Who is Bo?

Me and my father Bo in Sweden, April 2018.

Luca Bo, Nelly Bo and Emmy Bo in Sweden 2015.

Nelly Bo, Luca Bo and Emmy Bo.

Me, Emmy Bo, Nelly Bo and Luca Bo in summer 2013.

Nelly Bo, Luca Bo, Emmy Bo... Charlie Bo... Who is Bo? Is Bo a middle name? Is this a family thing? Is it cultural? Tradition? Or is it just a nickname?

Some questions reappear in my inbox and commenting field over and over again and this is one of them. Bo is the name of my father and his father (my grandfather) was also named Bo. So, for me, growing up in a divorced home with my mother, I've always been very keen on the connection to my roots on my father's side.

My father is a Rosendahl. I was born a Rosendahl, but at age 7 it was changed to Söderberg because of the simple reason that this was my mother's maiden name (she changed back to it after the divorce) and her new partner, my step father Rolf, his last name was also Söderberg and so it was more convenient if I was a Söderberg too. Makes sense I guess... However, when I turned 18 I changed back to my maiden name Rosendahl. Quickly. To make a statement. I was officially a grown up and now I could choose who I wanted to be. And I chose the connection to my father. Maybe because it was a piece of me missing in this family construction and this was my way to fill that missing piece. I'm not sure... It is kind of funny how a name can be such a strong part of your identity... By changing my name I felt more complete. I became Annette Rosendahl. Someone I always wanted to be.

Many years later I gave up my maiden name and got married into the Ciccarelli family. I had children and although being a Ciccarelli was great, I wanted a connection to my family tree for all my children. This was very important to me.

In Sweden it is not uncommon to have two middle names or even three, and so I chose one name from my husband's side of the family and one name from my side of the family for our children. I picked our mothers' names for the girls and our fathers' names for our boy. And so Luca became Luca Bo Magnus. He soon got the nick name Luca Bo. Mainly used by Jay. Because it felt good in the mouth to say. And for some unknown reason we added Bo to the girls too for the very same reason. Bo became a playful nickname, adding a feeling of extra much love, cuteness, goofyness and a sprinkle of childish innocence... And because of this, now all three are Nelly Bo, Emmy Bo and Luca Bo. And even the cats are Charlie Bo, Izzy Bo and Maya Bo every now and then... But officially it is only Luca who really is a Bo in my family. Part from my father Bo, of course. And my big brother... Forever and ever connected. That is the story about Bo.

Kärlek
Annette

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