What’s in a Name
Some may know that I practice both under my name, Leslie Alexander LLC and under the banner of Restoration Herbs. The question arises, ‘What’s in a name?’
I was named after my mother’s grandmother, Malke Leah. My mum recalls that Malke Leah’s maiden name was Zaentz. I also know, as reliable accounts are scarce, that Malke’s husband, my great grandfather, was one of five brothers. Together, all five brothers arrived from Poland and passed through immigration on Ellis Island. They emerged Bush, Baum, Blumenthal, Berman, and Levine. Such was the “careful” naming of immigrants. My grandfather emerged Frank Levine. I understand that Malke was a woman that I would have enjoyed knowing.
I was named Leslie Meredith Alexander soon after I came into this world. Both the L and the M are in memory of my great-grandmother. My dad contributed to Alexander. For Ashkenazi Jews, i.e., Jews from central and eastern Europe, it’s customary to name someone after a person who has passed. This is thought to both keep a memory alive and to offer inspiration to live up to a person’s finer qualities. While still a few weeks old, I was then given my Hebrew name in the presence of a congregation. A public naming. I feel especially blessed with the choices of my first, middle and last names and lucky, too, as I know many who change their names because they either dislike their given name or wanted to make a fashionable change.
But what about business names? How do we arrive at these? Do we hire agencies? Search the web? Does our business name have meaning? Or is it best to simply work or practice under our given names? While I like this latter idea because it allows others to refer to me by name, it also doesn’t give anyone an understanding of my profession or my business.
So, while still in Scotland and living in Haddington, just outside Edinburgh, where I used to work, I remember the evening. For weeks and weeks, I had been saying both aloud and silently, ‘what about … this or that?’. Then I started to think about how I understood herbs [at that time, circa 2003 or 4]. I can’t say that it was a conscious train of thought. Anyway …
… we were living in Barrel Cottage in East Lothian. I was looking out the windows facing a mature beech hedge that I’d just spent four days trimming. [Bliss]. Not really thinking at all. And in an instant, I decided, Restoration Herbs.
Restoration /NOUN/1 the act of restoring or state of being restored, as to a former or original condition, place, etc. 2 the replacement or giving back of something lost or missing, for example.
►See Restore /VERB (tr)/1 to bring back to good health, good spirits, etc. 2 to reintroduce or reinforce. 3 to reconstruct. Restorative /ADJECTIVE/ 1 tending to revive or renew health, spirits, etc.
Herbs /NOUN/ 1 Botanical: Seed-producing plants; annuals, biennials or perennials, with fleshy rather than woody parts, which die down at the end of the season. 2 Medicinal: Any plants including trees, shrubs, algae, and fungi of which the whole or part; leaves, flowers, seeds, bark, root, have medicinal properties. 3 Culinary: Any plants which enhance culinary art by their aroma, flavor, or beauty.
From the Collins English Dictionary, Oxford English Dictionary
Of course, this leads the door wide open … not just around business names but also dozens of questions arise around understanding the names of our plant allies, Latin and botanical naming conventions, and common names!
Sometimes, in the garden or on a walk, I will invent new “common names” for medicinal herbs. It’s amusing and meaningful. Amusing because the names reflect humor or sometimes personality. Also, because we can change common names each minute, each hour, and each year. We can change common names geographically, amongst varying languages, and whatever the change, the essence remains.
And for that, I am always grateful.
