What Does Your Name Mean? A Name Between Two Lovers
One word frees us
of all the weight
and pain of life;that word is love.
~ Sophocles, Greek Tragedian
What’s the big deal about a name? Everyone has one, right?
When I was old enough to figure out there were meanings behind names, I asked Ah-Ma why she chose “Bonnie” for my name.
I expected some sort of meaningful story or another.
“I didn’t know what to name you when you born, so the nurse handed me a book of names. Bonnie was the first one I came across that sounded good. Easy to pronounce.”
Okay… Thanks, Mom.
God’s In The Business
As I got older, I came to like my name because people have to smile in order to say it. It’s hard to be super mad and growl “Baaah-nee”. See? You make a grin at the end.
We don’t get to choose our names, but they point to our identity. According to Geneaology.com, our first names can reveal a “recycled name” from a family’s past or a virtue our parents hoped we’d possess.
Some live with their given name from birth to deathbed. Sometimes, a name can be changed.
In Toni Morrison’s Pullitzer-Prize winning novel, Beloved, Jenny Whitlow was named by her slave owners. Jenny answered to “anything”. Her name held no meaning. It was a dead name.
Jenny has no importance until she earns her freedom, meets her husband and becomes beloved. She is re-named “Baby Suggs”. Her new name became a game changer, launching her into a meaningful and significant story line.
Beloved is fiction. God’s love is not. He is in the real business of changing names.
God Changes Names
A quick glance at the Bible, and we find a list of names God’s changed:
Abram — Abraham
Sarai — Sarah
Jacob — Israel
Simon — Peter
Saul — Paul
God doesn’t just change names in Biblical times.
He changes names today — yours and mine.
“To him who overcomes,
I will give some of the hidden manna.
I’ll also give a clear, smooth stone
inscribed with your new name,
your secret new name.” ~ God (Revelations 2:17)
Doesn’t the word “secret” turn this verse on it’s heels?
Between Two Lovers
The word in Greek, used in this passage is
okeios. an intimate knowing
The new names God gives are clandestine terms of endearment – like the ones whispered between two lovers.
The name we go by matters.
Who we belong to and what that person says about us affects our identity.
God isn’t the only one busy rewriting our identities. The world also loves to murmur names for us, as well as our experiences.
I am learning to practice hearing the name God calls me. I’m trying to get to that intimate place to see myself clearly and feel the love He has for me.
The world may call me by one set of labels — small and plain. I may even call myself by some others. God calls me Faithful and Beautiful.
My initials are FB.
What name is God giving you?
What other names is the world trying to put on you? Which ones are you using yourself?
**** LISA LEONARD NECKLACE GIVEAWAY ****
**FAITH BARISTA GIVEAWAY**Two Lisa Leonard Designs Necklaces
Guys – win one for your gal!
Gals – win one for yourself!
ENTER NOW!
Love and intimacy grows in the daily soil of God’s grace. TWO Faith Barista readers will be randomly chosen to receive Lisa Leonard’s gorgeous reminder: By Grace Alone Necklaces.
I bought one myself last year, to mark a new direction He’s pointing me towards — and to remind myself that He has the grace to see me through. I love wearing it, and I am so excited to host this giveaway!
ENTER TO WIN: 2 Winners will be chosen!
BY SUNDAY 2/14/10 – Midnight
1. Find the original meaning of your name.
Click here and go to Name Meanings Website, enter your name to get the meaning for your name.
2. Comment below with your name AND it’s original meaning. You’re entered!
EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Go on Twitter and send the tweet below out to your peeps. Comment *a second time* that you’ve tweeted. You’re entered – again!
What Does Your Name Mean? http://bit.ly/aMd6zS Drop a comment & win a @LisaLeonard necklace via @TheBonnieGray
2. Share this post on Facebook. Click the Share icon below. Comment *a third time* that you’ve Facebooked. You’re entered again!
TWO WINNERS:
Two computer generated, randomly selected winners are: Jessica S & Rebecca F! Congratulations to our two winners — and a big thank you to everyone for participating!
By Grace Alone Necklaces are part of an exclusive jewelry collection at Dayspring’s (In)Courage Gift Shop.
A big SHOUT OUT goes out to my friend Lisa, who generously sponsored today’s giveaway. Be sure to checkout her complete collection at Lisa Leonards Design and blog, It’s The Little Things. Thanks, Lisa!
Most of all, thank you for making Faith Barista an awesome community of faith voices. You’ve made me love being here!
Photo courtesy of Photobucket.
Caroline on { Unwrapping Love } Flirt With Remembrance
Jeri Taira on { Unwrapping Love } Flirt With Remembrance
Sandra Heska King on { Unwrapping Love } Flirt With Remembrance
Julie Sunne on { Unwrapping Love } Flirt With Remembrance
Jennifer on { Unwrapping Love } Flirt With Remembrance
Hi Bonnie, this isn’t as easy as it sounds for me. My real name is Shelli, which is not found (probably due to the weird spelling – I could never find preprinted things with my name on!). Shelly means “Meadow on a Ledge” and it’s a unisex name. Since Shelli is often a nickname for Michelle, I looked that one up to and it means “Who Is Like God?” Now that is a beautiful name, wouldn’t you say?!
YES, Shelli– BEAUTIFUL!
I tweeted, too!
.-= Shelli @ Hopefully Devoted´s last blog ..My New Passion =-.
Kim – Ruler
I am not a ruler of anything but am blessed to serve the supreme ruler of everything.
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Revelation 1:5
My name is Lauren, meaning “crowned with laurel”. Laurel wreaths were used as symbols of victory. It’s really kind of eye opening – as followers of Jesus, we are victors. So no matter what I’m going through, it is engraved in me to overcome. Who thought you could get all that out of a name! Thanks Bonnie!
My name is Mary, which means “bitter”. I have often wondered about that..does the meaning come from the bitter loss Mary experienced when she watched her Son die? Or possibly the bitterness Mary Magdalene felt? I don’t think of Mary the mother of Christ as being bitter any longer..she knows the whole story now!
I did some research into the name, as my middle name is Maree, which has roots in Mary… which in turn, has roots in Myrrh. I’m certainly not a bitter person… and what I found absolutely delighted my socks off.
Myrr is a bitter smelling resin… however, when it is crushed, lets off a beautiful earthy, somewhat sweet fragrance. Also, unlike other resins, (and this is the bit I really like,) when it is burned, instead of melting or liquifying, it BLOOMS
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Just Ducking In… =-.
Karin
Pure
Origin: Greek
.-= HisFireFly´s last blog ..Ninevah? Do I have to? =-.
I tweeted here http://twitter.com/HisFireFly/status/8962058478
.-= HisFireFly´s last blog ..Ninevah? Do I have to? =-.
Bonnie, I’m leaving a link from one I guest-posted – I love names.
http://katdish.blogspot.com/2010/01/whats-in-his-name-by-kelly-langner.html
.-= Kelly Langner Sauer´s last blog ..Love Today =-.
Oh, and I have tweeted this post.
I hope your day is awesome…
.-= Kelly Langner Sauer´s last blog ..Love Today =-.
Philip is of Greek origin and means “Lover of horses”. Very fitting since I grew up on the family farm and heard stories of how they used horses before they got their first tractor. My Grandfather also raised harness race horses and would frequently give us kids rides on the training cart around the track he made in the middle of a field. And he always had a pony for us to ride. I also like that they gave me the biblical version (only one “l”).
Ok, Bonnie, I facebooked your post too. Does that double my chances?
jk
Posted on my Facebook http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/karin.fendick?ref=profile
.-= HisFireFly´s last blog ..Ninevah? Do I have to? =-.
My name is Stephanie from the Greek word, Stephanos, meaning Crown.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Won’t Hold Back =-.
I had to search Elizabeth even though it is not my “real” name. Consecrated to God is the meaning given, not one I had ever read before. I love it!
Christ-Bearer
Kristy
(I couldn’t have chosen a better meaning) – thanks so much for reminding me!
.-= Kristy´s last blog ..A Look Into My Week =-.
Mine’s pretty boring, but here it is: “Brett – Briton, British”
Top of the morning. Spot a tea, govner? The Queen, and fish & chips, mate.
Thats all the British I know.
oh and it’s tweeted!
.-= brett barner´s last blog ..Just Call Me Cupid’s Helper [Life] =-.
My nick name is Trae, which I made up myself. Its pronounced the say as ‘Tres’ the french word for very, and yes, I’m a very lot of things
But my real name is Tracey, which means ‘strong spirit’ and I definitely have that!
Debbie ~ derived from the Hebrew of Deborah ~ means Honey Bee.
Several years ago while reading “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices” by Thomas Brooks, something he said in A Word To The Reader, helped me to see the meaning of my name in a new way and apply it to my life! “Remember, it is not hasty reading, but serious meditating upon holy and heavenly truths, that make them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the bee’s touching of the flower that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most, that will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian.”
I also shared this on my Facebook. Thank you for this neat post Bonnie!
.-= Debbie Blair´s last blog ..Rejoice in Adversity =-.
I love Lisa’s stuff!!
My name, sarah, means Princess
My
I am a Celestial Hunter. Interesting! Thanks for this fun giveaway!
My name is Karan and it means “pure.” Oddly, it is a male name – not sure what to make of that! It is also of Greek origin. I love that it means pure, as I have struggled to accept grace in its fullest. In Christ, I am truly pure!
Bina = freshness, per this site…and I actually like that one for today, seeing as how I just contemplated a shower but now see that I don’t need one cuz already I am radiating freshness! hee hee
I tweeted and am hooking up via FB.
Wonderful, insightful post. Count me in!!
.-= Bina´s last blog ..The Wiser Heart & A GiveAway =-.
My name is Elizabeth, and it means “Consecrated to God.”
Thanks for this lovely post, and the giveaway!
=-.
.-= Beth´s last blog ..A Good Word – or several
Carol means “melody or song”, French origin.
As I have been involved with singing in choirs for a good part of my life, this was certainly a prophetic name. I’ve discovered that God uses my Spiritual Gift of encouragement through the act of singing in our church choirs.
You have been Facebooked
=-.
.-= Beth´s last blog ..A Good Word – or several
And you have been Tweeted!
=-.
.-= Beth´s last blog ..A Good Word – or several
For years I was disappointed because my name (Melissa) means honeybee. I thought that it was a meaningless name. Then God challenged me to look at what a honeybee is and does. They are hardworking, dilligent, and create something that is both beautiful and nourishing. They work as a team and everyone does their part to support the community. So, even though my parents didn’t know it when they named me (my mom heard my name in a woman’s restroom while she was pregnant), God knew my name and assigned it to me. Right now I’m pregnant with my 4th child and I’m pouring over baby naming websites to find the right name for this little boy who’s still a stranger to me. What I’m trusting in is the fact that God knows him and has a name for him. So, my husband and I are just waiting on God to tell us.
.-= Melissa Brotherton´s last blog ..Book Reading Challenge 2010 =-.
Retweeted! I’d love to win a necklace! I think Lisa Leonard does beautiful work!
.-= Melissa Brotherton´s last blog ..Book Reading Challenge 2010 =-.
Facebooked too! It does count that my tweets go to my Facebook, right?
.-= Melissa Brotherton´s last blog ..Book Reading Challenge 2010 =-.
For quite a while I have been wrestling with something I’ve been calling “loneliness” (though I’m not sure that’s the right name (ha) for it). Several weeks ago I was reminded of what my name means. I’ve known this since I was a girl, but it just popped back into my memory.
From Greek origins, “Monica” means “advisor, counselor.” But from Latin origins, “Monica” means—get this—ALONE, unequaled. So, even my very NAME means something like loneliness.
Well…
God’s sense of humor? I’m sure my parents did not have that in mind when they named me.
.-= Monica Sharman´s last blog ..“So” Obedience =-.
Alone and unequaled could also mean “set apart”… “unique”… “beyond compare”… “incomparable”…
I don’t think it was God’s humor so much as the way He truly sees you
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Just Ducking In… =-.
My name, Danielle, means God is my Judge or Judged by God. For a while I thought that was a negative thing, but I’ve come to realize it isn’t.
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..Memory Making =-.
Bonnie, Don’t enter me, but I wanted so much to share. 2 years ago, God named me. I feel shy saying it. He called me
Beautiful One Who Sees, and Loves. Really Really. The only true thing is the seeing part. I’ve never been the beautiful Barbie girl or very good at loving. What I didn’t know at first is how when He names you with the white pebble name, you slowly become it, because He believes it’s true. I started borrowing His vision for and of me. I pray for people I love to KNOW their name. This was a lovely post.
.-= Kathleen Overby´s last blog ..Rock Salt =-.
Just twittered about the contest! I’d love to win one of these necklaces, I love them!
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..Memory Making =-.
Helen. Light. Greek.
Funny, since I’m a rather heavy Hungarian. I was named after mom.
.-= Helen´s last blog ..Yes, Mom’s Suffering is Over =-.
Jason means “healer.”
Thanks Bonnie- great post.
.-= jasonS´s last blog ..Hoarding: Do You Have Room? =-.
My name is spelled Jamie, but there wasn’t a meaning for that spelling – I did find Jaimie which means “I Love”. I did look for my middle name also, Keitha – it means Female Warrior. I really like that one!! I’d like to think that God thinks of me that way – a warrior for Him.
Thanks so much for your blog…..it has been such an inspiration for me!
Hi Bonnie. I found no entry for my first name, so I tried my middle name, Caroline which is Latin and means BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. I never tried to look it up before. Thanks to you, now I know.
Blessings
Gladwell aka Caroline
.-= Gladwell Musau´s last blog ..A JOB PLOT =-.
Cassandra means “prophetess”.
.-= Cassandra Frear´s last blog ..Storm Stories =-.
Evelyn Hazelnut Gender: Female Origin: English
Okay, I read this earlier as I am a subscriber ….then I got your email to another address (Worthy of Attention) so like the woman at the well – when I heard the word GIFT, I came back to the site again.
Thanks for the special invitation!
.-= Kissie´s last blog ..Has It Come to This =-.
Well, we won’t find Kissie’s meaning for a while but when my grandparents gave me that name it meant I was very special to them.
BTW, I tweeted it….so this comment counts for two!
.-= Kissie´s last blog ..Has It Come to This =-.
And now I’ve Facebooked….you can put me down for three entries now.
;-P
See ya around, and thanks again for the email.
.-= Kissie´s last blog ..Has It Come to This =-.
My first name is the Irish equivalent of “Mary” about which I wrote a poem last October, “The Etymology of Mary” (here’s the link: http://writingwithoutpaper.blogspot.com/2009/10/etymology-of-mary-poem.html).
My last name is Greek in origin, shortened, we were told, by about 7 letters. I was once told it meant “poor man” but have never been able to find that meaning while searching its origin. Europeans always recognize it as Greek and always pronounce it correctly. My father was orphaned at 4 and was a first generation American for whom only a birth certificate exists, on which the name of his father surprised me. My son bears “Doallas” as part of his hyphenated name but the name is no longer to be carried on as “Doallas”. My brothers had no children.
.-= Maureen (Mo)´s last blog ..Words Make for Pitching Dreams (Poem) =-.
My name is Tara and it’s origin is Celtic/Gaelic. The meaning of Tara is “Craggy Hillside.” Not too crazy about that but you didn’t say you have to like it, just post it.
*Note: I’ve also Tweeted and posted this to Facebook. Thanks. :~)
Well, my full name is Chrystal Elizabeth. Chrystal was not found. As a young girl, my name was spelled Christy (before as a rebellious teenager I decided to change it). So here are the meaning of my names:
Christy – Of Christ
Elizabeth – Consecrated to God
Oh, to live a life consecrated to God. I only hope to live up to my name. Great post, Bonnie. I love how God changes names in the Bible. I was just thinking about that the other day. Love it.
.-= Chrystie´s last blog ..The Beauty of Brokenness =-.
My name is Dianne Kathleen; my family calls me Kathy:
Dianne – Celestial Hunter
Kathleen – Pure, Virginal
My name is Jacqueline and it means To Protect. That is more true than anyone will ever know.
Thanks, Bonnie.
Jackie (aka Jacqueline Michelle)
.-= Jackie´s last blog ..February Beauty! =-.
Hi Bonnie…I just tweeted too!
.-= Jackie´s last blog ..February Beauty! =-.
My name is Katy and according to the site that means: Pure, Virginal. I probably knew this at one point, but had completely forgotten so it was fun to look it up!
Though, the name that I keep coming back to over and over in the Bible and that God has just written on my heart is Hephzibah which in Hebrew means “My delight is in her.” Definitely different than the names I’ve tried to put on myself or the world!
I believe the name you give your child, professes over them whatever their name means. As when you call God the healer, your believing for his healing or as provider, for His provision. You are calling what you want, by name.
My name Nina has a few meanings -
“Girl” in Spanish. “Grace” in Hebrew. In Quechua it means “fire”. In Babylonian it means “enclosure of fish” – sort of reminds me of when Jesus told His disciples to follow Him, and He will make them fishers of men.
In my life I have seen each one of these meanings manifest, come to pass, in my life. Names have a very deep meaning and important role in ones life. Whenever it comes to naming your child, make sure you read the meaning and know what it means. A name is one of the most important gifts given to a child.
.-= Nina´s last blog ..Calories, Calories, Calories… What are they? =-.
My name is Catherine and means purity. I have always liked my name, even when I haven’t always lived up to its meaning.
My husband and I put a lot of thought into our daughter’s name. She is Sarah (Princess, in Hebrew) Elizabeth (Consecrated to God, also in Hebrew). She is Sarah Beth, “God’s princess”, or another way, “God’s daughter” as he is THE King.
It is funny how many random people call her “Princess” to be sweet, as girls are supposed to like that word. She doesn’t know what it means, other than that she is God’s daughter, and it always makes me smile to hear others call her that.
Two names, entered twice? Also Facebooked
Catherine Marie
Hi, Bonnie.
Here is the meaning:
Bridget
Strong
Gender: Female
Origin: Celtic/Gaelic
I was supposed to be named Angela all the way up until I came into this world… then my dad changed it at the last minute. I can’t see me being an Angela…
I always enjoy your words, and leave feeling like I’ve had coffee with a dear friend. Thank you!
.-= Bridget Chumbley´s last blog ..Patience (Blog Carnival) =-.