February 16, 2009
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Names
So I've been thinking lately about doing a legal name change. Obviously that means that I have been thinking about what I would like to legally change my name to. As you all know, I go by "Eli." I'd like to discuss this.
First, I never meant for Eli to be a permanent solution for my short-term (and current) "name" problem. But I have fallen in love with it. Eli was simply the male "nickname" for my birth name, which is Elissa. I hadn't done away with my name, simply shortened it. Elissa was always so short a name that no one ever called me anything else. In nineteen years of using the name, only two people called me something else, and that was "Lis."
The story behind my birth name.My parents put a lot of thought and research into my name. I am the first child to a recently converted Catholic (to non-denominational; ecumenical) and a recently converted Jew (to Messianic Judaism; the belief that Jesus is the Messiah of whom the Law and the Prophets spoke of, in case anyone hasn't heard the term). Together in their joint faith in Jesus and the Bible, they were strongly interested in Biblical names. So they bought books about baby names with Hebrew origins. My name and the names of my two brothers (Mitchell Zachary and Jonathan Elias) have come from Jewish tradition. I plan to change my name, yes, but I do not plan to deviate from Jewish tradition, as I identify as Jewish before any other religious affiliation (aside from agnostic, that is). And I do not plan to do this for any other person than myself. I have always been strongly attached to my name and the thought that went into it and the meaning behind it. I want my new name to carry as much weight as the last.
New name ideas.
I still want to go by Eli (pronounced Ee-lie), but I don't want that to be my legal name. I've always been drawn to long names that can be shortened (capable of a "nickname"). I have been thinking about two names: Elisha and Eliraz (the former pronounced Ee-lie-sha, and the latter pronounced Eh-lee-rahz says the only source I can seem to find attempting to pronounce it). Neither Elisha nor Eliraz is a popular name by any means, which I love because neither is Elissa. (I love having an uncommon/unique name.) My current name, Elissa, is a derivative from Elizabeth (a name I love wholeheartedly), and takes on its name meaning. Elizabeth comes from Elisabet, the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elisheva meaning "God is my oath," "my God is an oath," "consecrated to God," or even, perhaps, "my God is abundance". (Eli is a name from the compound "El" which means God, and "I" which is a singular possessive; therefore, Eli means "my God") For the name Eliraz, the literal translation is something like "My God is a secret" or "The nature of my God is a secret," as "Raz" means secret. On the same note, Elisha is a name taken from the Hebrew name Elishu'a which means "my God is salvation" or "God is my salvation." They are both very strong names. And they both lack the popularity of the names Elias and Elijah (the former I couldn't have anyway, as it is my brother's middle name).
My middle name to my birth name is Christina, meaning "Follower of Christ" (it is the Latin feminine form of Christian, which obviously has the same meaning). I intend to have a "C"-lettered middle name, but I can't find one I adore. Christopher is obviously a suitable match (meaning "Bearing Chist"), but I'm not in love with it; it's also far too masculine, for some reason (and too popular). Chaim is a cool name, meaning "Life" in Hebrew, but I'm not sure how it works with either of the first name ideas. So I've thought about some names that don't start with C. I've been thinking that if my middle name didn't start with C it would start with Z. But I can only find one Z name I like: Zayn (which means "Beauty and Grace" in Arabic). However, Eliraz Zayn, for example, is pretty "out there," even if people were simply calling me "Eli" on the regular.
So, that's just some stuff I've been thinking of. Which name do you most like? Which combination do you think sounds the most elegant?
Your turn.
What is your name, or the meaning behind it (or both)? Is there a story to your name? Share a name-related story with me! Any bizarre nicknames? Is there a name you would love to change your name to? Are you totally in love with your birth name (or chosen name)? Are you apathetic? If your name is Elizabeth, or Eli, did you know the things that I mentioned here? Share whatever you would like!
[edit] I meant to mention this in my original blog, but it appears I was so carried away by the desire to get feedback that I forgot.
The Kabbalah on Names:Ironically, the power of one's name is directly addressed in the book I am reading, God is a Verb. Cooper shares that "if you change your name, you change your fate" (along with an anecdote). This idea comes from the concept mystics hold that fate is flexible (as opposed to fixed) and that, as we engage in activities that raise consciousness, fate adapts itself to support such things. He continues saying, "Fate is a pattern sketched in the mystical book for the garment we call life. The sketch of fate is only an outline. We can significantly affect the final design of our lives by the way we cut the cloth of our fate, how we sew it, how we trim it, and especially by the material of life we choose. Ultimately, although the designer of our fate may follow an essential prototype, like a dress, a shirt, or pair of pants, we have a great deal of freedom to modify the finished product." (This is part of why I am into tattoos and body modification, but I will not go into that now.) Fate can be changed by introducing a new factor into the universe, something unexpected. So it is with a name change. It forces people to regard you in a new way. It causes a dramatic shift in your life, and in others' perception of you. It has a direct impact on your fate.
Something similar that is interesting and worth checking out: Kabalarian Theory (on names). [/edit]
Comments (27)
Wow no idea on the name thing but I def like the idea of keeping Eli around.
My name is obviously Lorelei and the quick and dirty way of explaining it to people who don't know is I'm a mermaid who sits in the water and I hypnotize sailors to their death. Haha.
Almost everyone calls me Lo. It's the nickname I like. Occasionally people will call me Lori or Lore and I refuse to respond. Lori is the worst.
I use Laura when I go out to eat and they ask for a name because most people cannot deal with anything more than two syllables. Especially in a loud place.
@suggestivetongue - Thanks for sharing that with me, it's cool to know.
I feel the same way about "Lis" as you do about Lori and Lore. I refused to respond to the one girl who called me Lis; the other girl only called me Lis in junction with affirming me as her sister in Christ. Her entire nickname for me was "Sis Lis," which stuck for quite some time. I was never particularly fond of that nickname, except for when I liked this one boy whose nickname was "T-Man" -- he would call me "E-Girl." Since "Sis Lis" emerged at the same time as E-Girl, I saw the two as fairly interchangeable. Ironically, those are the only two nicknames I have EVER had. "Lo" is cool. My best friend in Elementary school was Melissa and, our names too similar, I would call her Mo. 
My name means strength of the spear, or something like that. I like my name, I think, but I don't like the way it's spelled. It does give it a little bit of a unique twist, I suppose, but not too much that people can't pronounce it. There's no special reasoning for choosing it other than my parent's both liked it. I share a middle name with my grandfather though.
As far as nicknames pertaining to my actual name, most people just call me G. Then I have the people that call me Goober, Goobface, or Ubz. Hm. I need new friends.
@TastyAnonymity - Goober. That's kind of adorable. We used to call my younger brother that when he was a child. Haha.
Thanks for sharing! <3
I've always liked my name for a lot of reasons.
a) it's extremely uncommon, so I never had to be Jenessa S. I was always just Jenessa.
b) there are lots of different nicknames that can come from it, so everybody has a unique way of calling me. Jen, Jenny, Jeness, Nessa (my personal favorite), Nessy, Jenaynay (what Colin claimed was the ghetto version of my name)
c) it means "bright, lively and social" which think describes me rather well.
Moral of this whole story: if I was gonna name myself or my kid, those are the kinds of things I would look at, and it seems that's what you're doing too
@jenessa1889 - Wow, your name is the most appropriate thing I have ever encountered. If only "loud" was part of the description, I would think the name could not better fit another soul.
I have only ever called you Jenessa and Jen. You are neither black nor ghetto enough for Jenaynay. 
[edit] There is some small chance I have called you "Ness" before, now that I think about it. Nessa and Nessy both have one too many syllables for a nickname. [/edit]
My vote is for "Zayn", which is just amazing!
I have a love of names. I "collect" them. The only one I've heard better than that is my best friend's name: "Darcus". It has no meaning. Or history. It just is. And I love that.
I'm an aspiring pin up model, so my real name just won't do. ()_() "Kayla" means "pure" in Greek. You can't be a seductress with a name that means "pure". So I go by Ligeia now. I can't change it legally, though. I've discussed it with my mother and she said it would break her heart if I changed it legally.
Message forthcoming later with name story. Hmm. I'm which I like between Elisha and Eliraz, but Chaim is pretty darn appealing. I love the pronunciation for it. Although, it does sound a little too traditional for you, if you know what I mean. You're all about challenging tradition, in a lot of ways. Which may mean that it would be a nice tie-in. More thought required.
@Automaton_Emotion - I'm very interested in the forthcoming message!!
I don't think Chaim is at all traditional -- I have yet to meet but one person with the name. In other news, refresh my blog for newly added information, which I am assuming you will like. 
@SaintLi - Haha, no, I don't imagine you can be a seductress with a name meaning "pure" -- though I immensely appreciate the irony.
What is the name meaning behind Ligeia?
@xthread - I can jive with the update. Seriously. I have two distinct personalities, really, depending on which name someone calls me by.
By traditional, I meant that it is an old Jewish name and would be none too rare with Hasidic Jews, though. Which shouldn't be a deterrent to you. But it does add an extra bit of consideration for me. Tradition v. Non-Traditional xthread.
Curiously, I have never chosen any of my names myself. My birth name means "female sheep" in Hebrew...not the most flattering, and my (legal) middle name is Anastasia, for my great grandmother. My friends call me Andrei, which I was first called by some boys trying to guess my name while we rode up the ski lift (why they were doing this I have no clue). It stuck. I hope to have it changed to my legal name within the next few years (although the amount of paperwork that will need altering is daunting). I went through several middle names: James (after listening to too much of the song "St. Jimmy" by Green Day, and then Kirill and Dmitri (while I was investigating any faint traces of possible Russian heritage). Then my best friend's mother told me that "Andre" sounded like a fat wannabe-gangsta black man, and I looked more like a Steve, which is coincidentally my grandfather's name. So I decided my middle name should be Stefan, in honor of him. Recently my mother reminded me that if I had been born a boy, she would have named me Niall (although it's too late to switch from Andrei to Niall at this point), but I would take it as my middle name. And that's where I am today, Andrei Niall.
@xthread -
LIGEIA
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Other Scripts: Λιγεια (Ancient Greek)
Derived from Greek
λιγυς (ligys)
meaning "clear-voiced, shrill, whistling". This was the name of one of
the Sirens in Greek legend. It was also used by Edgar Allan Poe in his
story 'Ligeia' (1838)
I liked it because it was one of my favorite works by Poe, but then I found out about the who Siren thing, and it just seemed all too fitting.
& yes, the irony was thick and well appreciated.
@Lestat9Moriquendu - I enjoy your name. Andrei Niall is the greatest sounding of all the names on the list. Somehow "Niall" counters the black man image that Andre conjures (I have only known black Andres) which I find interesting. I have always loved Anastasia for a female name.
@SaintLi - I enjoy the story behind the name; I will have to look into it.
@xthread - :)
a name change izzan amazing thang very powerful very affirming of onez self azzan indivijewel
go forrit
It has been AGES since I checked up on my subs and stuff! o_o I really miss reading your amazing entries.
I really like this entry. I also actually like your really "out there" solution for a name. Both of those names are just wonderfully unique. Especially Eliraz. But yeah, this entry speaks to me, because I have two names, my birth name, and the name I identify with.
My first name is Katie, which means pure or virginal. That name has.. well it never really, completely suited me. Even when I was a child, mostly because of things I have been through. I could never Identify with it, so I always jsut had it shortened to Kat (pronounced Cat. xD) And yes, it is Katie, not Katlin or Kathleen or Katherine. xD or any other variation. My middle name is LeAnn - a combination of Lee, which means sheltered from the storm, and Ann, which means gracious. I like my middle name, honestly.
I don't usually go by my legal name often. My "real" name, the one I identify with, has an odd history behind it. It's basically my dream-name. Not as in the name I always wanted, but the name that I have been called in my dreams ever since I was a little girl. Whenever I am me in my dreams, I have always been called a name other than my birth-name. That name is Marina, which means from the sea. (oddly fitting because my entire life I have been entranced by the sea and its beauty. If I could, I would live in water.) A lot of my friends shorten it to Mari which means wished-for child. Oddly enough, that fits too, because the older brother I should have had was stillborn. My aunt (my mothers twin) is unable to have children, so they wished really hard for me, haha. And my sister too, though.
I'm not really sure about a middle name. Something I thought was that if I ever changed my middle named, I would change it to Lenore, which means "light". However, when I look at it, as pretty as it is it doesn't fit me.
I do plan on changing my name, although I may end up keeping my birth-name in there, because I know it would hurt my parents if I didn't. However in the same vein of your edit - I know and embrace the fact that changing my name would change my fate. I dont know how it would change if I kept Katie in it. So that whole thing is still up in the air.
^_^
-edit- omg, this comment is way too long. x_x
Naming my two children was very difficult for me....I'm very aware of the power of a name. Huge responsibility to name another human being.
God is a Verb. One of my favorite and often spoken phrases. I had no idea it was a title of a book...much less a book on Jewish mysticism. Fabulousness! I'll be checking into that one for sure. Thanks.
Have a great week
edit -- long freakin' comment; take it as a compliment that your post inspired some thought.
I had to smile; my middle name's Elizabeth. It's a family name -- all of the women on my mother's side of the family who are linear to me (that's awkward as hell, but I mean not my aunt, or my grandmother's sisters) share the same middle name. It goes back a far bit; nobody's too sure where it started, but it ties us all together as strong, loving matriarchs (seriously -- the men in my family aren't altogether inspiring, with a few exceptions -- the women stick around and hold everything together).
My name is spelled differently -- it's the Gaelic version, I think. From a really young age, my parents told me my name meant "mighty warrior," though I think, in reality, it's a derivative of Margaret. Still, the explanation stuck and I think I've been a bit tougher, harder on myself, somehow, as a result -- as if my subconscious wanted me to be worth the name I [thought I] was carrying.
I had a mohawk for a few years, so I was called Spike for awhile. There's a girl I've known literally for as long as I can remember, and she's the only one permitted to call me "Meggie." Her father, and a few others, call me Meggedy, from time to time. It's rare enough and whimsical enough that I don't mind it. My father used to call me Magel (rhymes with "bagel," though the "g" can be hard or soft).
I go by M, occasionally, and there are a few people who mush the M into my last name, which is usually my default email or work username (following the first initial + last name scheme). Everybody else calls me Meg, once they know me well enough; hearing my full name makes me a little defensive and polite, because hearing it means I'm in trouble, somebody needs my attention now (as in, "[PaxIndigo], that burner is lit, you're going to hurt yourself"), or somebody doesn't know me well. There are people who only really know me in an online context, so to them I'm Pax (peace is of a profound importance to me; I have a conjugation of Pax tattooed across my shoulderblades).
I like Elisha. I like Zayn, too -- my first thought with Elisha, though I know the Biblical history, was of Elisha Cuthbert (I ... don't know, the thought just came up). I'd say, then, that perhaps Elisha lends itself to androgyny (not that the others don't, of course).
I'm voting for Elisha. I also really like Chaim—I've always thought that name sounds sweet.
Hmm...I like the Eliraz Zayn combination.
My first name..Ashley..my parents had actually picked out a few other names for me, but apparently when I was born, I just looked like and Ashley. It came from the Ash tree. But I doubt my parents put much thought into that part.
But my middle name..Rebecca..is just my mom's first name. I honestly hate it and I would get it legally changed except for the fact that it's my mom's name and she (for some readon) wanted me to have that middle name. :/ But I'm pretty sure that she was named that after Rebecca from the Bible.
I would change my middle name to Adeline. Coming from Adela, and meaning "noble". Not that I think I'm noble or anything, I just like the name.
Very fun post to read.
ahh i see now. i like my name. especially when british people say it. unfortunately, that only happens in the movies. i also like my last name, lewis. i found out a couple days ago that it means lion-like, and i like that because i'm a leo. although my favorite cat is the leopard. but that's irrelevant. elisheva is good too. the idea that names have something to do with fate, and that my name means what it does, is somewhat comforting, come to think of it.
I vote for 'Elisha Chaim' and clearly my vote counts more than anyone else's
As far as MY name goes..."Rhea Ann" is my first name...."Rhea" was my paternal grandmother's name, and "Ann" is one of my mom's sisters. And then my middle name is "Harriet" with is the name of one of my mom's aunts.
Now..."Rhea" is a Greek name, and my grandmother wasn't Greek. My uncle is all about our genealogy, and I there's not 'Greek blood' in our family...so I have no idea why she had a Greek name...but I've become really curious about it recently. I'd like to try to find out somehow.
My parents never put much thought in my name--my dad wanted to name me Rhubarb, for gosh sakes! But I agree with that little bit, "If you change your name, you change your fate." When I was in Korea, I was Meeran. But when I came to American and my name changed, everything was set on a new track.
Elisha Zayn would have to be my vote...
My parents wanted to name me after my paternal grandmother, who died years before I was born. But her name was really old-fashioned, so they had a compromise: they gave me the same initials as she had for my first and middle names, and because she always went by her middle name, I was also called by my middle name. A whole branch of my cousins are all called by their middle names - it's somewhat of a tradition.But when I was in preschool, we always lined up in alphabetical order, and I was angry at somebody next to me. So I said I wanted to use my first name instead, since it's at the opposite end of the alphabet. My relatives have never let me live this down - some of the older ones still forget to call me by my first name. Today, I actually like my middle name much better than my first name, but several of my relatives and family friends would kill me if I tried to change it again - especially since my brother, who is transgender, also switched from his first name (an inescapably feminine Victorian flower name) to his ambigendrous middle one a few years ago.
Eliraz is nice. but as for a middle name I like the name Rue. I know its not biblical. Is Elisha a male name? And Eli, to mean "My God" is pronounced with a softer E than Eli as in Eli Cohen. Its is "eh-leee" or "Ay-lee". Eee-lie is the american pronunciation, not the hebrew or biblical one. But being as smart as you are, and well read, I bet you already knew that.
I think you should use it as your middle name, it sounds very cool. As for the fact it is "out there," in my oppinion, it just makes it better! I can't believe you know so much about names! That is really very interesting, I never really related Christina to Christ. Except when Christina Agulara became X-Tina. ahah
I never really liked my name, Celia [Seel-Eee-Yuh], but I do however love that most people call me Seal or Cele, [both pronounced Seel, just my father like the latter spelling]. I too love names that can be shortened. Especially girls names that can be shortened to guys' names. Like Samantha --> Sam. Or Alexandra --> Alex.
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