Name Interview: Leinana Two Moons

This post is part of a series called, Real People, Real Names, a compendium of stories and pictures about people and their names.

Names are basically one or two-word stories. When we see a person’s name, we paint an idea of what to expect before we even meet them. When I meet people, I talk to them about their names. And that’s the purpose of this series of posts. You get to walk into my world a little bit and read about real people and what they think of their names.

If you would like to be considered for this series, use the contact form on this site to reach me.

Today’s name interview is with Leinana Two Moons. Leinana authors the blog, Vegan Good Things which I (of course) find very inspirational. She has so many tasty, vegan recipes on her site! I hope you enjoy learning more about Leinana here today.

Name Interview: Leinana Two Moons

What name did your parents give you when you were born?

Leinana Myers

Did they tell you why the selected this name?

My parents honeymooned in Hawaii and liked the sounds of the names there (I am not Hawaiian). My dad claims that he made up my name so that it would sound Hawaiian, but I have discovered that the name Leinana actually does exist in Hawaii. It’s not common, but there are others!

What did you think about your first name growing up?

I didn’t really like my name growing up, but I’ve come to terms with it and now.

Did you change your name when you got married?

My husband is Native American, his last name is Two Moons. If his last name had been “Smith,” I might not have changed it. But how could I not change my name to Two Moons?

Describe how you feel about the name change. Do you feel differently about your life?

I love it. Now I fully embrace having a very unique name. I feel like it is the name I was always supposed to have.

Do you like your name now?

Most people think it’s a cool name. I get a lot of compliments and also a lot of questions. It’s always a conversation starter!

Have you had times where you wish you could change your name?

I hated having a different, hard to pronounce, hard to spell name growing up. I just wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted a “normal” name – like Michele or Samantha or Nicole… by the time I was old enough to actually change it, I had grown into my name. Now I love that it is different.

If you could have any name you wish, what would it be?

The one I have now!

Do you think overall that your name has had a difference in your life?

I do think that having a unique name kind of forces one to have a unique personality. I’ve never really been one to do what everybody else was doing. I’ve always stood out because of my name, and I think that in a strange way, it has encouraged me to be more adventurous, to make daring decisions, and to forge my own path. Like I said, when I was younger I didn’t want to be so different, but now as an adult I find it very freeing.

What inspires you?

So many things. But what inspires me most is probably being around people who are really living out their dreams and passions. I think everyone should have something in their life that they feel passionate about, and committed to, even if it’s not their “day job.” And kindness and compassion are inspiring to me as well. These are the things that can change the world for the better.