Are you happy with your name? Do you even know what it means? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be named something else? You might feel like you would be exactly the same person, but that sentiment might change after this article.
Whether we like it or not, our names define who we are, and our aim was to investigate the significance, meanings, and implications of the names we have.
The Importance
Have you ever told someone your name and heard, "you do look like a….."? Usually, people don't start seriously looking at names until they are about to have a baby, but I found myself wandering into this territory after a Sunday worship service.
I couldn't stop wondering why God changed or specifically named so many people in the Bible. Even if you aren't spiritually inclined, it's rather peculiar how idioms like: "making a name," "a household name," and "a bad name" came about. Why are they so important?
My curiosity started when I found out what my name meant. David, it turns out, is Hebrew for beloved. Sure it's a popular name, but what this really meant was since birth, people consciously or subconsciously attributed me to being well-liked. When you think of it that way, that's pretty powerful. But what makes me different than all the millions of random or famous Davids with the same name? Well, for starters, my middle and last name.
Using various naming sites, you can easily find out the origin, meaning, and even personality of just about every name in the book. With this information, I began evaluating and researching the names of friends, family, and even strangers. The results were astounding.
First names were a good starter, but with a person's full name, we actually got a good window into some of the basic strengths, tendencies, and in some cases, professional careers of the person in question. This should be obvious, but I finally understood why some women experienced legitimate feelings of resentment about changing their last name in marriage. But, of course, this raises the question of why it was done in the first place?
They are indeed changing who they are for the rest of their lives. Does this mean they are going to suddenly change their personalities? I wouldn't go that far, but it is ascribing certain characteristics to them and their offspring from that point forward.
This point came full circle when I began talking to others about this subject. The conversation turned emotional when one of the speakers said they hated their name because it was the same as their father, who neglected them. This identity issue plagues many of us who feel that our names are solely connected to the people or objects we are named after, but the reality is so much more than that.
I decided to put my theory to the test and asked him what three characteristics best described him. After he gave me his response, I informed him what his name meant. I witnessed his whole disposition change as I read aloud the meaning and characteristics of his name. It no longer had anything to do with his predecessor but with the traits that it embodied and the person it described…. Him.
Changing Your Name
With that said, we can't ignore the truly meaningless and absurd names some thoughtless parents have given some children. All aren't as unusual as Apple or Pimptarius (actual names I've heard), but they might not fit the person we see ourselves as. If this is you, it's perfectly okay to legally change your name. Actually, I recommend you do it.
There are a million sayings about names, but one of the most important ones is taking pride in anything that has your name on it. You're an adult now, and there is nothing stopping you from having a name that you are proud of. No girl wants to introduce their father to Scooby-Doo Johnson, and as a man, there are times when you need to be taken seriously. Your name is a chief example of this. Some of us don't like the person we were in high school or at an earlier period of our life, and our name can sometimes be a painful reminder of that. Going by your middle name is a less drastic alternative but still a great way to highlight a personality that is still very much a part of you.
Beyond Your Name
Have you ever noticed that you know a lot of people with one particular name? Maybe you even dated a few girls with similar names? Well, we decided to put that to the test as well and began taking an intimate look at the names of the relationships that we had. After our previous work, we were happy to find that the people closest to us have either identical or complementary name profiles as our own. So much so that after a while, we could find a certain "type" that suited us individually.
Take a second and scroll through your contacts on your phone and make a note of the names that you see appear at least three or four times, then compare those to the names of your best friends. When you check their meaning, you might be surprised at how similar you are to them. Those characteristics might be something you value. For example, I have 17 Christophers, Kristins, Kristine's, Christians, and Christians on my phone. Even at a glance, that number was simply too large to be a coincidence.
I found out that they all possessed an inner longing to work with others to achieve peace and harmony; by building a foundation of order and service. I crossed referenced it with others that knew them, and it all made sense. I could see those traits in all of them, from how they treated other friends and me to the occupations in which they were pursuing. My closest friends, Greg, meaning observer, and Kevin, meaning handsome, were generally described as analyzers who took in the world around them and deeply yearned for adventure. That is almost analogous to the traits of my name.
I don't believe names should be the end all be all of anyone, and judging someone purely off their name is stupidity, but they are much more pertinent to our lives than we let on. So next time you're at a bar and ask a gal what her name is, just know you might be getting a lot more information than you initially thought.