Name: The Hidden Power to Change Someone

            Some people say that there is nothing to do with name. But I am not one of those people because for me name is something important. I consider name as a pray. My name is Weni Mardi Waluyani. My father gives that name after I was born. Actually my father didn’t prepare name for a daughter he prepared a name for a son, because when my mother pregnant many people including my mother herself and my father believed that she pregnant for a boy. But then it is proved that they are wrong. My mother gave birth to me. Because of that my father changed the prepared name from Woro Mardi Waluyanto to Weni Mardi Waluyani. 

            I have already asked my parents about what the meaning of my name since long time ago. Because when I was a little girl I believed that my name doesn’t sound cool. I want to change my name into some names which sounded more modern and cool like Anita.  Then my father explained to me about meaning of my name.  He said that my name is derivates from Javanese language even though my name has same rhythm in each syllable like Sundanese name. Both of my parents are Javanese after all.  

Symbol for myself I have draw, Weni Mardi Waluyani

            Weni is adapted from Javanese word Diwenei which has meaning as ‘is given’. Mardi is also adapted from Javanese language Margi which means way, road or path. Last Waluyani is from Javanese word Waluyo which has meaning as safe, welfare, blessed or happiness. My father added suffix –ni in the end of Waluyo to refer that I am a girl. So in a whole Weni Mardi Waluyani has meaning as a girl who is given a welfare and safe way in her life.

            After I heard about meaning of my name I forget my intention to change my name. Because I realize that my name is not only a group of consonant and vocal letter. My name is something more than that.  It is a pray for me from people who love me and I believe that this name is appropriate for me. It is because I will be a person who leads my family into welfare path and I willing to work hard for it.

            I will never change my name even when I get married with someone I won’t use my husband name. I will keep my name even though with my name, people (especially in my hometown Sukabumi) are always wondering about my religion identity. It is because accidentally my name is similar with a Christian School called Mardi Waluya (At first it is Mardi Yuana but when I entered Junior High School it changes its name into Mardi Waluya).

            My reason why I won’t change my name is because I believe of power of words. I believe that words can influence someone greatly because people sub-conscious part always record what other people surrounding them said and turn it into suggestion for themselves.  So people will act similar with what their environment labeled them.  So whenever someone called my name I received it a as pray from them, so I can become stronger each minutes.