Nolan Alexius Stout, my full legal name, that is, if my parents chose Nolan over Gabe, my grandpa on my dad’s side took the middle name instead of the one on my mom’s, and I was given my mother’s last name instead of my father’s. This alternate name is much different to my real name, Gabriel Franklin Schmoll, but it seems to perfectly match my personality. The title Nolan Alexius Stout is a combination of Irish, Greek, and German names that all share a very common definition; the names all exhibit the characteristics of nobility, courage, and bravery. Due to these definitions, my “could-have-been” name, Nolan Alexius Stout, fits me perfectly. To expound, according to babycentre.co.uk, the name Nolan derives from the surname, Nuallain, which…show more content… They rode fast and fearlessly into battle, and displayed immense acts of courage and bravery. An example of me living like a chariot was in the summer after 7th grade. At the time, I was happily playing flag football, but knew my parents would not let me play football in high school. I needed to find a new sport, and my wish was granted when my younger cousin invited me out to try lacrosse. A few weeks after he invited me, I showed up to the clinic, grabbed the sub-par gear rented to newbies, and headed onto the field with confidence. Although I knew next to nothing about the sport, rules, or anyone I was playing with, my confidence and bravery helped me fall in love with the new game. The courage expressed in this narrative helps illustrate my similarities towards chariots and how the name “Nolan” fits me perfectly. Courage, however, is not just expressed through trying new things, but is also displayed when coming to others’ defense. According to thebump.com, the name, Alexius, derives from the Greek word “alexos” which means “defender”. To continue, the name is shared by several Byzantine emperors, saints, and rulers, which helps give it its “defender” definition even
