Monday, November 22, 2010

What's In a Name?

I tried in vain for a nap yesterday afternoon.  My son had other ideas and he protested his nap long enough that I eventually gave up on one for myself.  He, however, did fall asleep shortly after I left my bedroom.  That figures, right?

I had an interesting dream in the few minutes that I drifted somewhere been sleep and wakefulness.  Well, it wasn't exactly a dream.  A name came to me.  It was very clear to me that this is the name that I should give my next child.

When I was totally awake, I was filled with joy.  Call me crazy if you want, but I'd been feeling doubtful that I would have another baby and now I am sure that I will because I believe that God has already named this child for me.  I'm as sure of this as I am that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West.

When I was pregnant with my son, I agonized over his name.  As is my typical way of doing things, I over thought the process and spent weeks coming up a name that had the perfect meaning and that flowed pleasantly when spoken, but that didn't spell anything funny when represented by only initials.  Add in that I wanted to include a family name and perhaps you can understand why it was so difficult.  I do love my son's full name, so I think I did a pretty good job.

This name that came to me yesterday isn't a name that I would ever consider.  It's not a bad name or anything, it just wouldn't occur to me to choose it.  I already knew the meaning of this name, but I looked it up anyway to be sure.  See what I mean about overdoing everything?  Anyway, I cried when I read the meaning because I think this is the most perfect name and there is no way I could have come up with it on my own.  God will give me another baby and He has already named this child.

If you are a parent, how did you come up the names of your children?  Did you use a family name?  A popular name?  Or did you just make one up?  Was the meaning important to you?

3 comments:

  1. You WILL have another, never give up!!!

    For our son we wanted a traditional name that had meaning to us. Edward is after Eddie Van Halen, because he's an awesome guitar player. We admire people who are this musically talented and also because he's 1/2 Dutch - just like me! I also have an awesome uncle who is named Edward. He's not a blood uncle, but he has always been such a fun & loving guy!
    The middle name, Ruben, came from my husband's grandfather's middle name. I had never met him since he died when my husband was about 6, but he was big on education & having fun. He was always going to school. He was a family doctor, an engineer and a mortician throughout his life. On the weekends he would drive to Vegas and have tons of fun! Elvis even kissed Grandma!I wasn't set on these names until I awoke suddenly at 6am on a Sunday when I was pregnant. When the two names are written next to each other, Edward Ruben, it has my mother's maiden name in there minus an "e," which was "deRu." At that moment I knew that both of those names were the right ones for our son!

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  2. Eddie's mama - That's a great story! I love how you came up with his name!

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  3. Also, I didn't give up. . .(read today's blog post)

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