A rose by any other name...
By Genipher
@Genipher (5405)
United States
May 4, 2016 12:10pm CST
You probably already knew this, but names have meanings! I was pondering this well-known fact one day when I had a funny thought: what if we embodied the meanings of our names?
Take, for example, the name Genipher (aka Jennifer). In the Gaelic tongue "Jennifer" means "white" and "smooth". What if my skin was smooth (ahem, it's not!), just because of my name? On the flip side, what if the "white" part of my name manifested in such a way as to turn me into an albino? A smooth-skinned albino? Thanks, mom!
Let's look at the two top baby names for 2016 as further examples. If we did, indeed, live the meanings of our names:
Liam would be a "strong-willed warrior" and Emma would be "whole" (that one would be hard to personify).
If a child naturally developed into the meaning of his or her name, would people still dole out monikers like "Orangello" and "Lemongello" or "Daniece" and "Danephew"? Or would parents start looking a bit more closely at what they want to name their kids?
We have a pretty strict naming scheme in our family.
Proverbs 22:1 says, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches..."
Enough said!
Look at your name. If you had to live the meaning of your name, what would you be personifying?
*Baby image was scanned and cropped from a book...I can't remember which one. Oh well.*
4 people like this
3 responses
@IvySaysHi (4603)
• United States
4 May 16
I have never tried to look at my name beause i figured it was wrong since microsoft word always says it is spelled wrong
1 person likes this
@IvySaysHi (4603)
• United States
4 May 16
@Genipher well i had a son if thats anything like that lol Thank you for finding a meaning for me
1 person likes this
@sulynsi (2669)
• Canada
4 May 16
OK, this is a subject I totally love. Etymology in general but names in particular are so fascinating!
Just a little interesting tidbit:
A couple of years ago, I took a course in Mandarin Chinese.
It is the custom that when Chinese people move to say, US or Canada, they choose an English name. I used to think it was because they were tired of people butchering their Chinese name, but turns out, it is more out of respect, an honour to the chosen culture.
So, it is an honour to have a Chinese name given to you by a Mandarin speaking friend.
But it isn't all that easy. Like English, you wouldn't just stick any old moniker on someone. Funny as it may be to name twins Pete and Repete or Kate and Duplikate, its ok for a passing giggle but not so much for a life long burden.
As part of the course, we tried to find Chinese names to use during class.
I am fortunate, that my name, in Hebrew, means "Lily" and being a common flower, it is fairly easily translated.
Besides that convenience, in Mandarin, flowers are commonly used to name girls. So, I found the translation in Mandarin, and my name in Mandarin (using pinyin here) is Bei he. (Lily in Mandarin) So it isn't like I was going around with a name like Flaming Peach or Itchy Nose.
Bei he isn't abnormal or weird. It's a nice, sensible name. So, call me Lily, Sue, or Bei he
(no, not Lilysue) 
1 person likes this
@sulynsi (2669)
• Canada
4 May 16
@Genipher
'a lily of the low plains I am'
I'm not much of a fashion plate, but I never thought of that!! Maybe I am! 
*flutter of eyelashes*
nice poetry.....then he goes and wrecks a romantic moment it by saying:
'your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, which is looking out toward Damascus' 
Charming, buddy really charming
*flutter of eyelashes*
nice poetry.....then he goes and wrecks a romantic moment it by saying:
'your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, which is looking out toward Damascus'
Charming, buddy really charming2 people like this
@puddleglum (1380)
• United States
4 May 16
Most sources say my name meaning has something to do with grass. (Not weed, mind you. Grass.) I'm not sure how to embody that.
Maybe like this: "My name is Chloe. I have a flat personality, but I also have potential for enormous growth."
