You can call me…

BY ONEIKA RAYMOND

My coffee cup from a recent trip to Starbucks

I meet new people on a daily basis. The most basic of introductions, the name exchange, can  at times be… interesting, in my case.

You see, my name is Oneika (pronounced oh-KNEE-kah). Different. It has been a source of much comedy over the years, as people frequently mispronounce it or spell it incorrectly.

People always ask me where the name comes from. It is a variation of a Nigerian Igbo name (Onyeka), used for a boy or a girl, which itself is a question that, in English, means, “Who is greater than God?” I love it now, but wasn’t too fond of it back then: growing up in a predominantly White-Italian neighbourhood in Canada and surrounded by classmates with classic (read: easy) names like Maria and Antonio, I stuck out. Being one of very few Black kids at the school AND having a funny-ish name was a bit of a cross to bear. Branded by merciless classmates, the Oneika of elementary school was actually Ofreeka and You-neeka and my personal favourite, You-reek-a like Oneika.

But then I grew up. And grew out of disliking my unique name. I instead brandished it proudly like one would a sword, and let the syllables, one after the other, drop off my tongue like the notes of an arpeggio. Oh. KNEE. kah. O-NEE-ka. Oneika.

But in return I would still get ON-i-ca (rhymes with Monica). One time I got OINK-a. That garnered a few laughs. Those familiar with Black American (supposedly “ghetto”) names like Shaniqua (Sha-NEE-kwa), started adding a “w” sound between the 5th and 6th letters of my name so that I was christened… Oneikwa.

I have resigned myself to the fact that, at least in North America, my name will always be a problem amongst a world of Janes, Britneys, and Madisons. I don’t dwell on it. Instead, when it’s not really important that people get my name right, I offer alternatives. To these people I am Nikki, Nikita, and probably the most familiar, Monica (a special thanks to Courtney Cox for making my life easier- comes in handy at Starbucks, as you can see from my photo above).

For what its worth, I love my name. I am Oneika, pronounced Oh-KNEE-kah. But if you don’t get it right after I’ve told you… No biggie.

SHARING IS CARING

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46 Comments

  • It is a pretty name. I can relate in a way. My name is different (first and middle) although not difficult to pronounce. Like you, I used to hate my name but now, I love it. Also like you, as a Canadian child I was surrounded with Jennifers and Micheals and wished I had a similar name. Not anymore. People often ask me where my name comes from and how pretty it is. Cool! Unlike in the past where I used to murmur my name, as an adult I weild it proudly. By the way, it is not Rhona, it is actually Vala. Egyptian roots (although my parents are West Indian..go figure). I guess you can figure out my middle name.

  • I had to comment on this one, despite my non-comment status…I find this post hilarious. You come up with the funniest titles and subjects for your posts.

    I've had a similar experience with my name. My name is Samantha- a relatively easy name to pronounce. It's Hebrew for "the listener"; it's also the female version of Samuel. From my experience, most people pronounce my name correctly- except the French. It has been my general experience, that the French can't wrap their tongue around the name. I think it's the last syllable- "antha". It doesn't seem to make it off the tongue correctly. They even take it to the extreme and call me "Amanda". The two names aren't even really similar as in your case with Oneika/Monica. During french class in elementary/high school, almost every teacher I had mistakenly called me Amanda…..a very annoying thing to happen for 12 years of french class, lol. Same thing when I'm in France or Quebec- I'm mistakenly called "Amanda". It doesn't bother me that much now, I just laugh. So when in France or Quebec, my name often becomes Amanda by default.

  • hey! I really like original names and actually wished I had something more interesting than "Crystal" as a kid. So I guess I'm kinda jealous you have an unusual name! I think it's hard for French people to pronounce any kind of name that isn't French. Even mine, which is pretty easy because the word "cristal" exists in French, I still get called "Christelle" all the time. But Christelle is not the translation of my name and doesn't have the same origins or meaning.

    So shout your name loud and proud because our names are a big part of who we are and we should never be embarrassed or ashamed of them!

  • I used to be ashamed of my very Igbo name when i first came to states as a young child. I grew out of that in High school. I LOve, love, Love my name, Its not common even in Nigeria, and it makes me feel unique. My name is really short so when ppl ask me if they can give me a nickname, im like seriously how about i Igbo-fy your name. A name is very powerful and holds some of who you are, its something i take seriously.

  • I can definitely relate! My real name (hint: my parents named me after the earth) isn't terribly difficult to spell or pronounce, and yet folks managed to mispronounce it/misspell it my whole life. It got to the point that by the time I entered high school I would respond to any variation of my name and when I introduce myself to new people I say "Hi my name is XXX, like the latin word for earth." And even with that people still spell it wrong, LOL!

  • Cool entry. As someone with the same name as a high-end automobile, I can relate to the misspellings & mispronunciations & resulting nicknames. It can be as annoying as it is amusing.

  • Off-topic: American Black Chick – are you on Twitter? I'm an ABC in Europe too. 😉

    @spinstercompass

  • @Rhona: Vala is a beautiful name! It sounds so regal and stately 🙂 I think that, with globalization and what not, people in North America are a lot more open and receptive to non-standard names- but they still bungle them.. 🙂

    @Samantha: Too hilarious! Maybe going by just "Sam" is better? Maybe you should just become "Chloe"- The French will know how to pronounce that one for sure! LOL

    @Crystal: LOL at the French.. oh la la! I also vote for you adopting a French name like "Chloe" when dealing with Frenchies you meet- come on, it'll be like an alter ego like Beyonce's "Sasha Fierce" or something LOL Luckily in France I find that my name is easier for them because I just say "c'est comme Monica mais sans le 'm'"… Works like a charm! Of course, the stress is on the wrong syllable, but oh well.. le sigh.. 🙂

    @chizzyd: hrumph! I'd be so mad if somebody declared that they were going to give me a nickname because they couldn't remember/pronounce my name… The nerve!

    @ABCiE: Too funny… Then again, you could tell them it's pronounced the same as that wayward "American Pie" star's name is… You know, the one with the botched plastic surgery… 😉

    @Spinster: Thanks! I think I may know what your name is lol…

  • Oh my…I totally get this post. My name is Mashawnda and to be honest it has no 'technical' meaning. I mean my father named me the name after someone he knew in the late 70s. The rest is just whatever. So I have to create a meaning for it myself. I am cool with that. But when I go to Starbucks I just say—Dowell ( my last name).

    Now when I think back to it though. My name has 9 letters and that's a hell of a lot for a kid to spell and even say…guess God knew I could handle it. My name is rather ethnic though and its so funny to get people's pre judgements of me before they see me.

    My final observation…a name says a lot. More than some will ever know!!!

  • Oh my…I totally get this post. My name is Mashawnda and to be honest it has no 'technical' meaning. I mean my father named me the name after someone he knew in the late 70s. The rest is just whatever. So I have to create a meaning for it myself. I am cool with that. But when I go to Starbucks I just say—Dowell ( my last name).

    Now when I think back to it though. My name has 9 letters and that's a hell of a lot for a kid to spell and even say…guess God knew I could handle it. My name is rather ethnic though and its so funny to get people's pre judgements of me before they see me.

    My final observation…a name says a lot. More than some will ever know!!!

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