What's in a Name? by Joylene M Bailey

 

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet."

This is Juliet's line while thinking about Romeo and his family's rivalry with her own. She is saying that a name is just a convention with no meaning behind it.

Really?

In light of the fact that Juliet is a mere inexperienced child when she utters this phrase, I will let it go. However, allow me to contradict Mr. Shakespeare.

Names are important. Think of all the Old Testament names with strong meanings. Here are a few:

Eve = To breathe; to live

Abraham = Father of many

Isaac = One who laughs or rejoices

Judah = Praise

Samuel = God has heard

David = Beloved

Benjamin's name was changed from Ben-Oni (Son of my Sorrow) to Benjamin (Son of my Days) ... that's how much importance a name carried.

All over the world, parents give their children names that are meaningful to them. Here are only a sampling:

African:

Onika = who is greater than God?

Azizi = precious one

Badru = born on a full moon

Japanese:

Manzo = third born son

Kikuko = chrysanthemum

Arine = one who is full of joy

Canadian Indigenous:

Gizhaate = it is sunny

Waaseyaa = first light from the rising sun

Nishiime = younger sister

Consider:

Martin Chuzzlewit, Ebenezer Scrooge, Oliver Twist

Hercule Poirot, Atticus Finch, Holly Golightly

Marilla Cuthbert, Huckleberry Finn, Forrest Gump

Long John Silver, Willy Wonka, Captain Jack Sparrow

Ichabod Crane, the Lady of Shalott, Pippi Longstocking

Eeyore

Don't these names conjure up stories and pictures for you?

I might be overstating the obvious, but all this to say ... names are important.

 

Memorable names.

Purposeful names.

Whether or not your readers know the significance, you do, and wouldn't you say that it enhances the way you write about them?

I've always been taken with names: their meanings, their histories, even their rhythms. In my current work in progress, a secondary character has the last name Beaufort. It means beautiful fortress, which is what this character is for my protagonist--a place of safety. My readers may not light upon this, but I know, and I believe it makes the character stronger. It even makes the writing of the character stronger. For me, the name of my character helps to give it depth. It plays into the purpose of the story and the message I'm trying to get across.

In the end, I think I must take back my contradiction of William Shakespeare, at least in part. For one thing, the meaning of Capulet (Juliet's family) is headstrong. I imagine the bard knew what he was doing when he gave names to his characters. Touché, sir!

***** 

Feature photo by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

Joy's parents named her on purpose and prayed from the time she was tiny that joy would be evident in her. Find more of her joy-infused writing at Scraps of Joy.