“What’s in a name?”

I used to teach English I for freshmen students at the Ateneo de Zamboanga College (back then!). And to help my students write something interesting and what I thought would be meaningful to them, I would ask them to write an essay about the story behind their name, using these questions as guide:

What was surprising was that most didn’t know why they were named such by their parents or other family members; thus had to ask their parents and family members. Several came back with very interesting and funny stories, definitely worth reading and grading!

So what’s in a name? Why bother knowing the story behind our name?

“The sense of personal identity and uniqueness that a name gives us is at the heart of why names interest us and why they are important to us as individuals and to our society as a whole,” writes H. Edward Deluzain in his article, Names and Personal Identity. “In spite of their importance, though,” he continues, “most people know very little about names and about the effects they have on us and on our children in everyday life. In a very real sense, we are consumers of names, and we have a need and right to know about the psychological, magical, legal, religious, and ethnic aspects of our names.”

When I was growing up, our parents bought my siblings and I little plaques which showed our first names, and below it, the different meanings. I guess it was their way of reminding us of what our names meant, and indirectly nudging us to remain true to them. At least, that’s how I surmised it to be. (Mom, feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. 😊)

“A human being’s name is a principal component in his person, perhaps a piece of his soul.” — Sigmund Freud

So my first name “Eric” came from the famous Norse explorer, Eric Thorvaldsson, known commonly as “Erik the Red”. Mom, who is an English Literature major, said she liked that name from the get-go, hence I ended up with that name. Lucky me! 😊 Our name plaques have long since gone, but I remember that underneath “Eric” were the words “leader” and “ruler”.

Looking back at my life, I think I kind of lived out the meanings of my name/namesake. I have lead groups or have been asked to lead (even when I tried very much to remain “below the radar”!), and have occupied leadership positions in organizations. And as far as being an “explorer” is concerned, I left my birth country, the Philippines, to live in the United States, and have visited Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, China, Argentina, and Ireland. The exploration has continued in the form of those little weekend trips or escapades to places surrounding cities I have lived in, or that most recent experience seeing the Aurora Borealis in Fairbanks, Alaska (read my blog, Aurora Borealis).

I share these not to brag about myself, but to drive the point that once one understands the meaning of his/her name, it helps shape one’s identity and trajectory in life. I believe that to be true, because of what I’ve seen in my own life, as well as in my parents’ and siblings’ lives. They too, in my observation, have lived lives close to their names’ meanings.

My dad was named “Ebenezer”, which in Hebrew means “stone of help”. I saw him help many achieve their fullest potential, improve their financial standing, get educated, and become contributing members of society because of his influence on them. My mom is named “Eleanor” (after Eleanor Roosevelt, one of America’s influential political figures). It means “bright, shining one”. My mother faithfully served our hometown of Ipil (in the Philippines) as a member of the town council and as a civic leader, and continues to impact people’s lives with her small group sessions and public-speaking engagements.

My brother, Robert, made reality his meaning of “fame-bright”/”glory-bright” by joining several plays that earned good reviews, being cast on a McDonald and Sony TV commercials and public posters in Singapore, and even landing a spot on a motion picture–Agent 47–as one of the bodyguards (extras)! Finally, my sister, Catherine, meaning “pure”, has quietly lived out her life steering away from the shadows of her parents and brothers. But her passions of raising Godly children, caring for animals, upholding integrity, and caring for our family and close friends have changed lives forever. She, too, is one “tough cookie”, one that I’d definitely keep on my side in a fight!

In his blog, How our names shape our identity, Michael Hedrick suggests, “Sometimes we try to live up to our names. Sometimes we try to run away from them. But either way — and for all the options in between — your name is a crucial factor in developing your sense of self, and thus helps propel you forward on various paths of life and career.” Further in his blog, he mentions an interesting research conducted in 1954 showing the influence of names upon the individuals bearing them. I highly recommend reading his blog.

So, how about you? Do you know the story behind your name or its meaning? If you haven’t yet learned it, talk to you parents or trusted family members. If that’s no longer possible, research your name’s meaning on the internet, and pick one that you like. Then, live your life accordingly and make a difference in your circle of influence!

I’d like to hear your thoughts about names and how it shapes our identities. So please drop me a line in the comment section.