My name is Paraskevi Voula Kakares, a nine syllable, tongue twisting compilation of culture. I challenge you to say my name out loud. If you find yourself stuck at any point, you’re in good company. From the very first day of school I became accustomed to the pregnant pauses that occurred when teachers made their way to the K’s while taking attendance and countless nicknames I created while attempting to melt my Greek culture into an American society. So my name might be a mouthful and one that you don't exactly find in baby books or on key chains, but behind this big, fat Greek name lies a whole lot of big, fat Greek tradition and meaning.
When people ask me what my name means, I usually respond with "It means Friday." And it’s true, the literal translation of Paraskevi is Friday. For the longest time, I used a day of the week to explain the meaning of my name in response to countless questions that I received from my teachers and my American friends regarding my name and its meaning. This literal translation of a complex name made explanations short, sweet, and easy for others to understand; after all, everybody is familiar with the days of the week.
But there is so much more meaning behind my name than a day of the week. I’m American-born Greek, born to first-generation Greeks who moved to America in the late 20th century. Despite leaving Greece, my parents committed themselves to upholding the deep culture and traditions of their homeland. In Greece it is tradition for children to be named after their grandparents, keeping the name alive in each new generation, while weaving the importance of heritage and customs in letters and birth certificates. I am named after my grandmother, and this has always created a special bond between us. My grandmother, Voula, takes great pride in our name, and because names are highly valued in Greek culture and in my Orthodox Christian religion, Greek names such as ours typically take root in a Christian saint. I am named after Saint Paraskevi, also known as “The Great Martyr of Rome,” who led a life dedicated to helping others through her Christian faith, despite the brutal consequences she faced when she refused to change her beliefs. July 26th is my name day, a day dedicated to honoring Saint Paraskevi. I must say, it is fascinating that from 140 BC, when the name Paraskevi was born, to the present day, that a name could be kept alive through lineages of women, while still holding on to its significance.
So my name might not be common on attendance lists, but it has helped me shape my identity. It is a beautiful, unique, tongue twister of English letters combined with Greek culture that reminds me of the importance in who I am. Everyone calls me "Vi" for short, but don't let these two letters fool you, because these two letters are part of a much larger name and an even bigger part of Greek history and culture.
