DAN-i-kah Revised

My name is Danica it is pronounced DAN-i-kah. It is of Slavic and Latin origin. The meaning is "morning star”. Often people spell my name with a “K” so it looks like this Danika. It drives me crazy probably because it happens often. I was named Danica after the actress, Danica McKellar in the television show “The Wonder Years.” I know very few people with my name. My name became more popular after racecar driver Danica Patrick became a well known face. Often my name is mispronounced. I was even called Dancer and Dancia once. After reading “The F Word” by Firoozeh Dumas I came to realize that I am not alone when it comes to having a name that can be hard to pronounce. As Firoozeh mentioned, “Usually, if I’m waiting to be called by someone who doesn’t know me, I will respond to just about any name starting with an F.” (63) I also did this in high school. When I had substitute teachers they would always stop when it came to my name on the attendance sheet. They would look at the sheet of paper with a struggling look on their face. Since I knew who I was after on the roll sheet, I would often just shout out my name so it would save a few laughs when the teacher would mispronounce it. Dumas says, Despite a few exceptions, I have found that Americans are now far more willing to learn new names, just as they’re far more willing to try new ethnic foods.” (63) Having an unusual name myself I have come to see that more and more people take time to learn my name. I think a big part of this is because more and more unique names are being presented daily. I like my name a lot because it is not a very common name. I like to be unique and not have the same name as everyone else. I do not get very many nicknames with my name. Some people call me D or Dan but usually I just go by my original name. “Exotic analogies aside, having a foreign name in this land of Joes and Marys is a pain in the spice cabinet”(61) says, Dumas. I think what Dumas is trying to say is that when you are one out of a hundred stereotypical names it is hard not to get noticed because of your name.