Echoes of Our Names - Stephanie

Echoes of Our Names is a photo series exploring the names many Asian Americans and immigrants were given in our heritage language (in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc.) — names that are often softened or set aside in exchange for something easier to say, something that feels like it might blend in a little more. It’s a quiet shift — one that can seem small on the surface, but often speaks to something deeper about identity and belonging. These names hold more than just meaning — they carry memory, love, history, and connection to where we come from. For this series, I sat down with friends to ask: How was your name given? What does it mean? How do you feel when you hear it out loud?