SteemAlive Presents ProWritersHub Contest W2: What Is In A Name and The Act of Naming.
THE MYSTERY OF NAME/NAMING.
The names we bear, are intricately interwoven with our destines. A careful and meticulous study of the Holy Bible will reveal more insights into the importance of names, and how they are inseparable from the purpose and destinies of their bearers.
WHAT IS IN A NAME AND NAMING.
A name is a spiritual spoken or written program or code, that runs and controls the issues of life (destiny), of its bearers. For example, prior to the birth of Jesus, an angel, Gabriel, appeared to a virgin, Mary by name , and prophesied to her about the birth of the savoir through her womb. And angel Gabriel further instructed her that he shall be called JESUS, in Hebrew, Jesus means Joshua, which means, God Our Savior , in English language.
If you study the life and ministry of Jesus while on Earth, it was circumscribed within the tenets of delivering and setting the oppressed and captives free from the evil one, Satan. Therefore, we can deduce that name is a pronouncement and proclamation of the purpose, work, assignments and destiny of the bearer. In order words, names are forerunners that announces and advertises the purposes of their prospective bearers before hand.
HOW I GOT MY FIRST NAME, GABRIEL.
My names are Gabriel Okechukwu Udensi, in the order of first, middle and surname.
Prior to providing insights into the meaning of my names, let me first of all, give a narrative of how I got my first name, Gabriel.
It was during my naming ceremony at our family house in Aba, after 8 days of my birth, according to our custom, my father had invited his church members and pastors, as his Church doctrine, Christ Ascension Church, demands.
My father, who was also an ordained elder of his church, had written the name Victor on a piece of paper, and handed over to the pastor for prayers and dedication to God, however, in the course of prayers, a Prophet among the invited Church members, prophesied and said; “ thus said the Lord, this child shall be named among the Angels of the Lord”.
And the Prophet instructed my father to open his mouth, and pronounce a name of one of the Angels, as inspired by the spirit of the Lord, he ( my father) mentioned “GABRIEL”, involuntarily, and torn apart the piece of paper which he had previously written Victor on it. This was how I got my first name Gabriel.
THE MEANING OF MY NAMES.
My first name Gabriel, is a Hebrew word, which means; God is My Strength, in English language, my middle name, Okechukwu, is an Igbo name, which means, God’s Heritage or Inheritance/Portion, in English language, then my surname Udensi, is also an Igbo that means; evil can never be hidden but must be widely exposed.
All my names were given to me by my father.
HOW NAMES ARE FORMED IN MY HOME TOWN.
I’m from Alayi, in Bende local government area of Abia State, Nigeria.
According to our tradition, we believe in reincarnation and it affects the naming of children, albeit Christianity is gradually phasing this phenomenon out of our belief system, however, some traditional adherents, are still upholding this system of naming their children, who they believed were their reincarnated relatives, by giving them the same names those relatives or forefathers bore while on Earth.
We also practice the culture of naming by the Ogboh [ Ogboh means namesake] system. This is simply the act of adopting a relative or a friend’s child to answer your own name, as your namesake.
Moreover, the first daughters are given the names of their paternal grandmother, or they can be called Nnenna in Igbo, which means, the Father’s Mother, in English translation.
And the first sons are named after their Paternal grandfathers or they could be traditionally named; Nnanna, which implies, the Father’s father. This serves as first names of the supposed children, prior to middle and other names, which could be given by their mothers or circumstantially.
FIVE POPULAR MALE IGBO NAMES IN MY COMMUNITY.
Okereke means a male child born on Eke market day according to Igbo calendar, which have four market days: Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwó.
Okorie means a male child born on Orie market day.
Okechukwu means God’s heritage
Ikechukwu means God’s Strength/Power.
Orji means the Iroko tree.
FIVE POPULAR FEMALE IGBO NAMES IN MY COMMUNITY.
Nnenna, implies the Father’s mother.
Onyinyechi means God’s gift.
Ngozi means blessing.
Ugo means Eagle.
Nneoma means the good mother.
MY LIKES AND DISLIKES IN THE WORLD OF IGBO NAMES.
I like names with significant meaning, such as Okechukwu and Ikechukwu, which means God’s heritage and God’s power/strength, respectively. And I dislike name like Agwu, which means the spirit of insanity or madness.
I cherished female names like Ngozi and Nneoma, which means blessing and good mother, respectively.
I gave myself a name, the Spirit Messenger, though it resonates with my first name Gabriel.
HOW I FORMED MY STEEMIT NAME.
It has been my passion to propagate the gospel of Christ Jesus through writing, that’s why I adopted the name, Scribal, on steemit, symbolizing the Lord’s anointed Scribe, for the end time gospel evangelism via writing.
CONCLUSION.
Names are as important as our lives, and highly prophetic, therefore, we should apply extreme, and meticulous carefulness, prior to giving our children names, because, it will definitely affect their destines.
Moreover, we should endeavor to drop and change any name, that does not resonates with our purposes, visions, aspirations and goals in life.
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Awesome ❤️💪. I'm in high spirit by this kind gesture and tremendous support by Steemalive community, thanks so much for encouraging me, I will always do my best to help this community to attain the zenith. Blessings @focusnow20
I pray that the meaning of my igbo name follow me. It's my motivation everyday "Ubanna".
Wow! Awesome name, which means "The Wealth of the Father," it shall follow you all the days of your life in Jesus name amen.
You have made quite an educative post. I concur with you, that one's name somehow determines whether they become but it for those who work hard to achieve the meaning of their name.
Yes, for those who will identify with the meaning of their names, and work accordingly. Thanks so much for your great comments.
Wow @scribal,you have made a nice post concerning this topic and I have got to know some meaning of names and also the meaning of yours.
As you first said
This is really a nice saying.
Keep posting quality contents in this community.
Thanks so much for your encouraging words and uplifting comments. God bless you richly ❤️🙏
Okay dear.
When naming a child we should be very careful because name is an identity.
So parents should give there children names that will favor them
Affirmative! Names are very important, if you study the Bible, you will discover how names are interwoven with their bearers' destinies. For example, God changed the name of Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, in order to conform with their glorious destinies. Therefore, parents should be careful with the act of naming their children. Thanks so much beloved, for your powerful comments. Blessings @emmanu
Thanks for participating in the contest.You have written quite a lot about names and their meaning.Personally i don't believe that name affects humans but I respect your opinion though.Wow,now I know the meaning of your username @scribal
Checking the rules
Checking Post Quality
Thanks so much for your comments. I will edit accordingly, thanks for the observation, blessings ❤️🙏 @samuel20
Wow
Your names are awesome, I love the name Nneoma, it depicts a good mother.
Yeah, and I hope you are aspiring to be an excellent mother to your future children. Thanks so much for your encouraging words ❤️❤️
I do hear this name but I cant actually tell the meaning as an Igbo girl. Thanks for telling me the meaning.
You are welcome beloved sister. Thanks so much for your kind comments.
You are welcome sir.
wow this is interesting I love it
Thanks so much for your uplifting words and motivating comments.
Very much true that while naming a child or kind of self given names . Both and individual along parent's should apply extreme and meticulous carefulness . Because names do carrying an influential power and effect on the bearer.
Affirmative! In perfect agreement with you beloved brother ❤️. Thanks so much for your comfirmatory remarks, blessings @sureway044