What's in a Name?
I would never have guessed that choice might actually bestow upon those children certain characteristics and personalities, but of late, I am starting to wonder.
Lucas, chosen first, means "bringer of light." We could not have picked a more appropriate name for this bright, enthusiastic child. He brings light and life to so many situations with boundless curiosity, energy and a desire to engage others. He was our first child, answer to our prayers, and incredible blessing.
When it came to picking a name for our second child, we loved the sound of the name "Nicolas." I guess maybe we should have given a little more thought to its meaning: Leader of the People. No matter what the activity, he will chart his own path -- over, around, through, between any obstacles. He's more than happy to take the punishment for a poor choice than turn back when warned. Fearless, he charges forward with determination. In a two-year-old, I find this exhausting. In adulthood, I look forward to witnessing the heights he will reach.
Our sweet baby girl came last. Margaret was to be her middle name, in memory of Scott's mother, and we searched carefully to find a first name that was both beautiful and fitting. Hoping to cultivate some different options, Scott turned to an online baby-name forum, where a group of people obsessed with baby names provided pages of suggestions. In those pages, we found "Analise." The name means "grace" and "devoted to God." In her unconditional, undeserved love for us, our Analise is, certainly, God's greatest gift of grace. We can only hope she will experience the joy of a life devoted to God.
So, what do you think? Do your kids match their names? Does a person "rise to meet" the meaning of his/her name, or is it just coincidence? Does God whisper the name into our ears as we are searching?
Great post, Sonja!
ReplyDeleteWe were very intentional in the theology behind the kids' names.
Anna Grace ~ "grace upon grace" (John 1:16)
Isaac Timothy ~ "he will laugh, serving God"
Evan Daniel ~ "God is gracious; God is my judge"
So far, we have been delighted to see them fulfill their nomenclature in some unique and special ways.
Oh, Sonja. I am chuckling. I just looked up the meaning of my kids names. (I know I've looked them up before, but I couldn't remember.) "Andrew" means "manly." Which is just making me laugh. Andrew was BORN with an aversion to pink and anything remotely girlish. When Elizabeth was going to be born, his well-meaning aunt gave him a doll so he could take care of a baby too. As he unwrapped it and realized what it was (it was even a boy doll!), he howled "noooooooooooo!" I'm pretty sure he could be heard in Omaha. He also never seemed babyish or little boyish. Always a little man! And now, as we are in the thick of his pre-adolescent years, I am watching him as he starts down that path to becoming a MAN, not just my little man.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth means "consecrated to God" or "my God is bountiful." Certainly true. If it hadn't been for God convincing me to trust him and take a leap of faith that he would provide, our joyful Miss Elizabeth might not even be here!
God MUST have given us their names! :-D
Great Post!
ReplyDeleteThe names my husband and I picked had to sound good yelling out the back door.I grew up in a neighborhood where the moms simply stuck there heads out the back door and yelled their children's names when it was time to come home .So think
Jaaaames!
BRRRAAAD!
Thooooomas!
OOOOOOOOOOilva!
Keep Posting -B