My name means wisdom, coming from the Greek language. It means understanding, being aware, using knowledge to explain truth. It is the color purple. It is not a light, lavender color but a dark, royal colored purple. 

My name is a royal, gated garden. It is filled with majestic, beautiful flowers of all kinds. Roses. Peonies. Orchids. Lilacs. Animals too. Bees. Hummingbirds. Butterflies. Deer. It is busy and chaotic. Yet it forms a peaceful, lovely environment. It is where people go to think and clear their minds—to gain wisdom. Sofia.

It is like a cursive script, flowing and beautiful. My name is pronounced softly. It is smooth and silky, like the pillowcase of a Queen. 

My name is spelled the way that Queen Sofía, the Queen of Spain, spells her name. It was my dad’s idea. He studied in Spain. He learned to love the majestic country. The people. Queen Sofía. 

He admired her elegance, gracefulness, and leadership. He admired that she took responsibilities into her own hands to help her people. She helped bring democracy to Spain. She gave her people freedom. She put others before herself. 

They gave me this name in hopes that I would be like Queen Sofía. They wanted me to have her same values and strengths. Her power. I’m not sure that I will live up to Queen Sofía’s successes, but I can do something to change the world. 

This name might not seem like much to most people. But I’m glad that I have the name that I do. Sofia. A woman who is strong-minded, yet elegant. A wise leader, yet a caring soul. It represents the Queen of Spain. And it represents me and what I strive to become.