what’s in a name?

I could have been Valentino! My birth missed Valentine’s Day by less than two hours. My parents made a deal. If I was born on Valentine’s Day my dad would get to name me. He picked out Valentino for a boy and Valerie for a girl. Instead, my mom held out until the 15th. She won and named me Jody.

Valentino?

This story makes me laugh every time I think of it. Although usually I picture myself wearing a red cape with the name Valentino. I have no idea why. I must have seen some flying valentine while growing up that has stuck with me.

Valentino. Valerie. Jody. John. Stephen. Do you ever think about names? They identify us. Sometimes our traits or character is revealed by them like these Biblical twins.

“When the day came for her to give birth, there were two babies to be born. The first to come out was red and he had hair all over his body. They gave him the name of Esau. Then the brother was born. His hand was holding Esau’s heel. So he was given the name of Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.” - Genesis 25:24-26

Names often become the true essence of who we are.

Our names also tell us something about who our parents were the years we were born. They reflect their likes or dislikes. Being born into a sports household, my husband was named after a baseball player and ironically he is an artist. If you have a family name, like my nephew who is a 4th, it reminds you of the reputation of those that came before you. If one of your parents was a teacher, I guarantee that they didn’t name you after the bad kid in school no matter how much they used to like that name. Influenced by my Biblical study at the time, our kids’ names were chosen for their Biblical parallels.

When names don’t fit, we change them. Our families abbreviate them as terms of endearment. Our loved ones affectionately call us Honey, Dear or Sweetheart.

Your name has a meaning and a story. What does it tell you about your parents? Is it a family name with a legacy? What were your parents hoping you would emulate? And don’t forget about your kids. If you haven’t told them why you have given them their name, now is the time especially if they are named Valentino!

Happy Valentine’s Day! May it be filled with love and learning.

Searching for wisdom and asking for grace,

Jody