Chilly choice for daughter proved to be snow contest
Child’s name symbolized parents’ move to Canada
When they were expecting a baby, so were several other family members — one cousin had a son two weeks before they had their child, another cousin gave birth to a boy three days prior.
“We were all pregnant at the same time,” says Shalini Wickramasinghe. But because she and husband Kishan Wijeratne didn’t know the sex of their baby, everyone got involved.
“Throughout my pregnancy, anyone who came to our home was asked to vote on what they thought I was having; we had a board on our fridge. By the time of my due date, it was an even call.”
While guessing the sex of the baby turned into a competition, naming her was no contest.
They’d decided that dad would name a girl, and mom a boy. Her only request was that since they are both of Sri Lankan descent, the name be “somewhat traditional but unique.”
For two years, they’d been living in Australia, but wanted “to be surrounded by family when we decided to begin our own (family)” and felt Canada was the best place.
Kishan chose the name Himali, which means “surrounded by snow,” because he felt it fitting for their new life in Canada.
Himali Akasha Wijeratne was born July 1, 2011 at North York General Hospital near the family’s home. Her name is pronounced himall-ee, like the Himalayas.
Akasha means radiate, or shine. “When I look at our daughter, I know that she will definitely shine in life,” says mom.
The couple met eight years ago in Sri Lanka, while volunteering after the tsunami. Kishan had never lived in a country with snow.
“Coming here, the main conversation with anyone is ‘What about the weather?’ ‘I think winter is coming.’ ‘I think this winter there’s going to be a lot of snow.’ It just symbolized the move for us.” Did you give your child an interesting or unusual name? Email krushowy@thestar.ca