Daily writing prompt

What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?

View all responses

I think it’s grand timing that I came across this writing prompt today, since I’ve been reflecting on my middle name. I started going by my middle name, Desire, several years ago when I decided to pursue a career in music. I somewhat enjoy/cringe at telling the story about my middle name, because it means so much to me but I hate when people mispronounce it.

I was about 12 when I learned how to spell my middle name. I knew it was Desiree, but I’d never had to write it. When I finally saw it’s spelling, which is Desire, I was like oh, my middle name is desire– as in you desire something. I never really took to the Desiree` pronunciation. Learning how to spell it was like a divine moment for me- I knew then if I ever became an artist, it would be my stage name. I grew up with the desire to be a musical artist-maybe the influence of Hannah Montana, and pop stars like Lady Gaga, and so on. In any case, I’ve never felt like anybody but Desire. I never felt any peace in going by another name.

That being said, I’m cool with my first name- don’t get me wrong. My first name is Serena, which is beautiful. But embracing my identity as an artist is a choice I make in commitment to my dream, to my passion. My artist name is Desire because my desire to create and share what I create is who I am.

That being said, my name does stir the pot in some ways. I’ve written before about getting visible reactions out of people when I introduce myself as Desire- disbelief, discomfort, delight, and so on. Also, my mom has a hard time accepting it. She doesn’t call me Desiree, but she struggles to call me Desire. She loves to say, “I named you, how are you gonna tell me?” And I argue back, “you’re the one who spelled it ‘desire.’” She is my biggest fan though. When I ask her why she named me Desire, she says she doesn’t wanna talk about it. Or, “isn’t it obvious?”

As time goes on, the answer does become more obvious. We are passionate people by nature. I used to feel like the name might be bigger than me, but I wear it now with the understanding that my calling to be an artist is bigger than me. I’ve talked to God about it a lot, and he has assured me it will work out for our good. So I wear my name with peace, and sincerity in my desire to be the best that I can be for God’s glory.