The year I was born, Jennifer was the most popular baby name. My parents named me Deirdre.

After people learn how to say my name (imagine you’re starting a letter “Dear Dra”), they often ask what it means.

I bet Jennifer rarely gets that question.

But if she did, Jennifer could answer “white enchantress” or “the fair one.”

Deirdre was a heroine in Irish folklore. Known for her beauty, Deirdre was destined to marry the evil king. Instead, she ran away with her true love. The king eventually found them and let’s just say things didn’t end well.

The name Deirdre came to mean “sorrow.”

What gives? Sure, it’s a tragic tale, but Jennifer doesn’t even have her own legend. Don’t get me started about Helen. In her myth, she sparks the Trojan War, but her name still means “light” or “bright.”

Fortunately, there’s another, more obscure meaning. In the years the king was searching for her, Deirdre and her lover were happy together, always on the move.

The second meaning of Deirdre is “wanderer.”

So, Jennifer, white enchantress, you can stay in your ivory tower, oh fair one. It sure must be crowded up there.

I’ll be out, in the streets, in the woods, wandering. With my camera.

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