What Is in a Name? By Rayola Kelley

Names, names and more names. It is not unusual on Facebook to see people seeking out some name for their child or pet. For children the parents are looking for a name from past generations. When it comes to animals, they are looking for a name that will catch their attention. Perhaps such emphasis seems a bit silly, but how important is finding the right name? It all comes back to realizing that for most people there is something of significance when it comes to a name.

Through the years I have been aware that some people regard their last name as being elite or special and the instruction that comes forth is, “Remember who you are. You are so and so and don’t forget you are representing that name.” It seems that people perceive their name not only identifies them to a certain group of people, different classes and status of society, but also to a place of importance.

Carrie Seaney, my co-laborer in the Gospel shared how her family put much emphasis on their last name. It is important to point out her father was an educator and one of his various duties was serving as a wrestling coach. Her three brothers were successful wrestlers in High School, and one had the potential to make it to the Olympics. It appeared that the “Seaney” family had a reputation to uphold. Carrie was not a wrestling champion, but she was very good at other sports and had various ribbons and trophies to show for it.

Carrie eventually realized that it does not matter how many worldly honors you have along the way. They are often forgotten along with accomplishments and your name. These fading honors are put in some attic or box and when you look back you realize their importance lasted only a moment to be replaced by some other person, and in the end it left you hollow. And where do all the mementoes end up? in the garbage.

It is often very vague or obtuse to try to live up to some imaginary standard because of a name. Names, for the most part, are a point of identity and do not establish some sure standard that must be lived up to by those who wear the handle. Granted, positions require one to adhere to responsibilities, but names never establish position. At times names identify families to a certain status, but unless there is some relationship to such a family, names prove that they are for the most part common and have no significance apart from the one who wears it. This is why declaring a name puts you on some exceptional pinnacle of importance that often proves to be confusing, frustrating, and maddening to those who are trying to live up to something that is obtuse.

Most names I encounter are common. My adopted name, “Kelley,” is common, but my biological name, “Meuleman” was very uncommon. When I hear it, I know for sure it is one of my relatives. My first name is unusual, but unusual names don’t always stick out in a noticeable way. In many cases they can be forgotten.

The number of “Rayolas” I have heard about or met I can count on one hand. I met a lady with the same first name at Winco in Nampa, Idaho. Her name was on her name tag and I told her that was my name as well. She argued with me and I had Jeannette tell her my name. We compared notes and found out we were born the same year, in the same facility in Rupert, Idaho. I was a few months older than her and I asked her how she got her name. She told me her father’s name was Ray.

I once again could see we shared another similarity. When I asked my mother what inspired her to give me my name, she told me I was named after my grandfather whose name was Raymond. However, the other Rayola went on to tell me that her father’s favorite beer was “Ola” and therefore she was named after her father and his favorite beer. That is where the similarities stopped.

The names that often stick out are those that leave a lasting impression because of the time and setting they live in. Growing up I knew the names of great cowboys and Indians. There was also a mixture where there were heroes, scoundrels, wise, foolish, and troublemakers. These individuals brought contrast, color, and personality to their name. Without personality there would be no identity, distinction or difference. Names simply trigger images and not something that is established as truth or written in stone.

Historical names of leaders who fell in the similar categories would also emerge in history books, stories and media to reveal that even when we consider the best of men, they each would prove to be flawed. This reminds us of that simple truth that we are all sinners who fall short of our high calling and glorious potential (Romans 3:23). When we consider the worse of men, we realize that there are those who lack any beneficial quality or characteristic. They were just plain mean, wicked, vile, and lost. Isaiah 64:6 points out that man’s best is filthy rags, Romans 3:10 states there is none that are righteous no not one, and the Apostle Paul said that there is no good thing to be found in man or originates with man (Romans 7:18).

As I study about the significance of names in society or on census rolls, I realize that my name has been misused, exploited, and defrauded. You might ask me who has used my name in such a way? The answer is government. Man is nothing more than a commodity. Governments conduct commerce by using our name. We are collateral to purchase favors, goods, and wealth. One’s worth is based on a person’s age and calculated usefulness. Meanwhile, governments continue to merchandise the souls of the people in various wicked ways (2 Peter 2:3).

The reason names is an important subject is because of God’s Word. Names like “Eber” in Genesis 11:14, which means “region beyond” or “beyond the other side” became the base word for “Hebrew.” It was used to identify foreigners in the land. After all, Abraham came from beyond the Euphrates River to the land of Canaan. The Jewish people were always reminded that unless they were in the Promised Land, they were strangers and foreigners. This is true for believers. In this world we are strangers heading towards our permanent home, as well as pilgrims seeking that city made by the hands of God and will not be content until we find it (Hebrews 11:10; 1 Peter 2:11).

There are names like “Peleg” which means division or part (Genesis 10:25). They believe this man was born when God was dividing the people with the confusion of language in Genesis 11. There is the honorable man by the name of Jabez whose name meant “sorrow,” but he would not accept it as his lot and rose above his plight (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). We must not forget the name “Benoni” (son of sorrow) given by Rachel on her death bed to her new-born son. However, Jacob changed it to Benjamin, “son of the right hand” (Genesis 35:16-18). This shows us that a person is not always defined by their name.

There are those whose names serve as a message to the Jewish people. There were two of Isaiah’s sons which spoke of promise and consequences. Shear-Jashub which means “a remanent will return” that pointed to promise and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz which means “hasten-booty, speed-spoil” that pointed to their judgment (Isaiah 7:3; 8:1-4).

There are the three children of Hosea which speaks of sin and warning to the people of Israel. Jezreel which pointed to God breaking the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. Lo-ru-hamah’s name told the people that God would have no mercy upon the house of Israel, and Lo-ammi’s name was to let the rebellious people know that God was no longer their God (Hosea 1:4-11).

Many of the names of the Old Testament ended in “el” or “ah.” “El’ points to Elohim the Creator and “Ah” is Jehovah, the Covenant keeping God. The names of prophets and kings were to remind both leaders and people who their Creator was and must continue to be for Israel to be the nation they were called to be.

One of the most notable kings was the last king to sit on the throne of David. His name was Jehoichin. His name means “whom Jehovah has appointed”. His grandfather was the righteous king Josiah, and his father was the wicked king Jehoiakim who was also known as Eliakim until it was changed by a foreign leader. However, Eliakim was taken prisoner by Babylon because he was untrustworthy and died there. The “Jeh” in both names means “JAH” which is the primitive form of Jehovah (English) or Yahweh (Hebrew) and points to Jehovah as becoming His people’s salvation.

Jehoiachin began to co-reign at age eight and became the sole king over Judah at age 18, but due to his wickedness he only reigned for three months and ten days. Jeremiah was clear that after him no heir would sit on the throne of David in Jeremiah 22:24-30. At this point he is called “Coniah” which is short for Jeconiah. Noticed how “Jeh” had been dropped from his name. He went from “whom God has appointed” (due to kingly lineage) to “whom God establishes” (only it will be in captivity) to using a short form of his name to show us, when JAH is missing there is no promise and no future. It is clear you can use the name of God, but if it becomes vain by your actions, corrupt by practices, and disdained by your disobedience, He will allow you to be taken captive and to die in a foreign place and end in a nameless grave.

It is clear nowadays that we often seek common names that are part of the latest fad or names that identify us to some past. This brings me back to what is in a name? When it comes to God, there is everything attached to His name and message. We see every name of God either reveals His Person, His Work, His Plan or His Will. Even the presentation of His name is significant. In some Bibles, they distinguish the different aspects of God by what name is used and how it is presented. For example, here are some of the different presentations of God in Scripture: God (Elohim-Creator), LORD (Jehovah, covenant keeping God), GOD–El (I AM), Lord (Adonai—Owner, Possessor), Most High (Eylon), ALMIGHTY (Shaddai) points to God being our source of strength, while Almighty point to God’s grace being the source of all matters. And of course, El-Shaddai points to God Almighty. In another Bible I have the presentation of GOD (Eloah-God’s will be done according to His Sovereignty). The one book that is full of the presentation of God as Eloah is the book of Job.

The one book of the Bible that has all such presentations of God is Jeremiah. Jeremiah also contains the longest presentation of God’s name: the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel. The next time you read the Bible don’t breeze over the Lord’s name or presentation of it. Pause, take a minute and consider what you can discover about His Person, His Work, His Plan and His Will by the name used and how it is presented.

Finally, when you consider names of individuals, we believers must agree there is only one person whose name meant something. However, He did not need to live up to the name; rather the name described who He was. It identified Him to the eternal and would be verified by the prophetic. His name would come to mean life or death. It would be used in a dishonorable way that showed contempt, in a vain way that showed indifference and ignorance, and in an honorable way because of who wore it. That person’s name is The Lord Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:31; 2:11). In the end every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father (Philippians 2:9-11)

This brings us back to another important name. It is a name that can’t be used by fraudsters, abused by governments, and exploited by evil agendas. It is not going to be given away, stolen, or defiled. What name am I talking about? As believers, we are all guaranteed a new name written on stone when we finish the course, a name given to us by the Lord, a name that will be known only between Him and the believer (Revelation 2:17).

Right now, a new name may not mean a whole lot in light of the challenges of this present life. The truth is our present name must be written in the Book of Life to even take hold of the promise of a new name (Revelation 21:27).

The idea of a new name has caused me to ponder what will determine that name. Perhaps it is being established according to my journey, service, and devotion here. Time will tell, eternity will tell, but for now I look forward to seeing the ONE whose name is above all other names, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.