What Does A Name Mean?
Yesterday, I was thinking about names, and what they mean.
The first name a person is given in this life is bestowed by others at birth. The given name is a reflection of the parents' tastes, hopes, and admirations. It may be the name of a family member or historical figure that the parents admire. It may have a certain meaning, or represent some trait that the parents hope their child will exhibit. As a child grows, he may embrace and love the name he was given, or he may find ways to alter it to suit his own taste, perhaps going by a nickname or a middle name rather than the first given name.
The surname a child receives at birth designates the family the child is born into. This surname may change if a child is adopted by a step parent, or into a different family. It occurred to me that the giving of a surname should be a form of contract: It says, "You are my child, you are part of my family and I will take care of you."
When a woman gets married, she has the option of taking on her spouse's surname. It becomes a symbol for becoming part of another family group. When a couple agree to marry and share a surname, the same kind of contract should exist: "You are my spouse. We are a family. We will take care of each other."
As men and women gain qualifications through school or study, they can also gain titles that can be added to their names, such as BS, MBA, CPA, DDS, etc. Some professions bestow titles as well that usually precede names, such as Reverend or Doctor. In bestowing these titles, the educational institution is saying, "You have met our standards for this degree. You have the qualifications you need to act in this capacity." By accepting these titles, a person is saying, "I have honestly earned these qualifications, and I have the skills necessary to help others in this capacity."
In the scriptures, there is mention of people who changed their names. Usually the changing of a name represented a change in life; it was the symbol of a covenant. Abram and Sarai had their names changed to Abraham and Sarah as a symbol of the covenant that they would be parents to God's chosen people, and that through them the whole earth would one day be blessed. Their grandson Jacob's name was changed to Israel when that same covenant was renewed with Jacob. These names were changed by God as a symbol of God's covenant with his children.
Other people changed their own names as a symbol of their own changes in life, and possibly as a symbol of promises they made with God. Saul became known as Paul when he stopped working against the early Christians and became a missionary for Christ. The people converted by Ammon and his brothers decided that they would not be known as Lamanites any longer, but took the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehi instead, to symbolize their "divorce" from the Lamanite family, and the establishment of a different family, one converted to the gospel of Christ.
When we are baptized, we take upon us a new name: the name of Christ. In effect, we say, "I will keep the commandments and stand as a witness for Christ and love and serve others." Christ answers, "If you do this, then you will be part of my family, and I will take care of you. I will bless with you with my Spirit, and I will atone for your sins." (See Mosiah 18:8-10)
What does your name say about you? What contracts and covenants have you entered into?
~Mrs. MaeLyn M Hiatt, BS, daughter of Christ
~title, Given name, Maiden name initial, Married name, college degree, religious determination
The first name a person is given in this life is bestowed by others at birth. The given name is a reflection of the parents' tastes, hopes, and admirations. It may be the name of a family member or historical figure that the parents admire. It may have a certain meaning, or represent some trait that the parents hope their child will exhibit. As a child grows, he may embrace and love the name he was given, or he may find ways to alter it to suit his own taste, perhaps going by a nickname or a middle name rather than the first given name.
The surname a child receives at birth designates the family the child is born into. This surname may change if a child is adopted by a step parent, or into a different family. It occurred to me that the giving of a surname should be a form of contract: It says, "You are my child, you are part of my family and I will take care of you."
When a woman gets married, she has the option of taking on her spouse's surname. It becomes a symbol for becoming part of another family group. When a couple agree to marry and share a surname, the same kind of contract should exist: "You are my spouse. We are a family. We will take care of each other."
As men and women gain qualifications through school or study, they can also gain titles that can be added to their names, such as BS, MBA, CPA, DDS, etc. Some professions bestow titles as well that usually precede names, such as Reverend or Doctor. In bestowing these titles, the educational institution is saying, "You have met our standards for this degree. You have the qualifications you need to act in this capacity." By accepting these titles, a person is saying, "I have honestly earned these qualifications, and I have the skills necessary to help others in this capacity."
In the scriptures, there is mention of people who changed their names. Usually the changing of a name represented a change in life; it was the symbol of a covenant. Abram and Sarai had their names changed to Abraham and Sarah as a symbol of the covenant that they would be parents to God's chosen people, and that through them the whole earth would one day be blessed. Their grandson Jacob's name was changed to Israel when that same covenant was renewed with Jacob. These names were changed by God as a symbol of God's covenant with his children.
Other people changed their own names as a symbol of their own changes in life, and possibly as a symbol of promises they made with God. Saul became known as Paul when he stopped working against the early Christians and became a missionary for Christ. The people converted by Ammon and his brothers decided that they would not be known as Lamanites any longer, but took the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehi instead, to symbolize their "divorce" from the Lamanite family, and the establishment of a different family, one converted to the gospel of Christ.
When we are baptized, we take upon us a new name: the name of Christ. In effect, we say, "I will keep the commandments and stand as a witness for Christ and love and serve others." Christ answers, "If you do this, then you will be part of my family, and I will take care of you. I will bless with you with my Spirit, and I will atone for your sins." (See Mosiah 18:8-10)
What does your name say about you? What contracts and covenants have you entered into?
~Mrs. MaeLyn M Hiatt, BS, daughter of Christ
~title, Given name, Maiden name initial, Married name, college degree, religious determination
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