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Jacquasia… Blessed!
When an Uber request popped up with the name Quasia, it immediately caught my attention. Names often carry stories, and this one certainly did. I soon learned that her full name is Jacquasia, and she is the twin sister of an older brother named Jacquez. She was born right in Lee County, Florida, but later moved with her mother to southern Alabama, not far from the Florida state line. There, she grew up and graduated from high school before deciding to move back to Southwest F
Oualid… a self described eccentric!
On New Year’s Day I picked up a passenger whose name itself felt like a story waiting to be told. Oualid—pronounced Wah-leed—was visiting from Portland, Maine. He was here to escape the cold and get his “sun fix” here in the sunshine state! As you might expect, his name immediately caught my attention. I had no idea how it would be pronounced. Though unfamiliar to my ears, it is apparently a more common name in Muslim cultures but is often spelled “Walid”. Oualid was born and
Mariel… The Sounds of Freedom!
On New Year’s Eve, during one of the last rides of the night, I met a young woman named Mariel. She rode with her boyfriend, who also had an interesting and unique name, Addiel! Mariel is originally from Cuba, but she has been living in the United States for about two years. She told me she was a rock ’n’ roll singer and played in bars and clubs around Southwest Florida. Her band, once known as “Two Looping Vibes” has recently been renamed “Driftstone”. She spoke about it wit
D’nagya… not your “average” young woman!
I recently met a young woman with one of the most unique names I’ve ever heard: D’nagya. (Pronounced “Duh-naw-gee-a”) Her mother created the name, experimenting with various letter combinations, so her daughter would have something truly one of a kind—even though her own name is simply Amy. Because D’nagya’s name is so uncommon, her friends and coworkers call her Naj or Naji. When she described herself as “just average,” it was clear that she didn’t fully see how special she
Shmouni… Made By Moun!
At the bustling 5K Jingle Jog at Gateway Church, I met a woman whose name instantly caught my attention: Shmouni, pronounced Shmoo-nee. She smiled as she explained that her name came from ancient Assyria, a region that now overlaps parts of Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. Its meaning—“God has heard”—seemed to delight her, especially because, as she put it with a laugh, “God probably hears me just fine; I’ve got a loud voice!” With that blend of humor, heritage, and personality, she
David… Man on a Mission From God
David came to the United States from Uganda for the very first time with one purpose in mind: to learn how to better help his people. He was attending a special conference that focused on growing crops, improving irrigation, and finding ways for families in poverty to provide for themselves. Even before he spoke, you could sense his determination. Traveling across the world is difficult for anyone, but for David, it was especially challenging. He needs regular dialysis and ha
Steven Pym… Drag racing Champion!
Recently, I picked up three wonderful passengers in Naples—Steven, his friend Heather, and her daughter Ella—and the ride to Fort Myers turned out to be far more interesting than I expected. While none of their names stood out as unusual, Steven had an interesting background that definitely caught my attention. A friendly and humble man, he carried a surprising claim to fame: he was once a professional drag racing champion! Born and raised in Canada, he eventually made his wa
Donorris… More Than Meets the Eye!
When I picked up a passenger named Donorris, I knew right away this ride would be different. His name was one I had never heard before, and he admitted he wasn’t even sure where it came from. Maybe it was a mix of “donor,” someone who gives, or “Norris,” meaning “from the north.” It may have derived from “Doris,” which means “gift” or “bounty”. Whatever the origin, the name fit him well—because Donorris seemed to have a giving heart. Born and raised in Fort Myers, he attended
Jerson… From Columbia to Cape Coral and Beyond!
When I first met Jerson during a recent Uber trip, I had never heard his name before. He explained that it is a more common name in South America. It turns out his mom chose it after a popular soccer player back in Colombia. Jerson grew up loving the sport just like many football enthusiasts in Columbia. He spent hours racing after the ball and developing his skills with his friends and teammates. Life took an unexpected turn, though, when he moved to the United States at sev
Chrish… A New Beat in a New Land!
Recently, I picked up a passenger with a unique name that immediately caught my attention… Chrish, inspired by the word, Christian or the name, Christian Dior. Upon seeing me, she ran toward the car like a woman on a mission. She was excited to join some friends for a fun evening together! Chrish was born in Cuba, but five years ago she moved to the United States with her father and younger sister. At first, everything felt strange: the language, the culture, even the weathe
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