You’ll notice that in this new blog design debuted today, I use my full name, Jodi Lobozzo Aman. I took my maiden name of Lobozzo after I was married as my legal middle name, but until now it has only shown up in print on Facebook.
Recently, I have felt the strong urge to re-identify myself with my maiden name as I mature and am more and more eager to connect to my Italian roots. However, I strongly relate to the name Aman, too, and all it means on many levels. Jodi Lobozzo Aman describes me in a way that neither Jodi Lobozzo, nor Jodi Aman can.
As a feminist, I initially thought of keeping my maiden name when I was married. But at the last minute, just before my wedding, I decided to take Ted’s family’s surname for my own. The decision was oddly made when I was signing my traveler’s checks for my honeymoon. Remember traveler’s checks? You have to sign your name 50 times before leaving the bank. Lobozzo felt long and cumbersome to sign.
Rubbing my sore hand, I also thought how my maiden name just represented my father anyway. Patriarchy both ways: husband or father. What is the difference, really? As a young woman, wanting my own identity, neither felt empowering.
However, both names meant more to me than these two men. They meant a history of family and ancestry; they meant love and struggle, and human endurance. These meanings were/are incredibly empowering.
The Aman family means so much to me. To me, they represent peace, love, and solid relationships. Everything I could want in a family. But to have a name literally saying, “A” “man” furrowed my brow.
Name Meanings
The meaning of names always peaked my curiosity. When I meet new people, I am intrigued with where their names come from. When I look from this perspective, Aman, is very interesting and I embrace it.
The English, and Irish would use Eamon (pronounced the same) meaning to “guard the riches” not “a” “man.” However, my nephew did some research online a few years ago and discovered the name “Aman” for our family originated in France. The Latin root of Aman is of course “loving” (amo) which probably comes from “Amma” meaning “mother.” Getting more interesting…
Often when hearing my name before meeting me, many people assume “Aman” is from the Middle East. These meanings are my favorite. Aman in Farsi means “sanctuary” or “refuge.” It mean “trustworthy” and “safety” in Arab and “peace” in Hindi.
I love identifying myself with these meanings.
Lobozzo, too, is loaded with meaning. My paternal grandfather told me the name meant “Lobo Solo: The lonely wolf.” This wolf has become a symbol of my path in the last few years, always “showing up” when I need some guidance.
And “Lobozzo” represents my Italian heritage, which having spend so much time with my grandparents has become an important legacy. Italians are very loving and passionate. Family is hugely important. My grandmother used to say, “As long as we are together, everything will be OK.”
Names are literally how we are identified. I love having both the energy of Lobozzo and Aman around me.
What is your name and what does it mean?
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when I first saw your family name Aman, I thought that you were from the Middle East too. Yes, the meaning is “security and peace”, both words that means a lot to me or to most of people, peaceful ones in the Middle East. I would also add one thing, your first name. Jodi means “quality”, which makes it even better 🙂
My Maiden name means “guardian”.
I thought Jodi meant “From Judea” so this is cool. We have much in common, what are you guardian of?
Could also be from Judea, but in Arabic, i’m sure it means quality. What am I guardian of??? I don’t know. In fact the name is :the Guardian” as we write with “el” at the beginning (like in Spanish). When at school, i was bullied because of my name by kids saying “guardian angel” especially that i was TOO shy and quiet, but what is funny now, is that i have many online friends that call me their guardian angel now, even though i never explained the meaning of my maiden name to anyone 🙂
i love to go back to old posts i didn’t read 🙂
I love the new look, Jodi. My maiden name is Bradley, which is English. I’m not sure what it means. Now my last name is much more unique. When I was Kelly Bradley, I was one of many Kelly Bradleys. Yet, I can’t find another Kelly Hashway–at least Google can’t.
Jodi-too funny. I never thought about my maiden name and what it meant. So, my maiden name is Cowan. My married name is Freiberger. So, the joke was I went from a cow to a fried-burger. No, but really, I knew that Cowan used to be McCowan, changes happened when my ancestors came over, but no more than that. Here is what I found: It is Celtic in origin (go figure) and means “well-born” or born lucky. Freiberger is a derivative of Freiberg-a German name meaning “free mountaneer.” No coincidence to either one of these for me. I have been questioning going back to my maiden name, as I am divorced, but I am looking at this as a progression. I was born lucky and now I am free to chase my dreams and passions.
And back to lucky again that you knew how to chose it!
Nice new look. My maiden name is Moguez, but not sure what it means. On one side of the family I am Native American, but on the other side there is some Spanish, Dutch, French, and a wee bit of magic. Those settlers liked intermingling. My married name is Granger, but I prefer my maiden name… so much more unique.
Thanks Brenda! I love your combination! The magic particularly interests me!
My name is chana which means gracious in hebrew and rachel which means God is soft
!!
Hi Chana! Beautiful! How is my sister in Isreal? Its seems like you are doing some wonderful things! I follow you on FB!
This is such an interesting post to me – I feel so strongly about my maiden name. My ex-husband made me take his name and I hated him for it (along with many other problems). This time around, I kept my maiden name and I’m so much happier about it. It’s true what you say, though – it’s just my father’s name. I seriously considered giving my daughter my last name instead of my husband’s, but he wouldn’t let me go that far 🙂
You’ve got a beautiful name, and I love your explanation as to why only when using both names together does it truly represent who you are. Fabulous post!
My first name means “alone.” My last name means “marketplace” or something to that effect. I have no middle name. When I married, I took my husband’s name. When we divorced, I couldn’t wait to take my own name back. It was like a rebirth. Such a relief, and put me on the path to discovering my true self.
Thank You, Monica! Alone and crowded. cool!
Fascinating post and cool name(s)! I love that you use both and they sound so good together and have such reich layers of meaning. Were I to do the same my name would be Carol Shamanski Apple which just doesn’t seem to have the magical ring that your name does. Shamanski is the English form of a complicated Polish spelling and I believe the name means “Son of Simon.” Apple comes from the German word apfel which means (surprise surprise) “apple.” So my name meanings are not quite as deep as yours, although apples have plenty of symbolism about them and I’m sure the original Simon was an interesting guy.
I did not know apple meant surprise surprise! Really cool. That is VERY deep actually. My head is exploding with correlations.
Dear Jodi
Happy New Year 2013 again “You and All Your family”.
Really first time, when I come across to read your name “Jodi Lobozzo Aman”, suddenly something come into my mind, telling me that this name maybe has got descendant connection Italian roots, because ( Il Pozzo, Lo Pozzo…)
Italiano- “Il Pozzo Per l’acqua “, Englese -Well for Water, oil pozzo.
1. Article Masculine Singular (the, lo)
2. Pronoun Masculine Singular (I know him), Italiano – “Lo Conosco”
3. Cosa, Animale ( it)
For Example:
a) Italiano- “Non lo so”, Englese- (I don’t know)
b) Italiano- ” Il Pozzo Per l’acqua “, Englese -Well for Water, oil pozzo.