"When did you first wonder about what your name meant?", Max's neighbour randomly asked. She did that often, ask weird shit out of the blue but Max didn't mind. It was like playing a unique version of twenty-one questions that just never ended. Thinking for a moment, the brunette smiled. Max remembered it well, year three's assignment, 'What's in a Name?' It was to be an essay of sorts. Well, as much of an essay that a bunch of eight years olds could write. The project seemed easy for everyone in her year, even her twin brother Mitchell had little to no problem discovering what his name meant and how he related to it all. Max, however, was having no luck. She found the male version of her name but still, there was no real information on the origins or even meaning.
Young Max ran home after school in tears. She didn't care about the marks for the assignment, okay everyone knew that she cared about her marks. She lived for good marks in school. This assignment, however, had her all upset. She just wanted to know what her name meant, where it came from and why the fuck her parents chose it. After all who tortures their baby with a name such as Maximilliana? Throwing herself down on the chaise in the sitting room, crying her eyes out. "Why can't I have a proper good name like everyone else", she screamed. Diane could hear her daughter from the kitchen, she headed over to comfort her child. It was in that moment that Max finally got to hear where her name came from and it wasn't just some random long-ass weird name. It truly meant something to her mum.
Diane wiped Max's eyes as she pulled her close. "Oh my love, your name is special. More so than anyone else's in this family" her mother spoke in a soft soothing tone. Max's interest was more than piqued. "Really?" the eight-year-old asked. As interested as she was, she wasn't sure if her mum was being nice to her or telling the truth. It turned out that Diane was indeed being truthful. Max's name was very special.
"Maximilliana Eleanor," her mother said her name before pausing for effect most likely. Diane was known for that. "Your name is a combination of people I hold dear in my heart," she informed the young child. "Max is short for Maxwell, which you know is my maiden name." Max smiled at her mum. She actually liked the fact she had her mother's maiden name as part of hers. It was something extra to bond the two. Diane continued "Milli, well she was my best mate when I was a child. She passed away when we were in sixth form. I never got over losing my partner in crime" Diane's voice broke a bit as she fought back the tears. Max wanted to know more about this Milli girl but figured that it was best not to ask, at least for the time being.
"And well Ana. Now that was my grandmum's name. She was a beautiful woman from Spain. She's who you got your colouring from." Diane kissed Max's forehead. "Then there's Eleanor", Diane went on causing Max to scrunch up her nose. She was never really fond of the name Eleanor. It seemed so old school, so vintage. "I once read a book and the main character was called Eleanor" she stated without any extra explanation. "That's it? A character?" Max arched her brow. "Seriously, mum?" she added as Diane nodded. "And since your father insisted on calling you Max, I wanted to give you a name that I could give you a nick from. Hence why I call you Ellie", her mother finally explained.
With the information in hand, Max was able to write her essay, which she got high marks on. Now even though, she can't tell anyone exactly where her name came from in the sense of location or what it might mean and how that meshed with her personality, Max can tell people that her name has one hell of a personal meaning to her mum and that there makes it the best name in the world. A kick-ass story is always better than some random 'your name means sparkling water on the river bed' bullshit, at least that's what Maximilliana thinks.
