Astear

When most people hear or see my name they wonder what it means or where it comes from and maybe you are wondering too. I do not blame these people because it’s understandable since my name is not in English. It is in Tigrinya which is my native tongue and the primary language in Asmara, Eritrea; where I was born. My name comes from the Bible; from the Book of Esther. Esther was a beautiful young woman who was chosen by King Xerxes to become his Queen. Esther was a Jewess so when Haman, the man honored by the King, made a law that all Jews shall be killed in a time to come, she was very troubled. After speaking with her uncle Mordecai, who had once helped the king, Esther decided that she must save her people.  As a result, Haman was no longer on the seat of honor next to the King but Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, was and Esther had begun her plans to save her people. Ultimately, God had used Esther to save her people, the Jews, from extermination. Esther was very clever, beautiful and amiable, liked by God and everyone, therefore my parents and grandparents named me “ኣስቴር” (Astear) which is Esther in Tigrinya. I like my name very much because I am named after an important and glorious person who I admire and hope I will grow up to be a reminiscent of.