This portrait is part of Echoes of Our Names, a photo series exploring the meaning behind Asian American names in their mother tongue. For each piece, I interview the subject about their native name, who gave it to them, and the story behind it. I then create a visual concept inspired by what I learn.

This is 真妮, a screenwriter and actress raised by her grandparents. Her name was given by her grandmother, who had little formal education and only knew a few Chinese characters — “真” (truth) was one of them. She paired it with “妮” (girl) to form a name shared across three sisters.

As 真妮 grew, she recognized how much her grandmother’s untold stories shaped her. Now, she brings those stories to life through film. The red grid in this image reflects the layered tension many Asian Americans feel — between visibility and invisibility, legacy and reinvention.

This project celebrates Asian American names in their native languages, rather than replacing them for the sake of being easier to pronounce or remember.

Behind every name, a lineage, a story.