Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc. That is today’s #bloganuary daily prompt. Well geez, when I picked up my first bloganuary prompt I did not realize it would be so personal. I feel vulnerable – the curtain is being pulled back on the wizard! Getting past that hurdle, I embrace the exploration of my name’s meaning as a reminder of the journey that has led me to where I am today, the values that have been instilled in me, and the stories woven into the fabric of my name.
Growing up, I knew my parents chose the name Catherine for me naming me after St. Catherine. The problem was – I could never remember which one so I was always reading about saints with the name Catherine. Catherine has been well used throughout history for saints, queens, and the general public alike. St. Catherine of Siena is the Catherine my mother admired. My mom looked up to St. Catherine of Siena as a role model for strong and independent women. Beyond just honoring St. Catherine through my name, my mom wanted to instill the same values and virtues in me that St. Catherine of Siena embodied by reminding me of my call to holiness and my connection to eternal life beyond this one. In Latin the name originates from Katharina. Going back further, Catherine was derived from the Greek word “katharos,” means pure or clear. It symbolizes not only the purity of my mom’s intentions in naming me after St. Catherine, but also a pure and unwavering faith.
St. Catherine of Siena was one of the most influential women in history. She was a 14th century mystic, activist, and theologian who dedicated her life to serving others and fighting for justice. Her influential writings and teachings have been studied and admired by scholars and leaders around the world. I cannot overstate her impact on the Catholic Church and women’s rights movements. Another saint I read up on as a child was Saint Catherine of Alexandria who is the patron saint of students and nurses. It was unbelievable to learn someone could have such faith and be martyred at such a young age and continue to have an impact in the lives of many even after death.
Catherine seems like a simple and common name, yet my mom always spoke it with such reverence and pride. Where I went to school, it was not a common name and was often a source of stress for me. I was not a Heather, Michelle, Jennifer. When introducing myself other kids would struggle to understand it. My middle name was even worse at school. It holds a family significance as it was passed down through generations. To other children my name was not classic, mature, or strong like my mother claimed it to be. To them it was nerdy and weird.
At home, I worked a deal. My brother, John, had only four letters in his name where Catherine had nine and took me a lot longer to write. I remember pointing that out one day and my mom said, “Why don’t you just write Cat. Then you’ll be about the same.” The nickname stuck. At home, with my family, I was Cat. In my teenage years, I tried on Katie, Kathy, and Kate – I always wanted a that “K.” My mom put the Kabosh on that. If someone called the house asking for Kathy she would tell them, “No Kathy lives here,” and hang up. Good times! Good times!
It gets better. One day, when I was still a teenager, I was working with a woman named Alice who I absolutely adored. She was kind and gentle and one of the hardest workers I knew. She was asking what my middle name was. I squirmed as I told her it was awful not recognizing until it was coming out of my mouth that my middle name (that I was ashamed of) was her first name! Of course she was gracious, understanding that Alice was old fashioned and not popular among people my age.
That was the turning point when I began to appreciate my name. I began to appreciate my middle name as well and the sense of unity and tradition it gave me connecting me to my family and their legacies. When I was a bit older, naming my own children, I came to appreciate the name Catherine even more. As I delved deeper into the lives of the remarkable woman saints who shared my name, I began to see the layers of meaning and significance behind my name.
The significance of my name goes beyond just its meaning of “pure.” It is also a reminder of the power of strong female figures throughout history. Both St. Catherine of Alexandria’s and St. Catherine of Siena’s unwavering dedication to their beliefs and their fearless determination to create change resonates with me on a personal level. It inspires me to always stand up for what I believe in and to use my voice to make a difference even if it is only in a handful of peoples’ lives as the message of lifestyle medicine drowns in a sea of pharmaceutical commercials, addictions, and greed.
The St. Catherines’ legacies continue to live on, centuries after their deaths as all of our legacies will. We are all creating an impact, for better or worse, in the lives of others. So while my name may seem simple on the surface, it holds a depth and richness that reflects the extraordinary life of the woman who inspired it. Being named after St. Catherine of Siena has not only given me a strong and meaningful name, but because of my memory glitch, it has also given me a sense of purpose and a connection to her and other remarkable Catherines. They continue to inspire me every day to answer the question: What is my legacy?
Sharing my name story feels like unveiling a secret part of my identity – my superhero alter ego -and although I feel vulnerable, it also serves as a celebration of the rich tapestry of history and meaning that comes with it. Who knew a name could carry so much weight?
Maybe my story will inspire you to read about a St. Catherine. Or perhaps it will prompt you to ponder today’s #bloganuary daily prompt and discover a cool backstory to tell at parties or consider the epic legacy you will carve into history and leave with your name!
Tell me, what is the meaning and significance of your name?
Photo by Felipe Vieira on Unsplash
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