This is NPR's life kit.

I'm Nured Waswas.

When you think of your name, what does it mean to you?

Maybe you're named after a grandparent, or maybe your name has a unique story behind it.

Or it could be rooted in a language, culture, or religion.

Like my name, Nured.

It means light in Arabic.

Whatever the case might be, a person's name is a connection to their identity,

an extension of who they are.

But what happens when you have a name that people aren't familiar with?

Chances are, it's constantly being butchered and mispronounced.

Trust me, I know the feeling.

Pronouncing someone's name correctly isn't just a common courtesy.

It's far more than just the syllables that come out of someone's mouth.

It's an important effort to create an inclusive society,

a way to emphasize safety and belonging.

And so, on today's life kit, getting people's names right.

It is extremely necessary as a key component of belonging,

of feeling like you're valued, feeling like you're seen and heard.

It's one of those really subtle nuances that can make a huge difference.

I spoke with Ruchika Toshyan.

Ruchika is a journalist and author and the founder of an inclusion strategy firm called Candor.

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