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Names are means of identification and differentiation among humans, even lower animals and plants as well.
This is why we have names carrying different meanings, some good and some bad. My people are fond of giving names based on what transpired when a child is born, for instance when a child is born in the days of abundance, the child could be named prosper and if it was in the days of hardship the child can be named hardship (Ewuga) that's in my dialect. I know a lot of people who changed their names as they grow up because of it's bad meaning.
My tribe is one of the tribes known for giving children bad names in my place. I believe that names follow people. We should not just give names because we were emotionally down cast, It has a role to play in the destiny of children. In the bible a man named Jacob had to wrestle with an angel over a bad name until it was taken away from him. This is to show us that names are not just combination of letters and sound they have something to do with out destinies as well.
But don't get me wrong, if you have a good name but you refused to work hard, you will still suffer and remain in confusion. To a good name add virtue and hard work. If you bear patience, don't just remain there, build that attribute in yourself.
What Is My Real Name?
I have two names, like most of us, an English name and a native name as usual. My English name is Emmanuel. It is an Hebrew name with the meaning God is with us. It was the name given to the Messiah as prophesied by isaiah in the bible.
Actually I heard that my mom wasn't having male children when she got married, so my father's sister who is of blessed memory now, decided to get him another wife who would bear him a son. That event caused my mom so much pain. As at that time, she was having my two elder sisters already.
Well, it so happened that the wife that was brought to my dad also took in but gave birth to a female as well. It was now an equation balance, probably God knows what would have happened if she had given birth to a male.
My aunt was shamed for doing what she did to my mother after things turn out like that. Rumours from my sisters have it that when my dad married mom, his sister didn't like her that much because she's not their tribe.
Subsequently after my step mom gave birth to her first daughter, my mom took in and she gave birth to me, hehe. So she decided to name me Emmanuel, saying God never left her even after going eight years without a male child, when all hope was gone, he decided to show her mercy. Well after that my mom never gave birth to any male child again.
For my tribal name, Ovey, it means Gratitude and Joy, so anyone you pick it's upto you. LoL. I was given that name as a reminder of thanksgiving unto God and also for the joy that was present in the home when I arrived. I heard my aunt shed tears of joy when she heard that it was a boy. I really miss that woman, though she was not so nice to my mom at the beginning but trust me she was one of the best aunties I ever had.
Is There Anything I Would Love To Change About My Name?
My answer is NO, I love my name and the meaning behind each of them is good. Infact anytime I am going astray if I remember the name I am bearing, I think twice. My name has been a great source of encouragement and motivation to me, so I love it, I mean I love every bit of it.
Final words.
Parents, please inasmuch as bad things happen, do not allow your emotions rule over you in times of naming your kids, good names are better than Gold and riches like the bible says. Names has role to play in the destinies of your children, don't be the one to spoil your children's bright future just because you had a momentarily bad experience.
