Monday Morning Motivational Message - Name

What's in a name?

I loved that line from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It was a hope spoken by Juliet about her courtesan Romeo as she pondered the feud between her family and Romeo's family. She laments that it doesn't matter what his name is; she knows she loves him.

Are names important? Does it matter what your name is or where it was derived from?

I was named Terry Tucker because my father had read a book with a character named Terrible Terry Tucker. When my parents were married, my father vowed his first son would be Terry Tucker, after the character in the book.

Many people are named to honor family members, the lineage of a grandparent, an uncle who died in combat, or an aunt who started a thriving business. 

Our names are the foundation of our identity. It's the answer to the question, "Who are you?"

In grade school, my classmates and I were tasked with researching our ancestral name. I learned my surname, Tucker, was derived from the Old English Tuckerman, a trade that worked with cloth. The first reference to a Tucker in America was in the early 1600s when John Tucker explored the region that is now the state of Maine.   

Many surnames, such as Baker, Smith, or Carpenter, are related to a family trade. Some have a religious significance, such as David, Noah, or Mohammed, while others embody the aspirations of your family, like Justice, Hope, or Kennedy.

Sometimes, a single name can evoke a particular thought or a feeling. Names like Hitler, Liberace (for all the older people who read my blog), Beyonce, or Jesus conjure up a feeling or idea in our mind's eye.

Names can also influence how we feel about or view ourselves. Names with a positive association can increase our self-esteem and confidence. In contrast, names that may have been given in spite or to honor people we don't like (such as our hot-tempered Uncle Bob) can cause us to feel embarrassed or self-conscious.   

Your name is not just a monicker or nomenclature; it's an offering bestowed to you by your parents, who send all their hopes, dreams, and aspirations that they anticipate will define and shape your life.

At the end of your earthly journey, make your name one that you and your ancestors would be proud of and want to pass down to future generations.

Please leave me a comment about the importance you attach to names, both yours and others. Your opinions and perspectives are important, and I enjoy hearing from you.