The Meaning in a Name
When names are chosen with purpose and meaning, I get goosebumps.
It’s like bestowing on a person the mantle of their destiny.
I remember my mom telling me the meaning of my name when I was little: Alexis, helper and defender of mankind.
I’ve never forgotten that. As a kid, I took the meaning of my name very seriously, like a responsibility and one I was proud to fulfill. I stood up for bullied kids and have always loved helping people.
My daughter’s name, Hannah, means favor and grace.
After my husband Aaron and I discovered that our second child would not live, in hopes of a miracle we chose his name. Zachary, remembered by God.
It broke my heart at the time of my son’s death, ‘Had God forgotten my child?’
I’ve come to understand that there are many things I cannot understand. Life is a beautifully frustrating mystery some days. So maybe in some way that seems tremendously unfair to me, Zachary was remembered by God. As hard as it is for me to say, Zachary wouldn’t have had an easy life if he had lived, so maybe it was an act of mercy by God or nature that he did not have to experience prolonged, lifelong pain…
Then when I was pregnant with my third baby, struggling with the stress of 40 weeks of uncertainty, I read a name in a children’s story and pow – was overcome. I had found my next child’s name. We named our second son Eden which means delight; he is almost two now and without doubt fully inhabits his name.
Names, like all our children, are special.
Please feel welcome to share here what you named your child or children.
Our first son’s name, Anthony, means “priceless”. Our second son, Evan, means “God is good”. Both names chosen specifically and purposefully because of what they mean.
Those are both beautiful names and I love them even more knowing the meanings. “Priceless” – that’s pretty cool.
Thanks for sharing your kids names, Aimee!
I never really thought about the meaning of my children’s names until now! I googled and Paige means assistant or little helper, she’s quite the little helper. Emree was harder to find, it means honourable. My parents named me based on a dream my aunt had, they liked Candace so named me candace lol it means white and pure and also was the title Ethiopian queens like Ceasar was for the Romans. While I don’t know if I could call myself a “pure” I’m definitely royalty 😉
You make me laugh Candace! You are royalty in my books.
It’s fun to know Paige & Emree’s meanings – it’s also neat to see how people embody the definition of their name. It’s like a calling or mantle… Something to embody.
Thanks for commenting!
My eldest son’s name is Isaac (laugher) Stephen (crowned). He was the most joy-filled child I have ever known. Truly “crowned with laughter”.
My second son – Daniel (God is my judge) Ray (counsel protection) is a little more ambiguous.
Nice choice of names, Hauna. Did you have an easy time with boy names? I found them very challenging; I could have named five daughters with all my favorites.
Are any of those names family names?