What’s in a middle name?

What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?

Happy Women’s Day!

My name represents one of the Great rivers in India Ganga. The seven main rivers are Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswathi, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaaveri. Whenever we start our prayers or do a pooja at home the water we take to perform the same is chanted with the mantra that let the purity of those seven rivers be in the water.

That is how ancinet days women were treated, pure like water. Over the years things did get mixed up and we now need a day to celebrate women’s empowerment.

Okay coming to my middle name,. My maternal grandfather went to the Village panchayat office to get my birth registered. The sitting clerk asked for my name. My grandfather gave out my name. The clerk said names of rivers should not stand alone and at that point both decided to add the name Devi to the certificate.

Yes, for many years I bore a middle name that did not have much significance 😀! Or a spur of the moment decision name.

By the way I have now changed my middle name and that is a story for another time!

3 responses to “What’s in a middle name?”

  1. This is really interesting Ganga. My middle name is Claire and I answered this post last year.https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com/2024/03/08/the-special-significance-of-my-middle-name/ Spanish people don’t undersyand the concept of a middle name, so some people will call me Katherine (my first name) and others will call me Claire. Some people will use both my names, Katherine Claire.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Katherine for sharing your story 😍!

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      1. You’re welcome Ganga.

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