What’s In a Name? My Name to be exact: Kalliope!

August 31, 2026 Rev Kathy

These days lots of folks are asking me what it means and where did it come from. Kalliope. It came from Athens, Greece with a force. The force was that tradition never gave me a choice, just a mandate that I would bear the name of a mysterious grandmother, far away, in the “old country” I guess! I never, ever wanted that name, but tradition gave me no choice: the first-born girl would be named after her paternal grandmother. End of discussion! I was an infant anyway. I could hardly push back.

Two life lessons: 1. If you’re a baby and can’t change names, let it go, and 2. When you’re grown never let anything go, push pack with all your might. Because this world thrives on patriarchy at the expense of you and me! Stand up and speak up for justice for others and speak up for justice for yourself! You deserve it!

Published by Rev Kathy

I am an ordained Baptist minister now serving in the world as retired clergy or minister-at-large. I am a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, great aunt, and friend. I spent my career as a pastor, hospital chaplain, missionary to Uganda, spiritual director, patient mentor, victim advocate, trauma counselor, child forensic interviewer, teacher, writer, author, watercolor artist, iconographer, calligrapher, chef and blogger. View all posts by Rev Kathy