Well...

my given name is Shinja which is Japanese. It means believer. But the thing is I did not learn that until many years latter. My mother told me it was Hindu.

The funny think is my younger brother who was in the air force was stationed in Japan and he is the one who "discovered" the meaning of my name.
Many people were disappointed when they met me... they are expecting someone exotic.. not normal ole Irish/Scott American.

We are from the hills of sw Virginia and my mother wanted an unusual name for her daughter-- my dad (merchant marine) was out of the country when I was born so he did not have much say lol

Well, growing up in the South with such and unusual name was interesting to say the least.. I also had an unusual sir name (very southern name). So I had many nick names...

Grandpa called me ginger (I think he could not say may name)

a highschool teacher started calling me Sam -- I also think he could not say my name and it stuck for many many years.

Brother called me Shin

Cousins called me Christmas ... because I was always late and slow in arriving... hmmmm:rolleyes::cool:

that is all I can think of now that I want to share :rolleyes::rolleyes: