p. 41 | MEANING IN A NAME by Elliott C. Chapman

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 20, 1893

MEANING IN A NAME.

By Elliott C. Chapman

BY ELLIOTT C. CHAPMAN.

SINCE the time when the great Creator of all breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life, and gave to the masterpiece of his handiwork the name of Adam—which is said to signify red earth, probably referring to the dust from which he was created—it has been the custom to a great extent among the children of men to give to their offspring names which bear in themselves a depth of meaning.

Abraham, Isaac, and Israel were given names by the Creator which were well suited to their characters and positions. Samuel means "asked of God;" Solomon, "the peaceful one;" and thus we find an undercurrent of interest attached to many of the Scripture names.

Among the heathen nations of Assyria and Babylon the same custom prevailed as among the chosen people of God, of giving their children names which bore such meaning as the force of circumstances or the fancy of the parents should indicate. Daniel signified in the Hebrew, "God is my judge;" Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah each were names that had reference to the true God. These were changed, when the men were taken to the court of Babylon, to have reference to the gods of the heathen.

In our own day, among the civilized nations of the world, we do not see much of this style of naming, but people in general are content with some sound that serves the purpose just as well, and has perhaps been worn by some worthy of the past.

The American Indians were wont to name their braves according to their idea of what is noble, and such terms as Hawk-eye and Lightfoot appear within the pages of their history.

Since coming to Tahiti we have been interested to observe the peculiar custom of the people here in this respect, and I have collected a lot of names which are odd because of their simplicity. Our Brother Paul Dean has ten names by which he is known in different districts. He has a family name of Teinaore, which means "brother none;" this was given him because a younger brother died. Again somebody lost a child and honored him with a name which means "taken away," and by this name he is forever called by the people of that neighborhood. Pomare, "cough in the night," was the name of the old chief of Tahiti. Old Grandma Deane is called Aivi, "hill," because a grandchild was buried on a hill. Queen Pomare IV. was called Huaopo, meaning "lame in the thigh." One of Henry Deane's daughters was named after a "pain in the back," while one of the Arue people is called "bad disease." Still another of the royal family is named "eaten eyes."

These names amount to little, and are soon to pass away, but there is a new name that is to be given to all overcomers by our Lord and Master, that will abide forever, for he says, "I will write upon him my new name." Rev. 3:12. Let us all make sure of being among the happy company who "shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads." Rev. 22:4.