Dr Kelly Fleming

Before I arrived home, my parents had already picked out my name. I was to be named, according to Jewish tradition after my great-grandmothers. My name was to be Elizabeth Malinda (English transliteration).

Some things have a strange way of turning out.

My Mum used to always tell me the story about how I got my name because it wasn’t a name from my family.

I guess when my parents were discussing names, they were throwing different ideas out and my three year old brother obviously picked up on the discussion.

As Mum told me, the day they went to meet the social worker and bring me home, of course they brought my brother. The social worker asked them if they had chosen my name.

My Mum said yes and before she could finish her sentence, my three year old brother piped up and said her name is Kelly-Lynn Irene Fleming.

As the story goes, my parents looked at each other, Mum shrugged her shoulders and said to Dad, “well I guess that’s been decided!”

So I didn’t get the name my parents picked for me, but my soon-to-be older brother gave me my name.

I still have my Hebrew name which Mum had chosen which is Shoshana. She always liked the book of Songs of Solomon in the Bible and the passage reads (depending on English translation), “I am the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the valley.”

My grandma’s Hebrew name translates to Lily, my Mum’s name was Sharon and I am the Rose.

So for me, I’ve been blessed with my names even if it wasn’t what Mum had originally chosen.