What's in a Name?

Laura Ann Dieckhoff. That’s what they’ll say when I walk across the stage at graduation. WHOA. I think a name carries a lot of weight with it. There are just some names that bring to mind a certain characteristic; some you think, that is a grandma name or that one just makes me think of a snob.

I like to think my name has a nice story to go with it. When I was born my mom was deciding between the names Abby and Laura. There is a cute family video we have of when I had just been born and my three sisters were sitting on the bed while mom was holding me. They were discussing names and, of course, all of my sisters had an opinion of their own. My oldest sister, Kayla, wanted to name me Tina. Thank goodness Mom vetoed that one. If you have ever seen the movie Napoleon Dynamite you know what I mean when I say I would not want to be compared to a llama for the rest of my life. The sister closest in age to me, Lindsey, had one the worst ideas I have ever heard.. granted she was just three years old. Her brilliant name? Bruster. Just imagine a child who cannot pronounce their “r”s spewing out that one during the brainstorm session. Amanda was really the only sane one of the group. As I mentioned, Mom had narrowed it down to Abby and Laura. When Mom mentioned Abby, Amanda chimed in and gave her vote: Laura. When Mom gave birth to me my umbilical cord was in a knot so there were a few complications. I have always heard the story that when they were trying to decide, the nurse told Mom she should name me Laura because it means gift from God and I was really lucky. I have yet to prove that true but I like to think it is.

My middle name comes from my grandmother, my mom’s mom. Her name is Ann and Mom had always wanted to include that in one of her daughters’ names.

Even though people rarely pronounce it right, I love my last name. Both of my dad’s parents are German and our name is of German origin. For the record, it’s pronounced dee-cough. I find the thought that it may not be my last name forever very weird. I cannot imagine having a different last name at my funeral because it is a part of my identity and has become a part of me.

I have plenty of nicknames, and most of them I really like. All in all, I think my name suits me really well.