Imagine being given a name due to a bad occurrence surrounding your birth. This is something I don't like even though this has become a tradition in most cultures. Names are special and should be treated with good meanings and not bad. Do you remember Jabez in the Bible? The first time I got to know the interpretation, "sorrowful: borne in pain", I was shocked. The name was given to him as a result of the difficult birth his mother had. This interpretation affected his life till he grew up and it was until he cried to God to change his name, bless and enlarge his coast before his life got turned around in the best way. I don't agree that parents, especially mothers should name a child a bad one because of the situation surrounding it.
Names have a way of affecting a child, either good or bad. A child who is named "Innocent" but grew up to turn into a stubborn and rascal individual, one would be baffled at such a name.
Despite this, names are to be given respect and should be protected in order not to tarnish one's image. I have beautiful names being given to me on the seventh day of my delivery into this world which is called "naming day". As I grew up, I became fond of all my names as I would smile when people ask for my name which I would pronounce proudly.
I have just four names and they are; Busayo, Christianah, Ajoke, and Omotola. My first name is Busayo while my middle is Christianah. I got the name "Ajoke" from my paternal grandmother and the name "Omotola" from my maternal grandmother. You know those grannies give their grandchildren names different from the ones being named by their parents and that is what they keep calling them which no one would change from their mouth.
Oluwabusayo is my real name actually, but I prefer being called short "Busayo". The name means "God added more Joy". This is a wonderful name which is popular because it is what I bear everywhere I go while the middle name "Christianah" is included, together with my surname which is "Omoyiwola" meaning "A child rolled in wealth". I don't know why exactly I was given those names and I never bothered to ask since the meaning are what I love.
I only answer Busayo whenever people ask for my name and they would be like, "Which of the Busayo are you?" Then, I would call it in full "Oluwabusayo". The reason is that the name comes with different beginnings depending on where such a person comes from. Some are called "Ogunbusayo" which means they come from a traditional home where they worship the god of iron, hence, the first name "Ogun". Some are called "Busayomi" meaning "Add to my joy" which is different from mine because I don't have the "mi" (my/mine) etc. But as for me, I come from a Christian home, which is why I have "Oluwa" (God) in my name. Also, Busayo is a unisex name, meaning a male bears the name too.
Whenever I am being asked my name, the guys, especially would ask, "Will you add to my joy?" Then I would laugh because it is one way guys tease ladies when they mentioned their names. So far, the name has always worked for me wherever I go and I have never regretted being given the name or trying to change to something else.
The meaning of Ajoke which is my oriki (praise poem) is "to be taken care of by all" while Omotola means "A child worth wealth". Can you see how amazing my names are? How then should I change any of them? I am a child worth wealth, born to be taken care of, nurtured and caressed, 😊 and to crown it all, Joy being the overall shouldn't be found missing. I am highly proud of my name and thanks to my parents for birthing those names many years ago.
I remember the day I got to know that Omotola is part of my name, I couldn't control my happiness that day. I even thought of making the name popular instead of Busayo then but I left it that way. There is this favourite Nollywood actress, singer and philanthropist I love then, her name is Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. Most Nigerians would know her, she is so beautiful and knows how to act in movies. I became fond of her so I decided to add her name to mine, not knowing I have the name too. It was one day when mom told me to check for something in her wardrobe and I found my birth certificate. Looking through it, I saw Omotola. With curiosity, I asked her who owns the name and she said it's mine that my grandmother gave me. I felt so happy and my joy knew no bounds from that day.
Omotola implies a "pioneering spirit", born to be a great leader and highly focused.
Names are precious and should be taken care of and not to be ruined because of a bad attitude being exhibited. A good name is far better than rubies and gold. Keep your names very well and keep up with your amazing personality because names have a way of bringing luck to a person.