I liked the idea put forth by Daily Prompt to say your name, describe what it means, how you got it how it fits you. I have always felt that it was a little bit unfair that our most personal thing-our name-is something someone else gives us. My father got my name-Brenda-off of an insurance form. He had been looking for names for his new child (back in the day, we didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl) and liked the name. It had just become popular in 1955. I don’t know anyone much older than me with my name. As with the name I gave one of my daughters, it seemed to take off after we adopetd it.
I have read “Brenda” means firebrand in Gaelic-which fits me perfectly. both my fiery temper and my genealogy. I think of my name sometimes when i am in a bad mood, an I think of the snake that says “Don’t tread on me.” I like that. Don’t mess with me, you never know what may be in store…. There are times that I have wished that my name had not become so popular-it is dated, for sure. Mostly Hispanic little girls are named Brenda now But that’s ok. So many names in the 50’s were dated-Debbie, Lynn, Linda, Susan, Sherry, Lisa ,Carol, and many more. I like my name. It fits me, it fits my time. All the Brenda’s I knew were tall with long brown hair, much like a trademark. I think I will keep it! Thanks, Dad.
beebeesworld 
Sandra Bennett said,
May 29, 2013 @ 3:44 am
It’s a nice name, and fits you well !
readinpleasure said,
May 29, 2013 @ 9:20 am
It’s ‘s a lovely name 🙂
nutsfortreasure said,
May 29, 2013 @ 9:59 am
Great response!
lexiesnana said,
May 29, 2013 @ 2:52 pm
My Grandma Hahn named me after she helped deliver me!
buffalostarmedicine said,
May 29, 2013 @ 4:57 pm
Hmmm, sounds interesting… not sure I want to share how I earned my name in public though. It’s kind of a really private, cultural thing. See, in the Native American Culture names mean everything and have power.
Linda Vernon said,
May 29, 2013 @ 8:02 pm
I didn’t realize that Brenda was popular in the year 1955! But now that I think of it, I did know a lot of Brenda’s in school who were a couple years younger! My mother named me Linda after Linda Darnell. She said at the time she thought is was very original. I guess that’s the way it is with all names! No one is naming their girls Linda now days. And I don’t blame them! HA!
Steffie said,
August 15, 2014 @ 7:44 am
This “free sharing” of inriomatofn seems too good to be true. Like communism.
I HAVE A VOICE said,
May 29, 2013 @ 9:06 pm
I never really thought of it thhis way~ I was named because my dad had a crush on Debbie Reynolds ! My name is very ddescriptive of me, it’s hebrew~ a bee! Great post!
· Der Silbenschmied said,
May 29, 2013 @ 9:45 pm
My name is Frank! My parents choose it, because it was popular the time I was born. Strange but true, you will not meet much men with the name Frank!?! Today, I am very proud of my name, because – what I did not know until I was 22 years old – it has the meaning of being frankly!!! All you english speaking people know it, but I didn’t knew, because there is not such a meaning in german. The adjective „to be frankly“ only exists in english! And that is what I am: frankly!
I have made good and bad experiences with „names“ and the personalities resulting of it.
Hey firebrand! Do you need someone frankly to cause something?
Mr. ClintonSpel said,
May 30, 2013 @ 3:33 pm
Good name! suits you 🙂
vb holmes said,
May 30, 2013 @ 7:38 pm
There are times when you are defined by your name and it’s a gift when you like your parents’ choice. Brenda is a lovely name and it fits you.
simon7banks said,
June 19, 2013 @ 9:34 am
OK, the only Brenda I knew was a girl at school with fair (not blonde) hair and she was quite short. She did have the surname Lewis, though, which is Welsh. I think the name is rather old-fashioned in the UK now, but female forenames come in and out of fashion much more than male names do. When I was a kid Emma or Victoria would have been a little old lady but now they’re very common among young people.
I;m totally at ease with my first name (Simon); less so with my surname (Banks). We have even less control over our surnames as it’s quite common for someone with two or more forenames to choose to be known by one that doesn’t come first on the birth certificate. Banks has an ugly sound to me. However, I’m quite positive about the fact that it has North of England and Scandinavian roots and more so about the meaning – someone living by a river bank. I love water (and no, my western zodiac sign isn’t Aquarius).