The Story of Her Name

Baby Girl's Name

The Inspiration

            The last time I wrote a blog about names was last summer during the Red Clay Writing Project, where I actually wrote two. One dealt with the significance and issues with names in general, and the other detailed my own experiences with my name, which I grew to love throughout my adolescent years. So in deciding a name for my own child, this was no small matter for me or my husband. As most parents do, we had countless conversations about name possibilities for our child. 

            We both agreed we wanted a name that was unique, but not confusing, since our last name is the ever so common "Smith." We also wanted it to sound feminine, but strong, and we wanted it to have depth and meaning behind it. We finally landed on two name choices, and I was determined to wait until the day she was born to decide, but her dad's plea to "please just choose so we can start praying for her by name" won out over my desire for surprise on the day she is born.  He also had his choice pretty set, and I love the name, too, so we were in agreement. I love that her daddy loves her name so much! The other name also has great meaning, being named after a sweet friend of mine, and we might like to use it in the future. 

            The first time I mentioned baby girl's name, I was afraid it might be quickly rejected or get a "maybe" noise, which would bother me as being Alex's first reaction if we decided to use it, so I asked him not to give me an opinion right away because I was serious about this one. I told him a name I had always loved was Della, the main character in my favorite short story, "The Gift of the Magi." He loved it right away. He mentioned being so frustrated by that story as a kid, but the frustration was in the foolish sacrifice the husband and wife made for each other in the name of love.

The Story

            If you haven't read the story, I highly recommend it: "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. In the story, Della and James are a poor, very in love, married couple, and it is Christmas time. Della is upset because she wants the perfect gift for "her Jim" but has only one dollar and eighty seven cents. What she really wants to get him is a chain to suit his fancy pocket watch, which he loves but uses on the sly because of the old leather chain it's on. She sets out on a mission and ends up at a wig shop. The lady there will pay her twenty dollars for her hair, a large sum of money in the late 1800's. She impulsively agrees before she can change her mind. She buys a nice chain with the money, and waits for Jim to get home. With every minute, she grows more apprehensive about her appearance, and she prays that he will still love her, despite the absence of her beautiful long hair.

            When he returns home, he looks at her strangely and she worries he is upset about her hair. Then comes my favorite line: "Don't make any mistake, Dell," said he, "about me. I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less. But if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me going for a little while at first." When she unwraps her present, she sees the beautiful, expensive combs that he had watched her admire in a window, combs that she would not be able to use now. The other problem: he sold his watch to buy them. 

            When I read the story to my 8th grade class every year, I always get a little teary eyed at the conclusion, which reads:

            "And here I have lamely related to you the chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the wisest. Everywhere they are the wisest. They are the magi." 

The Meaning

            When Alex and I chose this name, it was for more than the sound and look of those five letters strung together. It met our criteria and so much more. It is unique, not being popular since the late 1800's, it is simple, and we see it as elegant and strong. It is also not the name of anyone we have ever known, so she will get to decide what makes a "Della" a "Della." In other words, she will grow into her name and her personality will define it for her. Any meaning we have attached to it is simply our hopes and prayers for the little girl we have loved since her very existence. 

            We hope that, like the Della in the story, she loves unselfishly, with wisdom, and with abandon. That she will understand that her identity is not wrapped up in her hair or any form of her appearance. We pray that not only will she love so lavishly, but that she would receive that type of love in return. The story is about her sacrifice, but also about his. He loves her enough to sacrifice his most prized possession as well, both of them understanding that love is so much more important than anything this world has to offer. And we pray that one day she will see and realize for herself that she is already loved in this sacrificial way by her very Maker. That He sacrificed his very life for her on the cross so that she may understand, live, and walk in His love. His love that keeps away fear. His love that bring peace that transcends understanding. His love that heals. His love that provides. His love that brings joy. His love that can put new life into her very heart, mind, and soul.

So there we have it, the story of her name. :)