Name Book, The: Over 10,000 Names--Their Meanings, Origins, and Spiritual Significance
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Authors: Dorothy Astoria
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The Name Book
Copyright © 1982, 1997
Bethany House Publishers
Revised and updated by Christopher J. Soderstrom
Cover design by Dan Pitts
Scripture credits are noted
♣
.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Published by Bethany House Publishers
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Minneapolis, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
E-book edition created 2011
ISBN 978-1-4412-0233-8
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
NTENTSAlphabetical Listings of Names
Names have been in existence as long as humanity. God created a timeless tradition when he gave Adam the first name, meaning “formed of earth.” In the same manner, humans have been handing out names since the beginning of recorded time.
But why names? Why not labels, symbols, or codes? Part of the answer is found in Genesis 1:27. “So God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female” (NCV). If we were merely another species of God’s creation, we would all have one name, such as “lion,” “sparrow,” or “mole.” But because we are a special and unparalleled creation—individuals—we each have a name.
Names are an integral part of who we are. While we are all intrinsically unique, names bestow upon us a tangible way to distinguish one another. God reveals this individuality in Isaiah 43:1 in saying, “I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (NRSV). The names we now bear have meaning to the Lord! Not only this, but in Revelation 2:17 He tells his children that He will give us “a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it” (NLT).
The evolution of names has been shaped by both religious and cultural influences. In ancient times people were generally given one name (called a “given name”). This name often related to a circumstance surrounding a child’s birth (“Moses,” meaning “drawn from the water”) or a trait that parents hoped a child would possess (“Salome,” meaning “peaceful”). Also, the name could be connected with a promise or an aspiration (“Isaac,” meaning “laughter”) or possibly a simple object (“Esther,” meaning “star”).
In latter ancient history, some utilization of second names (and third, and fourth, et al.) can be observed. These names were usually given to demonstrate a person’s identification with a particular family and/or clan (Gaius Julius Caesar) or with a father (Simon bar-Jonah, with “bar” meaning “son of ”). This practice was carried into modern times through various tribal societies.
These additional names, however, were not commonplace in Western civilization until about 900 years ago (around
A.D.
1100). At first, added names were taken only by the nobility. They became known as “surnames,” derived from the literal words “sir names.” This practice was gradually embraced by the common people over the centuries until, in 1465, King Edward V of England delivered an edict requiring that surnames be adopted universally for identification purposes. He ordered that the names taken reflect the individual’s identity, representing either a town, color, art, or office. Therefore, many new surnames came into being, such as Black, Smith, Miller, and Baker.
Over time, the means by which names were chosen and/or acquired broadened significantly. Some came from physical characteristics. For example, dark-haired Elizabeth became Elizabeth Browne, and blond James became James White. Some also were formed by adding “son” to the father’s name (Wilson, Carlson, Johnson, and Anderson). Others came about by adding prefixes meaning “son” to the father’s name (Fitzpatrick, Fitzgerald, MacMurray, MacDonald, O’Bannon, and O’Shea). There were also many other means of deriving and obtaining surnames.
The Church had an unparalleled influence over the choosing of names in medieval times. In the twelfth century, it decreed that only children named after saints and martyrs could be baptized. This was an attempt to stop the practice of naming children after pagan gods and entities. It was rather effective, for a priest of the Church had to be present to officiate at a child’s baptism and confirmation. Since these practices were generally believed to be integral to salvation, most people honored the edicts. Statistics show that the great majority of women at that time were named Mary, Ann, Elizabeth, or Catherine, while most men were named John, James, William, Charles, or George.
For the most part, additional titles, known to us as “middle names,” were not utilized until the eighteenth century. At this time, these new names became a way of further distinguishing an individual and also of honoring deceased relatives or admired persons. These, along with surnames, have emerged with ever-increasing importance as the earth’s population has continued to geometrically increase.
While all names have both denotative (inherent) and connotative (implied) meaning(s), this is no longer as important to many parents who are choosing names for their child. Often a child is still named for a characteristic or place, but in many cases names are now selected for the way in which they commemorate someone or something, or simply on the basis of their own various aesthetic qualities.
When inherent meaning
is
important to prospective parents, names are normally chosen on the merits of their positive implications. Parents naming their daughter “Cady” often do so in the expectation and hope that she will be pure. In the same way, parents who choose “Matthew” for their son most likely consider him a gift of God.
So, what’s in a name? Names are a celebration not only of our humanity, but also a reminder of our individuality—that we are uniquely made in the image of God. They are wonderful gifts, given second only to the gift of life itself—lasting testimonies to the beauty of personhood. Best of all,
you
now have the opportunity to make these choices for your child. Enjoy your quest.