What’s in a Name?

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose – by any other name would smell as sweet,” wrote Shakespeare. The implication is that one’s name doesn’t capture one’s being. Even if we call a rose a hibiscus, a flower without smell, it will still smell like a rose.

Biblical names, however, often have significant meanings. After David’s first baby with Bathsheba died, she conceived again. The prophet Nathan visited David as he did earlier when David committed adultery with Bathsheba. David feared Nathan’s visit, thinking he had come to pronounce the baby’s death. But Nathan assured David that the baby would live, and David was to name him Ya-DiD-YaH (Jedidiah in English). This was King Solomon’s given name. The name meant, “YHWH loved him,” implying YHWH loved Solomon. But the middle consonants, DiD, reflected David’s name, indicating YHWH loved David. Whenever David called Solomon Jedidiah, he remembered that God loved him and his son, Solomon.

Gabriel, the Angel of the Lord, had told Mariam that she would give birth to a son and should name him Jesus (Luke 1:31). She remembered that.

“When eight days have passed, and the son was to be circumcised, she called his name Jesus, as he was called by the Angel before she was pregnant with him in her womb.” (Luke 2:21)

In Hebrew cultures, mothers often named their children. Eve named her firstborn Cain (Gen 4:1) and her third son Seth (Gen 4:25). Lot’s daughters called their sons Moab and Ben-Ammi (Gen 19:27, 37). Leah name Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah (29:32–35). Rachel named Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, and Zebulun (Gen 30:6–20).

Similarly, Elizabeth named John (Luke 1:50), and Mary named Jesus (Luke 2:21). Gabriel had instructed both mothers to give those names to these baby boys. Ya-HaNah in Hebrew (John in English) meant “Yahweh is Gracious,” and Ya-Shu-Wa‘ in Hebrew (Jesus in English) meant “Yahweh [hears] Cries for Help.” As meaningful as their names were, their actions would bring more blessings even if their names were different.

Mariam named Jesus on the eighth day while he was circumcised. In Hebrew culture, pious people circumcised their sons on the eighth day (Phil 3:5). Joseph and Mariam were no exception; they circumcised Jesus on the eighth day, making him a son of the Abrahamic covenant of circumcision (Gen 17:11).

Mariam wasn’t pregnant at the time of Gabriel’s visitation. She would become pregnant soon after that. Gabriel had said,

“See, you will bear in your stomach and will give birth to a son.” (Luke 1:31a)

But the baby’s name was given ahead of his conception:

“You will call his name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31b)

Now that the baby was born, Mariam gave him the name the Angel had called him before she was pregnant with him in her stomach (Luke 2:21). Gabriel had named the baby prior to his presence in his mother’s womb, and Mariam named him after his birth.

All life begins miraculously. It boggles my mind that a sperm and an egg can produce a human being (or any other being). Somehow, God is behind it. Perhaps, he even names us before we were conceived in our mothers’ wombs – names by which he calls us.