“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

- “your other self could be just right there where you are, waiting to emerge, be careful though as you might not like to reveal it”
M – Merry, abundant joy
I -Influential, your thoughts have weight
C – Calm, your presence is comforting
H – Happy, a joy to have around
E – Eloquent, the gift of expression
L – Laidback, not sweating the small stuff
L – Light-hearted, you have an easy laughter
E -Energetic, an indefatigable spirit
( a lovely, acrostic poem given by one of my high school students many years ago)
I will tell you a story, and let me begin by saying my name is Michelle; Michelle from the Beatles song. Obviously, my father was a super Beatles fan, that he named his firstborn daughter, Michelle. My mother used to say that, my papa would sing me the song to tuck me to bed or to make me stop crying. And so I grow up listening and singing to the song alongside my father. Yes, again I too have become a Beatles fan myself. Do I have the choice then? Maybe no. But I learned to love the melody and eventually learned the lyrics. And it is for me, the greatest love song ever was written. It has my name on it, why not?
My father would repeatedly tell me the story of how the song was born. According to him, John Lennon invited McCartney over to college parties when he was still in high school, and French culture was a trend. Paul would try to fit in by pretending to be French. He would play little tunes in French, but he actually only knew a few French words so he would make up words. John told him that he should make it into a real song. So he asked his friend Ivan Vaughan, whose wife was a French teacher, for a French name and some words to rhyme with it. Vaughan came up with “Michelle, ma belle.” McCartney then came up with the next line, “These are words that go together well,” and Vaughan taught him the French translation, which he used in the song as well. When he played it for Lennon, John suggested the “I love you” to be part of the middle verse.
My father would then add, “this was not based on any particular woman, they chose the name because it sounded good, and I chose this name for you because it fits perfectly your angelic face, you look so good as a baby, and so I thought, what better way to call you than, Michelle“
“I love you, I love you, I love you
That’s all I want to say
Until I find a way
I will say the only words I know that
You’ll understand”
Well, my dad would sing me the chorus all the time, especially if I did so well in my class, at home, or even playing scrabble and crossword puzzles with him. I was the happiest little girl who never run out to play outside the house. I was the happiest girl who at 5 years old enjoyed playing scrabble with an adult. Yes, again I was not your typical little girl then. But I was very happy. They said, I never had tantrums. Who will have tantrums if you have a father who tells you how much he loves you over and over in a song, all the time, every day?
But hold on, there is the flip side of the story.
I say I wasn’t your perfect little girl though. I had my share of naughtiness and playfulness. My father would put up to that or even tolerate me for being naughty most of the time, but again, there is the “but”, only up to a certain limit. I was very naughty that I’d push the limits too sometimes or maybe I was just so confident I wouldn’t get a dose of my medicine, so to say. (After all, I am a daddy’s little girl)
My father is probably the kindest human being you will encounter. He never yells, nor shout. He’d talk to you in a very calm voice even if when he is already mad. And so because of that, we wouldn’t even know if he was mad or simply being nice.
Well, not exactly. I knew for sure he is mad, particularly on me if and when he calls me “Mikaela”
While, Michelle for him is his loving, obedient, kind, and well-mannered daughter, the “Mikaela” is his naughty, sometimes stubborn mischievous child. He can tolerate my behaviors except for one thing; I have the habit of not finishing my food. And so he would calmly say “Mikaela, babaunin mo as higaan and pagkain kapag di mo inubos yan” (Mikaela, you will bring the food in your bed when you sleep if you don’t finish that.) And I never dared challenge him on that because the first and last time I did, he really put the food beside me while sleeping.
And so growing up was like that. The nice me is “Michelle” and the naughty me is “Mikaela”, but it was only my father who has the authority and the power to use that name on me. Well, not really by now, my siblings and my mother would do so by now, if they want to tease me and make me cry for missing our father who passed away already.
What’s in it for a name? A lot, especially if it has made you see both sides of the world.
“Hush now Michelle, end this before you even begin to cry”…
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Published by michnavs
Philippine-born Michelle Navajas, currently residing in Malaysia. Michelle authored the book “After – Rain Skies: A Million Stars” for PWW during their Million Stars campaign.
Graduated with a Master of Education majoring in English in the Philippines, Michelle was a former college professor, teaching literature, speech & oral communication, creative writing, drama, and theatre arts.
Michelle is active in her writing profession and works as a freelance creative writer.
Michelle passionately blogs at www.michnavs.wordpress.com, where you can find her prose and poetry on love, life, motherhood, and her advocacy on abuse and violence.
A published author on Spillwords NYC https://spillwords.com/what-if-snowflakes-dont-fall-in-winter/
Her poem “Again” is published on three platforms, on MEDIUM -an International Writers and Readers Space, AFRICA WRITERS CARAVAN, and at WOMAWORDS LITERARY PRESS.
kindly go check the following links
–https://womawordsliterarypress.home.blog/2020/06/29/imagining-life-after-the-ravaging-virulent-covid-19-pandemic-a-special-journal/
–https://personalitiesofinspiration.wordpress.com/2020/06/29/imagining-life-after-covid-19-a-womawords-june-edition/
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I love this.Maybe because my name is also Michelle😃….awesome.
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Yay, hurray for all Michelles…lol thank you so much !!!
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Such a heartfelt write up Mich. I loved how your father used the second name to show he was a bit mad at you. Actually I feel that is such a nice way to let the child know that, somethings are unacceptable without actually shouting at them.
Enjoyed this read. Take care dear !!
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Thank you so much Radhika. I agree that parents can impose some things without yelling or being mad or simply being demanding at all. I don’t remember my parents to have shouted at me.. they always do it in a kind, gentle yet very firm way.
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You are very lucky to have heen blessed with such parents Mich ❤️
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I am Radhika…and will forever be thankful..
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another stunning tribute to your loving father Michelle … I also know and love that song and had no idea that’s where your name came from! How delightful to be a daddy’s girl 🙂
Our parents used our full names when we were in trouble, usually it was our nickname … our first initial 🙂
Thanks for sharing this deeply personal story Michelle, a lovely memory of your Dad!
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Thank you so much kate for your prompt.it paved the way to this post. i have been really thinking a lot of how to creatively join your fun.. at first i wanted to come up with list of things around and it names, but since i am not the “outdoorsy” kind of person i thought it wouldn’t give justice though… and then i realized of sharing this little story of mine.
and i am so glad you like it. that makes it all worth writing and sharing.
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you always add something different and that is the creativity I requested MIchelle, you do it well!
I had always wondered about the nonsensical playfulness of that song and your story answers it, it was the beauty of the name and the “Frenchness” rather than being a lady they knew 🙂
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Thank you Kate…and yes the story behind the song is actually what makes it more intersting. Imagine Paul pretending to know French when he knew just a few…lol..how cute..
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and he is still cute 😉
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Aw, he is still..❤❤❤
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This was a delightful read. What a lovely way to get to know more about you Mich 💜
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Aw, thank you so much.. it took me years before i even decided to reveal my identity here…lol
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This is just a heartfelt post. I can see why it means so much to you. I love how your father created another name for your mischievous side. I really enjoyed this one, Mich
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Thank you Shweta, i am so glad you like it…thanks always.
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My pleasure 🙂
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That is so cool. My middle name is a Beatles song too (though a different), so I know what you mean about loving a song for that. Your story about your dad is so so beautiful. My dad was/is much the same kind of loving and peaceful person. Not perfect, as nobody is, but certainly that. Awesome that you are a high school teacher, and also a much-loved one!! 💛
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Thank you Lia..
Nobody is perfect indeed but we have the best dads and that is perfect enough.
I was a school teacher but i stop because i wanted to focus full time on being a mom to my four daughters..
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You have four daughters???? I have four sons!!!! Amazing!
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Wow…lovely….really smiling here..
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Oh WOWWWWWW, I’m hushed, speechless, drinking this in, Mich.
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Aw, thank you Rhen..thank you❤❤❤
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You’re most welcome ❤
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💖💖💖
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a most beautiful name for a very beautiful person, fits you like a ball gown, classic and serene. Your papa and mama raised all of you with the best they had which was pure love and in turn created a generation of amazing humans. Love the poem and the back story, a name is so important and having a story how it came about is part of a legacy parents pass on.
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Aw, thank you so much Gina..you made me wanna dance …waltz …but ahhh that was just me and my papa who would playfully do that dance…i would step on his toes ..
My parenta have the best back stories to all of our names…and very interesting stories actually .
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I can feel their love overflow into you! these stories are precious and it is so encouraging to read. I look forward to more from you.
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They are (my parents) really interesting people and
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They are (my parents) really interesting people and..very loving…i will be sharing bits of them sometime again
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Wistful and beautiful.🌼
Hey! Jude too is a Beatles song, so *jinx.
I don’t have a naughty name but I let out my naughty side now and then. Naughty doesn’t have to translate to bad. I hope both Michelle and Michaela are at harmony within you and may your dad keep resting in peace 🙏♥️
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Hey Jude…that’s another lovely Beatles song..and yes naughty doesnt always have to be bad…and yes Michelle and Mikaela are perfect together…,👌👌👌
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You’re lucky to have such a wonderful father. I loved your post and how you were named. A lovely name.
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Thank you Sadje.. i am indeed very lucky
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A pleasure Michelle
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I love this! How precious
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What a lovely poem and good memories.
My parents made up my name. I hated it once I left my small town for college and no one could pronounce it. I went by a shortened version a nickname my dad called me.
Now I am okay with either name but I will saddle any kids we have with a common name.
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Thank you for sharing your story…sometimes some parents dont realize the gravity of the the effects on the child by simply giving them hard to pronounce names..or even weird names..i once had a student who had 5 names…and it was so hard for her to fill out forms in school …she once had she’ll have four other names legally be taken out oncr she is an adult…i wonder though if shed did it.
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Your welcome.
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such a beautiful acrostic poem and a very heart warming story!! love this!
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Thank you dear Rosie…happy to see you here..💖💖💖
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happy to be back and read your words, dear!
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💞💞💞
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Cheers to Michelle! Really nice share and describing self to us – the unpretentious and fun loving gal, who is a good daughter and person to the community. 🙂
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Thank you so much GH…kate’s prompt really paved the way to this post… i am so glad you like it….💖💖💖
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YAY for MICHELLE! 🙂 The poem by your student is so sweet! You are all of those wonderful things and even more…all positive!!! 🙂
I enjoying learning about names and their meanings, but especially the how and why someone was named what they were named. 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
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Yay…thank you Carolyn..so glad you like it..
It is indeed wonderful to learn the stories behind the names of people we know..it could be interesting and inspiring some times annoying too.
Lol.
💖💖💖
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Wonderful! 😊 Thanks for sharing that story.
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Thank you too for reading..💞💞💞
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Such a lovely post Michelle. I’m glad I read it. I’ve written a post on the same subject ‘whats in a name?’ But haven’t published it. Loved the story behind your name🙂. Your dad sounds like a wonderful person.
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Thank you Smitha…please publish that and share me the link..i would love to read it..
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I’ll do that 🙂
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Your name Michelle suits you to a Tee and who would not love the Beetles. They were the best. Such a wonderful poem and lovely to know so much about you dear Mich. You are a lovely person and your picture is so beautiful. Thanks for the share.
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Thank you Kamal for always dropping by with your lovely comment…❤❤❤
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Welcome dear Mich. Love and light to you ♥️♥️♥️♥️
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