Where did your name come from?

My birth name is Glynda Tejada Velasco. I was named Glynda after my birthplace, Glynco county in Georgia (USA) and Glynco Memorial Hospital. The y is pronounced like a short e. When people hear my name they want to spell it Glenda which is a more common spelling. Upon introductions, people joke asking if I'm a "Good Witch?" in reference to Glinda, The Good Witch from The Wizard of Oz. (I know it's spelled Glinda because I read the Frank Baum novel The Wizard of Oz.) I learned Glenda is Welsh meaning "from the Valley."

Tejada is my mother's maiden name. I am proud to have that name because I admire both my grandparents.  My grandfather in particular was highly esteemed by my mother. He was an intelligent and compassionate man who taught himself English reading newspapers his customers left on his bus. He raised his daughters encouraging them to get an education.

Velasco is the sir name, my father's last name.  Once again, my grandfather is also highly esteemed. He was the mayor of Castillejos, a town in the province of Zambales in the Philppines. He was considered one of the last honest politicians. His townmates loved him for his generosity. He won his first election in spite of the fact that his opponents were buying votes. He prided himself in winning the hearts of his townmates.

My mother says that I remind her of both my grandfathers. She also remind me that my grandmothers were business women and I may have inherited that from them too.