WHAT IS IN A NAME?
Literally, a name is defined as a title by which a person or thing is known or designated. It comprises of a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known, called or addressed. A name is an identity of a person, or thing or event, such that if an attempt is made to fake or impersonate it, it shall attract legal charge punishable by law. Little wonder that from Birth certificate to driver’s license, an authentic name is used.
Even God, the Creator of the universe places great importance on name: that is why after creation, he brought each living creature to Adam to name and whatever name Adam gave them became their names. When God eventually made the woman out of Adam, He brought her to Adam and Adam named her Eve, meaning “the mother of all living things” (Genesis 2 19-20; 3: 20). Some names are given according to family linage; through such names, one’s larger (ancestral) family/root could easily be traced or identified. Other people name to reflect the peculiar circumstances surrounding the person’s birth, be it fortune, mishap or a historical incident.
This supports the fact that names have meanings. For example, Jabez means sorrow or pain; Jesus means Savior; John means God shows favor. Hosea gave his three children strange names; Jezreel meaning God’s revenge for the massacre at Jezreel by the house of Jehu; Lo- Ruhamah means “no more love/ mercy for the house of Israel; Lo-Ammi means you are not my people; I am not your God to show God’s increasing judgment against Israel’s adulterous life. These children were conceived in disgrace, unfaithfulness and adultery.
In our community, people answer names that signify they are twin; some names show the day of the week they were born; still others express appreciation for God’s special gift or favor to their families. Some people are named after a person, place or land mark. It could be a beloved relation, a cherished friend, a mentor or a place of significance in the life of the family, and some, after a thing or creation. Still other names are prophetic, reflecting what the persons are destined to be by desires or revelation.
The name John means God’s favor while names like Joshua and Jesus means savior. These names come through revelation from God. John was destined to be a forerunner to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus while Jesus would deliver and take away the sins of God’s people, Israel into the Promised Land.
It is customary that parents give names to their children after birth through a simple ceremony. In Africa as well as Jewish custom, it is a very significant cultural display of fatherhood and ownership. When a child is born, a name must be given to him/her for proper identification, upon which the hospital of birth issues a birth certificate. Most Africans subject to the influence of colonization were given names that were easy for their colonial masters to pronounce, which may have no relevance or bearing to the person. Most of these names came through religious ordinances of baptism and confirmation, while others just happen at birth in most Christian hospitals and health centers. Thank God for the present dispensation where parents (and no longer a white priest) have the prerogatives to name their children in their native language according to their custom.
Names were extremely important in the biblical times for they conveyed something of a person identity. The names people bear have influence/ impact on their lives. It is commonplace to call people names according to what they do and the titles they bear. Names like Attorney, Doctor, Engineer, Pastor, Chief, and so on, speak of various achievements, elevations, excellence and certifications. In the military and the paramilitary set-ups, officers are known and addressed by their ranks, such as, Major, Cornel, Sergeant, Corporal, etc.
Even God’s names are attributed to who He is and the things He has done as well as capable of doing. In other circumstances, some often use idiomatic expressions to describe a person, a thing or an event. When God sent Moses to the children of Israel, in Egypt to prepare them for the exodus, Moses inquired from the Lord who He was. Even though God said He was the God of their fathers, Moses still needed specific information concerning His Person. He asked God “who would I say to them sent me?” In other words “what is your name?” God understood his worries and answered “I Am that I Am” which means I Am the self existent One, the One who always has been and always shall be, ever present; it is equivalent to Jehovah, the Eternal. (Psalm 90:2, Exodus 3:13-14). In another instance, the devil-possessed man of Gadarene who had resisted all bounds identified Jesus as the Son of God Most High and asked Him for help. Jesus wanted him and all around to know He knew who was in him, quickly asked, what is your name? He said Legion, because many demons possessed him.
There appears more to someone’s name than just an identity. It was so significant that sometimes God had to give a person a new name to indicate a change in life. God renamed Abram, Abraham. Sarai, He renamed Sarah; Jacob was renamed Israel and Saul named Paul. Even Jesus renamed Cephas, Peter. For example, the name Jacob means supplanter, cheater or deceiver while Israel means a Prince or Victor. In following this precept, most Christians change their names on conversion. Christians are not alone in this; after all, artist and athletes are fond of changing their names for whatever reason.
However, for another reason, young African females often change their native names to English or religious names even when the native names are more meaningful than the self given names. On the contrary, the Chinese, Jews, and Americans among other cultures are proud to answer their native names; it makes sense and it is worth emulating. For by their names, you shall know them. These people don’t attempt to change or shorten their names for any reason. Again, I met a chap in High school who answers an Igbo name, IKEOHA literally meaning “community strength.” When I asked him his name, he said, IKY which could mean Ikechukwu or Ikekpere or whatever IKAY on the surface of the earth. That did not only change the meaning of that wonderful name but its context resulting to loss of identity.
Coming nearer home, my daughter answers CHINAZOM meaning God saves, but most times, her friends call to speak with CHINA ( As per the name of a country in Asia). I usually respond, “do you mean CHINAZOM?” And they answer “uhm, yes”. And next time, they try to call it better.
In a multicultural environment like Houston, it is easy for one to get lost in the crowd. If you take a little time to learn how to call those names, you get it right. Another group of people that are quick to change their names are criminals to avoid being easily identified by law enforcement agents, for their past inglorious acts. They stain their family’s name and image without care. Unknown to them, that name does not only belong to them alone, but to a great number of people; some of whom are deceased, pursued life decently and achieved greater height than they do. However, it is common to come across people that bear names like Innocent and behave like Judas; yet others are called Michael yet behave like Lucifer.
Have you ever thought of the name you bear? What does it mean to you? What is the power of your name? Do you bear and act it or someone else? Beware that parents don’t just give their children any name but names that run in their lives. One’s name speaks of who the person is. Think about the name you bear for a minute, what significance is it to you and the family?