What's Your Name?

What's in a name? Everything! You are known by your name and not by anything else! Your name identifies who you are. Reveals your parents' wishes and expectations. Expounds the faith and traditions of your forefathers and ancestral roots. A name is usually not given lightly. It represents thought and feelings and can be significant to the researcher. Given names are more important in a way because they represent a voluntary choice by the parents or, sometimes, by an individual.

Your name will be with you till your death and even beyond. Everything that happens through you comes with your name attached. Without your well-practiced signature, no transactions take place.
The first thing anybody asks you is 'what's your good name?'. From it comes important information even if you do not want to tell. You never want your name to be badly spoken of nor to be taken lightly by anybody. Your name is precious to you. It was given by your parents at your birth-whether they chose or anybody else, is immaterial.

Naming Pattern:
So when they diecided to name you, they might have consulted several people and sources, including the astrologer, (if your parents believe in such), pandit, or pujari or a tantrik or a priest, and even common people.
Their choice was based on good luck, bright future and blessings and good reputation to the family. Usually, in India, parents name their children after their own deity or god/goddess. Some borrow from ancestors to perpetuate their principles and lifestyle. And it usually comes packaged with father's name and family name (surname).
The surname tells more than just about your parents. It tells you the caste and community and the language you are born in. Even the color of your skin before seeing it! Your eating, bathing and sleeping habits, and your attitudes and relationships you will develop and how you behave in a certain situation and environment.
You will often see the same names used over and over again in families. While certain names are popular in different areas in different times in history, the repetition could represent a pattern. Many cultures believe in honoring their elders and do so by naming children after them. You will probably see names of parents and grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles repeated, but not in any strict order. A child might be named after a good friend or a popular hero of the times. Thesedays, names of celebrities like filmstars, sports personalities, etc are becoming more popular. Religious people choose the names of various mythological figures or characters from the Religious books. E.g. Ramayana or Mahabarata, etc.

Names as a Virtue
Some of the most fascinating names come from early New England where parents sometimes named their children after virtues they hoped they would possess: Patience, Charity, Prudence, Thankful.
Some names appear quite strange to modern ears. Like animal, bird names. e.g. Fox, etc. Colors and names of places, etc.
In India also many people chose names based on qualities in the local languages. e.g. Namrata (meaning humility), Shanti (peace), etc.

Biblical Pattern
The record of first naming is in Genesis 2:19-20. Adam named all the living creatures like animals and birds, etc. Here naming is an act of discerning something about the creature so as to appropriately identify it and also an act of leadership or authority over that which was named.

In Gen. 17:5-6, God changes the name of Abram to Abraham, which means "father of many nations" , reflected Abraham's new relationship to God as well as his new identity based on God's promise of seed.
Sarai...Sarah. (Gen.17:15-16) Fittingly, since Sarai (my princess) would be the ancestress of the promised nations and kings, God changed her name to Sarah, taking away the limiting personal pronoun "my" and calling her "princess."
-“no longer... Jacob, but Israel.” Gen. 32:27-28. Jacob's personal name changed from one meaning "heel-catcher" or "deceiver" to one meaning "God's fighter" or "he struggles with God". An amazing evaluation of what Jacob had accomplished, i.e. emerging victorious from the struggle in his life with his brother, father, uncle and finally with God Himself!.
-In 1 Samuel 1:20, Hannah names the child born as a result of her earnest prayer, as Samuel, meaning "heard of God," giving all credit and glory to God. She dedicated him to God even before his birth!
-Righteous Job gave names to his daughters, who were born after his terrible trial ended, with profound meanings, in Job 42:12-15.

Ecclesiastes 7:1, "a Good name is better than precious ointment". We can see how important and precious a good name can be!
God watched over the formation of the prophet Jeremaiah in his mother's womb (Jer. 1:5). That means, God is very much involved in the birth and arrival of a child, then should we not honour Him with due place in our name?

What about the names of other gods?
In Ex.23:13, God commanded His people "NOT to mention the names of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouths."
Joshua 23:7,"...you shall NOT make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them: you shall not serve them nor bow down to them."
In Psalms 16:3,4, David vows to himself that "Nor take up their names on my lips."
In Hosea 2:17, God says, "For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, and they shall be remembered by their name no more."

So, in the O.T, most of the names of God's people contained the name of God-Yahweh, El, Elohim, etc, as a prefix or suffix.

IN the N.T. names were changed:
In John 1:42, Lord Jesus says to Simon Peter, "You are Simon...you shall be called Cephas (Peter)".
This statement not only is predictive of what Peter would be claled but also declarative of how Jesus would transform his character and use him in relationship to the foundation of the church (Matt.16:16, Ac. 2:14-4:32).

In Acts 13:9, the cruel and violent Saul became known as the humble, sactified Apsotle Paul. The name that turned the world upside down and took the gospel to the world. His name brings to mind all that he was and did for the Lord's kingdom. A totally changed personality!
And that's why he could write in 2 Cor. 5:17, that if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; all old things have passed away, behold everything has become new." And that includes your name!
A new name with the name of Jesus in it! Because, you have a new Master and Lord now! You are no longer a devotee of or dedicated to other lifeless gods. You are now a representative of the living God who lives in you. You are His ambassador. 2 Cor. 5:20.
Ac. 4:12 says, "There is NO other Name in heaven or on earth by which we must be saved- the Name of Jesus Christ!" His name is excellent, so should we not identify with His name and add this greatest name to our names?
In Ac.11:26, the early disciples of the Lord Jesus were called Christians. They were identified with the name of the Lord who was hated by the world. And they accepted and lived upto it’s honour.
And so Peter, who initially denied the Lord due to fear but later gave even his life for the Master, encourages us in his letter as follows:
1 Peter 4:16, "Yet if any one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name."

And the Lord Jesus commanded in Matthew 10:32, "Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before MY Father who is in heaven."

Confessing His name means identifying ourselves with His Name.
If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and Lord, then your name should contain His Name, since you are related to Him. Whom your name glorifies? If Not the Lord Jesus, change it today!

How to Choose a Name?
Choose prayerfuly and diligently as it is a lifetime decision. Think about what kind of life God wants you to live, and what are your spiritual goals and aspirations. Think of the great men and women of God who lived exemplary life. Dream big and aspire to become one of those who have been used by God so mightily to bring glory to His Name. Search for names from the Bible that are simple to pronounce and meaningful in local language and that challenge you to higher lifestyle. Know the meaning of the name in whatever language, by consulting a Bible dictionary or any other book. Discuss with your family (if they are God’s people) or convinve them for acceptance. Announce publicly in the Church and at your work place and neighbourhood and wherevee necessary. If possible, try to change in records. Thus you will leave a godly legacy to the following generations and make the ‘Most Excellent Name’ an integral part of your family too. May God bless you as you so honor Him. Amen.
So What is your name?

“To him who overcomes I will give him...a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” Revelation 2: 17.