What's In A Name?

Pat and I both have strong feelings regarding the naming of our children. We have always felt that it would be impossible to label a child with a name before ever seeing their face or getting a glimpse of their personality. That is not to say that we have not repeated a name spotted in the rolling credits at the end of a movie or poured over many an internet “naming” site narrowing the field. When naming Devi, we found that the names we had become attached to while waiting to find out who she was, did not match the face of the child in question. The names we grew a fondness for not only fit this child but, they also played a significant role in this adoption. They helped to bring confidence that we were being lead and guided to the right child to join our family.

Praying for Devi’s baby sister has become a night time ritual from the time our first application was accepted. Early on, Devi gave this unknown child a pet name. No matter how we referred to the child, Devi called her Souli. She could not explain where the name came from or if she had heard it somewhere before, but for whatever reason, it stuck. You can imagine my surprise when I found out the name of the child we were considering, whose name appears to be a lengthened version of Souli....Sonalika.

One of the first steps of the many taken to become paper ready for this adoption was to have physicals done and have our doctor notarize statements about our health. While I was in having my physical, I asked our physician, who happens to have been born and raised in India, to suggest a couple of Hindi names that she liked. Listed on that prescription pad were the names Tara, meaning star and Antara, meaning brightest star. Pat and I fell in love with Tara and so I tucked that piece of paper into my wallet, where it has remained for nearly the past two years.


Last week while examining the medical reports about Sonalika, I went to the website of the orphanage where she is currently living. I was impressed with the amount of information regarding the facility and their long list of services designed to help young mothers rejoin their families and find employment. Each division has been given a name. Hunting and pecking through the site I came across some information that gave me a goose-bump moment. The special needs area where Sonalika lives is named Tara!

Periodically when I find a bit of inspiration in the form of a quote, I’ll cut it out and tape it to the margin of my computer screen at work. It is silly really, because as time goes by, the words tend to blur and these permanent fixtures to my screen, become small pieces of paper with worn edges, covered with letters that rarely get read anymore. One of those quotes has been taped there since before Devi’s adoption, but while cleaning the other day, I rediscovered it and took a moment to read it again.


It states, “Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph: a beginning, a struggle, and a victory.” — Mahatma Gandhi

I've always thought those words describe an adoption perfectly and had that on my mind while I combed another naming site. That is when I found the name Treya, which is a Hindi name meaning walking three paths. With three great candidates, we presented Devi with the names Souli, Tara and Treya. Devi made her choice and it was unanimous.

Her first name will beTreya. I can not think of a more worthwhile accomplishment, enduring drudgery and triumph, having been turned down by over 100 agencies before finding someone to listen to our story at Journey's of the Heart. Although she is only one year old, she has endured a beginning with her birth parents, a struggle correcting her club feet and adjusting to her new caregivers at the orphanage where she now lives and finally, her victory in finding her forever family. These are the three paths she is walking; simple, beautiful and true.

The first of her middle names is Marie after Pat's mother. Known as Oma to our children, she has a kind, nurturing and creative spirit. Her artistry flows through her hands molding the earth, in the form of clay into beautiful works of art. This natural command of form and space will be an inspiration to Sonalika as she continues to grow and learn to use the special hands God has given her and which enabled us the chance become her forever family.

Although we do not know who gave her the Sanskrit name, Sonalika, it belongs to her and is hers to keep.

So there you have it. Our youngest Indian princess will be known as Treya Marie Sonalika Ross.