Eliana

It’s a widely known fact that little girls grow up talking about names for their future kids that they may or may not have. Some girls get so attached to the idea that using “their” name can cause a very dramatic end to the friendship. I was never that involved in the game, and along the way have used the names I used to talk about with my little elementary school friends on foster animals. Natasha was given to a beautiful calico with stunning green eyes and Nadia was a sweet mutt. See not that passionate about the game, but then Eliana hit me.

I was reading “Three Cups of Tea” about a mountaineer who grew up at the base of Kilimanjaro and spent his adult life building schools in remote regions of Pakistan and his daughter’s middle name is Eliana. Here’s why it’s perfect:
-It’s a Swahili word which translates into Gift From God, which is my name too. Since I was born on my mother’s birthday my father’s students named me Mmpho-ya-modimo…English translation, Gift From God. Trying to spit that mouthful out would be a curse for any kid growing up outside Botswana, so the Swahili version it is. It would be like having a Jr. but with a fun African link, and be a way to honor my mom too.
-Can be used as Eliana or Eli or Ana
-A few years ago my Auntie Eli (one of my Dad’s sisters) passed away, meaning that my paternal grandparents lost 2 out of 4 children before their time. My brother David’s named after my Dad’s brother, and this way both of the lost siblings could be remembered. Auntie Eli was the person who literally gave me a sense of direction in life. When I was 15 she plunked me down in the car, handed me a road map, and went wherever I told her. It didn’t matter if I made a mistake, we’d just turn around and sort it out and there were definitely a few life lessons learnt along the way.

So there it is. I’m no where near having kids, but I’m going to hold onto this name…just in case.