was raped by the captain who was called Half-Face. Then, she called herself “Kali”.  She likened her to goddess Kali. Kali is a goddess of blood and hooch and a slaughterous fight that is Indian myth.  After that, she murdered the captain.  Then, she got another fate which is the murder.

     In conclusion, a name means nothing except identification.  However, each desire can be put on the name, such as the name Jota reminds her early days in India.  Feelings of hatred and abhorrence are put in the name of Kali.  When the name is changed to round down the past, I affirm it.  We may have gone out to severe navigation of the name of life like the jasmine, and there is a possibility of a severe destining.  I like my name a lot because I have been using this name as my identification.  So, I am so comfortable to use my name now.  On the other hand, some people do not like their name because the names might remind them some bad stuff.  I think that changing a name is good thing if the person does not like it.  Changing your name is free (I do not know this about law).