"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.
