W R G

My name is William Ryland Graham. I like my name though my first and last names are very common throughout the US and the world. My heritage is almost completely confined to the UK and my name reflects that which I like though that probably contributes to the generic sound. My name represents clan Graham of Scotland of which my great grandfather hailed from, and William, a name shared by many English rulers. Ryland is also an Irish name though there is not a specific meaning or intent behind that choice. Through my name and the choices that went into it, I am representing my heritage and family history. My name is a blend of Irish, Scottish and English which is the same as my own lineage and I feel that it accurately represents a part of my identity. I am proud of this heritage so I am also proud of my name. 

The story of my actual naming is not a really thrilling one but it is interesting to me. My grandfather is William Robert Graham Sr. and my father William Robert Graham Jr. My mother didn’t want me to be the third person with that name and instead wanted me to have a name of my own. However, my father disagreed and wanted me to take his name. So a compromise was made where I got the same initials as my father but I would not be William Robert Graham III. My middle name was chosen as an Irish name that appealed to both of them. I think they did a good job because I like both my middle name and my initials. (Side note: if I was going to be a girl, I would have been named Aubyrn which has many of the same letters as Ryland which is interesting to me and probably only me.) This name is therefore special to me because it represents this longer history of my lineage through clan Graham but also the shorter history of my father and grandfathers. I have a connection to all of that history through my name while also maintaining my own identity through a unique middle name. 

Not only are my father and my father’s father Williams but my mother’s father is also a William so I wound up being called by middle name, Ryland, just to distinguish myself in the family. Having a different middle name like my mother wanted and got is very helpful in this respect. My family’s naming patterns also show just how common the name William is, especially among those from the UK. I don’t dislike the name William but I have just gone by Ryland from as early as I can remember so I only really wind up taking this name when I don’t want to correct the person addressing me. I have considered what William would be like for me during or maybe after college but I think at this point in my life, I am just Ryland. 

Despite how really happenstance my name is, I don’t really wish that I had another. It represents a lot of what I like about myself and my family and going by my middle name is unique enough that I don’t feel super generic. I also like my initials, getting occasionally called “wurg” as a nickname for them. My name lends itself to a variety of nicknames and I like most of them but for some reason I don’t really appreciate being called just Ry, other variations of Ryland that have arisen are fine though. Overall, I like the various aspects of my name and I am glad I have it even if it can seem generic at times.