If you read the Daily Bread from Radio Bible Class they recently had a devotion entitled Absolutely Nobody. Here is part of what it said:
He wanted to be a nobody. In 1992, a Seattle man running for the office of Washington State’s lieutenant governor legally changed his name to “Absolutely Nobody.” As he entered the race, he said he wanted to greet the voters, saying, “Hi, I’m Absolutely Nobody. Vote for me.” He later admitted that the purpose of his campaign was to abolish the office of lieutenant governor.”
So…what’s in a name? I have had some fun with Heidi over this blog of hers. I have whined, cajoled, begged, bribed (with chocolate), hinted strongly and done almost anything I can think of in virtual reality to convince her that the name I offered is the best. (For the record: I offered either Connor or Micah). But she has hinted very strongly…okay come right out and said it…that my name was not chosen. I really don’t know what else to do to win? 🙁 But I will take it like a man…whine…and go cry in my Diet Dr. Pepper and eat my mint chocolate chip ice cream. (She is not allowed to eat chocolate).
One of the fun things my bride and I did when we were expecting our children is look through baby name books. It has been awhile so we don’t have those books anymore. Nowadays, many some want the name they give their child to either mean something or be “prophetic.” I was talking to a father in the fellowship I pastor and asked him about his two sons. The oldest is named Joshua and I asked him if they purposely chose it. He said, “Yeah. There was that connection behind Joshua and Caleb (his name). And we liked the prophet Isaiah so it was fairly easy to choose his name.” I thought that was so cool because they will always be able to tell the boys of their spiritual heritage. My name “William” (which I do not like with a passion) means Resolute Protector. I would like to think I live up to that name in my marriage, my role as a father, and my role as a pastor.
What’s in a name? Here are a few:
- Emmanuel: God is With Us
- Jesus: Jehovah is Salvation
- Lord: Absolute Authority
- Messiah (also Christ): Anointed One
- Wonderful Counselor (out of the ordinary), Mighty God (All-powerful God), Everlasting Father (He is forever, the “I AM”), Prince of Peace (the One who secures peace)
So many more this blog would go on forever if I wanted to do that. But you get the point I am sure. What’s in a name? Need you wonder? Oh…do you have a favorite Name? What is it and why?
P.S. Please Heidi!!! 🙂
Names are powerful, just read your list outloud…you can feel it.
I love nick-names. I’ve never had one and always wanted one so I choose a ‘term of endearment’ for people I’m close to…Mike-The Husband, My sis-Baby Sister, My daughter Bethany-Bebe…you get the point!
I like the names you chose for Heidi!!
Bill: I like Micah. Just don’t want anyone calling him “Mike”. I like Connor too, but it’s too popular and I have a cousin named Connor already. Sorry buddy. It’s been fun teasing about it with you.
We take naming our kids very seriously. And it’s a difficult process since we rarely agree and then once we do I’m off to check meanings.
Brianna means strong and is a combination of my mom’s name (Diana) and my mother-in-law’s name (Brenda). Lyn (her middle name) which is my middle name and my mom’s middle name means pretty. And she is pretty and strong (leader-type strength and determination). Jeremy is derived from Jeremiah which means God will uplift. Corbett (his middle name) is also Rich’s middle name and Rich’s dad’s middle name and Rich’s grandpa’s middle name and it means raven which reminds me of Elijah’s story.
If our baby is a girl she’ll either be Sara (princess) or Rachel (ewe). She’ll share mine and Brianna’s middle name. If our baby is a boy his name was Jen’s suggestion and will be Gavin which means white hawk. His middle name will be the same as Rich’s and Jeremy’s.
Jen doesn’t know she has won so shhhh about that. We’ll do the whole winner thing after the baby is born and I have time to properly introduce him/her.
Enjoy your ice cream. I would really love some spumoni right now. Boo Hoo!!
Heidi Reed
Heidi: okay…no more crying, whining, bribing, or any of that other silly stuff. My grandson’s middle name is Micah so reckon that at least got picked somewhere.
I like your choice of names for your children. Good names that can be explained to them as they grow up. we have a young man here whose name is Gavin. His brother’s name is Gage. I like them both although I have no clue what they mean. I do now with Gavin. Our youth/worship pastor named theirs Ezra and Abram. Cool names to teach in the future.
I never had spumoni until my niece’s wedding in July. Let’s just say I had my share. 🙂
Prayers still go out every day for you and your baby.
Thanks Robin. Some do like terms of endearment and stand with those all life long. Glad you liked my names. As you can see, Heidi didn’t but gave good reasons. 🙂
William…
My name is Michael Steven…literally means “Called of God” for Michael…and Steven means “martyr”…little did my parents know that I would become a pastor and fulfill that name!
Bradley means: “A broad meadow.” Stunning I know. Before I lost 30 pounds, this name was becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Naming a kid is hard. Mandy and I wanted to name our boys something that meant something, wasn’t too “normal” but something that wouldn’t get their butts kicked in school growing up.
Okay Steve…you wore out your welcome. I always know when a friend is calling or one of them confounded telemarketers by the way they address me. Friends call me Bill. 🙂 So…have you always gone by Steve or is it just since were a pastor?
Brad: broad meadow huh? Let’s just hope your parents didn’t say, “Let’s call him this and then feed him everything so it is true.” I think you and Mandy have chosen good names for your boys.
My parents cursed my brother and me by calling us by our middle names! Never do that to a child…hard in school, hospitals, Social Security, just about everywhere when they ask you name…and you don’t go by your first name…
I’m just Will (like Will Rogers), not William (even though most people assume it is). I’m legally the 3rd, but actually the 4th. See, my grandpa was adopted, and his adopting father was not clear on the whole senior-junior thing. He was Will Ray Smith, and named my grandpa Will Ray Smith Sr. So my dad, became Jr, and I became the 3rd. Clear as mud?
It ended there, though. Christopher David and Ashley Deborah. I wanted Ashley Dean (my wife’s and her mom’s middle name) but my wife was, er, passionately against, shall we say, so we agreed on Deborah (both have “D” middle names after strong Biblical leaders).
I’ve informed my wife that we are naming all of our children after baseball player, early American political figures, or a combination of both. We’ll see how it works out for me. Be praying that she will have the wisdom to know I am right when the time comes (hopefully waaay down the line).
Ha. My dad saw a name on the side of a boat and liked how it sounded. My mom was pregnant at the time and thus, I became Karma.
My uncle suggested a derivative of the house in Gone with the Wind (Tara), so my middle name is Tyra.
A boat and a house.
Because Bernard and I both have less than “normal” names, we wanted something a bit more common for our son. So, we named him Travis. When Trav was born, we started going to a little church called Crossroads (where we are now). A bit later, we discovered that Travis is early english for “a crossroads.” How weird is that.
His middle name is Acie after Bernard’s grandfather. The youth at the church we were at when I was pregnant with him called him “Bernie Buford Super Shuford.”
Travis (when he was three) wanted to name his baby sister (we weren’t even sure if we were pregnant, yet) Kristy. NOT my first choice. We tried a bunch of different names, and I finally figured out Kristiana. It is not that common here, but my little sister’s friend from Bulgaria said it was very common in Eastern Europe, especially among nobility. HA.
And I gave her my middle name.
Bill? Steve called you “William”.. Thought you were in trouble there for a minute! lol
Okay.. since Steve talked about his own name.. 😉
Camey…
It’s not short for any thing. It’s pronounced like Tami or Tammy..
I was named after a church and it’s bus that was located on the way to my Granny’s house. I was “predestined” to have something to do with church! lol
Steve: I see your point. I don’t like my middle name (Alan) either so either one is a curse. 😉
Will: I want to think there is an Ashley Dean who is a country singer but that is her whole name. So…she didn’t like your choice? I like the Deborah use. Thanks for the addition to our chat.
So Michael any names in mind yet? I have a few suggestions. How about Barry Bonds __________. Or Roger Clemens __________. Or George Washington __________. Or Abraham Lincoln ______________. Or George Armstrong Custer _____________. Okay, so I am a smart aleck. I would like to know if she is going along with this. 😉 Thanks for stopping by.
Karma: I would have thought maybe your folks got into Buddhism for a short period of time. 🙂 I like the name. It is unusual and whenever someone would mention Karma that would always come to the forefront. I think it is neat how Travis worked out. Kristiana is unique also. Thanks for your time.
Camey: you had to bring back that memory of “William Alan Grandi!” and know that I was in deep horse doo-doo. At that point I wished I was anyone else but “William.” Growing up I was “Billy” and my folks still had trouble calling me any other name. I was truly Billy the Kid. Thanks for coming by. And I like the name Camey. Funny about the “predestined.”
She seems to like (or tolerate) most of them.
There is:
Cal Ryne (after Cal Ripken Jr. and Ryne Sandberg).
Grace Caray (after Mark Grace and Harry Caray).
Sydney Madison (after Sydney from Alias and James Madison).
There’s Jefferson Barrett (after Thomas Jefferson and William Barrett Travis, defender of the Alamo, we’d call him Barrett).
There is Ryne Wrigley (after Ryne Sandberg and Wrigley Field).
Of course Addison, the street Wrigley Field is on is a good one I don’t have a middle name for. Maybe Dawson Addison for Andre Dawson and the street of Wrigley.
And finally, Justus McCrae (Justus from the Bible, McCrae from Lonesome Dove)
Who couldn’t love those names?
Alas, I was Billy, too. By design. Because there were 3 of us at gatherings – we lived in town so were over there often – my dad went by Will and grandpa went by Ray.
Better Billy the Kid, than Dennis the Mennace, I always said… 😉
Michael: Your only problem is the team. The team my friend! Go with the Pirates my friend. 🙂 however, I would not recommend the rivers that make up 3 Rivers. You won’t be able to spell them except Allegheny.
Will: Agreed. Billy Dean (country singer) had a song “I Miss Billy the Kid.” I don’t miss the name but do miss the memories. Welcome to the “Billy World” will. Agreed on the Dennis remark.
I was named after my dad, and that means a lot to me since he is not living anymore. I am proud of my name. When we named our daughter we just went through all the names each of us liked and thought of what her initials would be and if she would get any nicknames out of it, how common it was and then finally agreed on one. We didn’t even look up the meaning of it. I don’t even know the meaning of my name
many people are the same way breezy. They like/don’t like their name and have no idea what it means. I reckon I ought not be so critical of mine since obviously my parents liked it. 🙂 Curios as to your real name. My guess is brianne.