What Shall We Name the Baby?

The Importance of Baby Name Meanings

(According to Babynom.com.) When a couple is expecting a child, there are so many decisions. One of the biggest decisions is deciding on a name for the baby. Some consider this a really fun process, while others may just be frustrated by it.

There’s little doubt that a meaning to a child’s name is important. This is the first piece of identity that they have and as they grow, they will draw on the name to help determine who they are. Positively or negatively, the name is going to help shape the child’s personality. They too, may search for the meaning of their name. It’s nice when there is a positive meaning attached to their name that they can use as they are deciding who they are. Some names might need some researching to find the meaning but often the meaning is the name such as the name Hope or Grace.

Names are also the first thing that others know about someone else and often, that affects how they treat us. Whether they have an association with name, or know the meaning, hearing the name is the first step in building a relationship with that person. This point is proven when two people meet for the first time and find out that they have the same name. Instantly, they feel that there is a bond there; simply because of something that they could not control.

It may be easy to find the meaning of a name if you want to give the child a family name. This is very common and sometimes the name and the meaning, have been passed down from generation to generation.

Lots of questions have been asked about naming the baby:

Can we give our baby the same name we gave our dog?
Everyone criticizes the names we’re considering for our baby. How should we handle it?
How can I tell my cousin that I don’t want her to use the name I’ve chosen for my baby?
How do I tell my mom we’re naming the baby after my mother-in-law?
Is it too late to change our baby’s name?
Should I go ahead and use the name I love for my baby even if my co-worker is using it?

Actually, I am overwhelmed at the huge interest there is in naming the baby.

You can find popular names, meaningful names, religious names, unique names, unusual names, names not to use, origin of names, perfect names, random names, numerology names, French names, Texas names, incredible names, powerful names, traditional names, The Ultimate Pretentious Baby Name, and many, many more.

Many hospitals won’t release a baby until it has been named.
Barach has been crowned the number one male baby name of the year.
Google Search Engine show 603,000 references to naming the baby.

What does the Bible say about naming?

In Genesis, God named the rivers and other elements of his creation.
But then he did a very interesting thing. We read about it in Gen. 2:19-20.

Gen 2:19-20 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

The privilege of naming all living things extended to his wife.

Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

The privilege of naming someone is extremely significant.

Adam earlier had named the animals, which was a demonstration of his authority over them. His naming of Eve suggests Adam’s position of rule.
In the ancient world when one king placed a vassal king on the throne, a new name would often be given to demonstrate the overlord’s dominion.
Likewise, when God enters *covenant relationships with Abram and Jacob, he changes their names. (from IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, Copyright © 2000 by John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews and Mark W. Chavalas. Published by InterVarsity Press. All rights reserved.)

We have three babies to dedicate this morning. All of them have names.

Abigail:

Meaning: Literally means Father in rejoicing. I’m positive the father rejoiced when he heard Abigail was coming into his life!

3 John 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Abigail is going to be raised to love the truth and to walk in the truth!

Conor :

Meaning: Lover of hounds; hound nobleman. I love dogs!

The greatest speech of the nineteenth century was given by a senator from Missouri on a man’s best friend: his dog. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a dime to your name, your dog will love you anyway. If you neglect feeding your dog, if you leave him out in the cold, if you forget about him, the next time he sees you he will run up to you as happy as he can be to see you.

Conor is going to be raised to love…not just dogs…but people…and especially, God!

The two greatest commandments are:

Matt 22:37-39Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Cali-Rae :

From an Irish name, Caollaidhe: Meaning: s lender.
I hate to tell you this, but slender is not in the bible. Skinny is not in the bible.
Fat is in the bible.
Actually, the word thin is in the bible, but it means weak and unhealthy.
I’m sure there is another meaning for Cali-Rae.
But, I’m thinking…slender is good. Slender is one factor in seeing beauty in a girl or woman. Maybe like Esther.

Est 2:15-17Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.  16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.  17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Cali-Rae is a beautiful baby and she is going to be a beautiful girl as she grows up. But her real beauty will not be her outward appearance, but her character and her dedication to God.

Psalm 29:2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Jesus.

One of these days, each of these children will be given another name, a name far higher than the one they have been given by their parents.

Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

We are baptized in that name.
We pray in that name.
We are healed in that name.
We wear that name in honor of our great King.

Precious Name

Take the Name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe,
It will joy and comfort give you;
Take it then, where’er you go.

Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.

Take the Name of Jesus ever,
As a shield from every snare;
If temptations round you gather,
Breathe that holy Name in prayer.

O the precious Name of Jesus!
How it thrills our souls with joy,
When His loving arms receive us,
And His songs our tongues employ!

At the Name of Jesus bowing,
Falling prostrate at His feet,
King of kings in Heav’n we’ll crown Him,
When our journey is complete.