Did you always love your name? Because when I was kid, I didn't, not one bit.
It's funny how from a very young age, we are trying to fit in or attempting to be more like others, and if there is something odd about you, well it sticks out. I grew up in the 1980's in a town where no one had my name. In fact, I did not actually meet another person named Mackenzie until I was firmly entrenched in middle school.
I have this memory, burned into my mind, of learning how to write my name, and all the other girls were done, and I'm still over here dutifully writing the letter "z". I so wished to have an easier name to spell such as Ann or Susan or Jill (names that were popular when I was a girl) and just be done with the whole thing.
"What kind of name is Mackenzie anyway?"
"Isn't that a boy's name?"
"Mackenzie is a last name. Why is that your first name?"
Sigh... as if being a kid wasn't hard enough, I remember fielding existential questions about my name. Sure, Mackenzie is a popular name today for babies, but back in the day, Cabbage Patch dolls were not coming through the factory with my name, you know what I mean?
It wasn't until high school, that I truly embraced my name and was glad to have it. It fit me and who I was, if that makes sense. High school is such a weird time of assimilation but not too much. Running with the crowd, but not running all the time. Fitting in but standing out. My name was mine though. No one could take that away from me. No matter what was going on in the periphery, inside I was me.
Also, being on the school newspaper and seeing your name in print helps you like your name as well 😉
According to all the baby name websites that list the name Mackenzie, they basically say the same sort of thing:
Mackenzie is a name of Scottish origin.
Meanings:
-Son of Kenneth: Mackenzie is associated with the meaning “son of Kenneth.” This connection to the name Kenneth gives it a strong and noble heritage. Kenneth apparently comes from the name "Coinneach" which means handsome.
-Fire-Born: Another interpretation of Mackenzie is “fire-born.” This evokes imagery of warmth and strength.
According to thebump.com, in Scotland, Mackenzie is typically used for boys, while in the United States, it has become a more popular girl’s name. momswhothink.com say that Mackenzie is a baby name of Scottish origin derived from the surname Mac Coinnich. The Mac Coinnich clan was one of the most influential families in Scotland for centuries.
Many of these meanings, I had heard before, but fiery-born? That's a new one, but I love it!
But I really love that one of Mackenzie's meanings is "strong". It makes me a bit teary-eyed to be honest because I've pretty open here about my struggles not only with anxiety and depression but also, I've dealt with childhood trauma. So, the fact that it says my name means strong, it just feels like a beautiful hug, a justification that my resilience gets tested over and over (and over again), but I am still here.
I am strong.
I love my name, I really do. I am glad that my parents wanted a unique name for me, one that I would grow to love. And I love that more mothers and fathers are choosing the name Mackenzie for the babes that they are bringing into the world.
I love being me ❤
I'd love to hear the meaning behind your name, please share in the comments!
How good to read "I love being me". Really enjoyable article xx
Haha! 😀