What is the importance of our birth name?

[bluedragon]

I always wondered - does our birth name have any real value or significance? Is it connected to our inner person, our soul, in any way? And if so, how does changing it affect us ?

What if someone has an ugly name and wants to change it? Why do some psychics need to know your name for certain types of readings? I assume that means that your name is connected to your life on a very deep level.

What would happen if I changed my name, making my middle name (which is Adrian), become my family name, and discarding the family name which is long and can't be pronounced by most foreigners at all?

[Mynder]

The important question here is: how would it change YOU? In what ways would this make you feel different?

[aggie]

as long as no one in the family is offended by your choice...i don't see why it would be a big deal...you are still using one of your given names.

if this is a help, perhaps on a professional level where an easy name could be better remembered, why not?

as far as your name being important in some readings...not sure, no expert here, i believe there is some connection between the letters in your name and numerology....experts please correct/elaborate...

[SarahJaynee]

Most parents think long and hard about which names to bestow upon their offspring. Rarely are they "plucked out of the sky" but even if they are there will still be a deeper resonation to this.
As a psychic I believe firmly that our children choose their human parents whilst still in the spirit world. We all choose our parents based on the Life experience we have chosen for ourselves. As a parent we have expectations, plans and hopes of what our children will become or embody and thus choose a name that resonates with those. A child named "Ethel" will most definitely give off a different vibration than one named "Scarlett".
Many parents look to their past family in order to create familial stability here on earth, others look for daring and adventurous names in the hope their children (but really themselves) will stand out from the herd, others want a name that will just fit in easily and not generate any raised eyebrows or opinions. So yes your name is meant for you to grow into, and as it is reflected back onto you from the mouths of others it has the power to shape the Life you will have. So if it ISN'T you, then by all means change it to one that resonates deeply with who you are.

[bluedragon]

I understand, but family names are not give, but passed from generation to generation. Do they also shape our lives?

Some family names are really ugly, such as someone whose name resembles an object or a disgusting action (there are some names...), or someone whose name is derived from "cow"...

My family name fortunately is only derived from the Romanian version of Michael, which I believe some would say is very positive, but it has a weird derivative ending specific to Romanian names. Nobody thinks of Michael when they hear this name. Maybe I should just change it to plain Michael, and then, if I move to the US or UK, I will have an easily understandable name that will still derive from my original family name...

[StarieEyed]

I don't see any big deal in changing your last name especially if you just change it a little. Both sides of my family changed thier last names after coming to the US. Not sure of the reasoning. Both were strong German names, maybe that had something to do with it. My fiance's dad has the last name of his mother's husband (his step father) so it was not a name he was born into I don't believe. This is the name I will get once married and will change the last name of my dauthter from a previous relationship at that time also to this name. As long as my husband, myself and our children have the same last name I am happy. I dont care who else, if anyone at all, shares it.

[allen080105]

Wow. I just wrote about my name yesterday.

I'd be interested in knowing whether our names have some higher significance than what I'm aware of.

I had every intention of just cutting off my last name (Durisseau) and using my middle name (Allen) as my last name. As time has gone by I've become more comfortable with everything about me though, including my name. Personally I've never had a problem with my last name. Any frustration I've had about it has always been because of my thoughts of what other people thought or said about it.

[david2885]

I can tell you that in Thailand where I'm from, a name isn't just given willy nilly. A lot of people will either consult monks or astrologers, who will take your time and date of birth, including the day of the week, and try to come up with a good name for you. Different letters can have different influences/effects on the baby's life, so depending on what you want the baby to have (wealth, power, horribly bad luck, etc) you'd pick and choose from various letters and try to come up with a name. If you're born on a certain day, I forget which it is, I think vowels in your name is considered bad luck, so you'll see some Thai people without any vowels in their Thai name.

Even adults, when they find that they're running into bad luck or they want to change their life, may consult an astrologer/monk in order to get a more auspicious name and then legally change it. This is just the first name though, I don't think I've heard of people changing their family names for better luck.

For example, my first name in Thai, Kritsana (as in Krishna the Hindu god) was given to me by a monk. From what my mom tells me he gave me that name because he said I would be some kind of religious/spiritual leader. I don't know if he meditated or consulted an astrology book or what to come up with that conclusion, but whether he's right or not remains to be seen ^^


I think I've also heard that Thai people used to give their kids ugly names like Dog or something like that, supposedly to trick evil spirits and protect their kids.

Some further reading on Naming in Thailand:

How to Choose a Thai Name - ThailandQA Articles
test

[Angela]

Well, I think if you develop enough personal power, you can actually transform how a name occurs in the world through the sheer force of who you're being.

"Arnold," for instance, did not always conjure the image it does now. What if he had to changed it to "John" when he moved here from Austria? "Barack" isn't the most euphonious name I've ever heard, but the clunky sound is not the symbol that arises for most people when they hear that name. What if he was President Barry Obama? Wouldn't it be great to develop that kind of associative power, that when people hear your name, they think of you and everything you stand for immediately?

But if you don't want to do that, change your name. Your name is not who you are. Change it to something that gives you loads of pleasure when you say it, write it, or think about the values it signifies that you are living in to. Make it into a positive anchor. Why not? It ain't nobody's business if you do.

[Ace22]

Originally Posted by Angela

"Barack" isn't the most euphonious name I've ever heard, but the clunky sound is not the symbol that arises for most people when they hear that name. What if he was President Barry Obama? Wouldn't it be great to develop that kind of associative power, that when people hear your name, they think of you and everything you stand for immediately?

Not exactly a great selling point for a president who's approval index has hit a historic minus 14 in his first 7 months.

But Name changes are often as important as a face lift or aesthetic surgery. There's a list a mile long of Actors and Musicians with new names.

Bob Zimmerman? anyone?............. Bob Dylan

David Jones?...............................David Bowie so as not to be confused with Davey Jones of the Monkees.

And my personal favorite "Marion Robert Morrison", better known as The Duke or John Wayne.

Changing your last name use to be very common on Ellis Island. Names like Belemecich became "Bell" and of course Rivera became Rivers. Steinberger was often shorten to Stein. I understand this is the most offensive form of name change because it besmirches the family.

But I must take UMBRAGE with the person that said "Parents think long and hard about the names they give to their children". Ha, maybe in some communities; If you're the 4th or 5th child born, some parents give the naming of the child to the oldest sibling. (Or anyone that wants the responsibility) In my case, I was named after my sister's Boy friend. I had to change my name and conjour up a lot of forgiveness as I hated my birth name. I got picked on in grade school. It sucks. I've even heard people talk behind other people's backs saying:"If I had a name like that, I'd go down and get a new one". Yep it sucks.

So I say anyone that got stuck with a F/U'd name; go down to city hall and get the forms and be whoever you want to be.

Legal Zoom will help you with the correct forms in your jurisdiction for about 200 dollars. But Do it. It's like claiming your Independence and taking your life back.

BTW my sister understands and calls me Ace. She's very happy that I'm happy.


Good Luck

Ace

[aggie]

my given name is agnes....after an aunt, which my mother did out of respect to her...old fashioned, kind of ugly sounding name....aggie for short....which is either real easy to remember because not too common and different...

everyone thinks i am a texas aggie tho'

and i am every bit a conn. yankee...

but...some people really mess it up. in my job on the phone i identify myself a gazillion times a day, so i usually spell my name and i still get: maggie, angie, addie, maddie, haggie, lucy?....

i get called miss aggie a lot...which i find endearing.

people apologize and i always say i answer to anything, within reason

but my point is...i AM an "aggie"...more than an agnes...and i love it when people who really know me or even very soon on call me "ag"....it is very comfy to me

[david2885]

Here's that name/numerology thing from a Western perspective. Plug in your birth name and see what you think:
What Your Name Means (Numerology)

[Mato Kinze]

So, there's actually two names that we normally have. The first is the name that our parents give us which we wear like a label through most of our lives. This is something that allows us "Modern" Humans to distinguish one from another in speech and writing. It may have any number of "parts" to it; ie. first name, last name, hyphenated, etc. but it is truly nothing more than a label and seldom has any true energetic connection to who or what we are.

The second, and more important Name, is the Name that Spirit recognizes you by. This Name is more than a label. Its a description of who you are and what your path and purpose in this experience is, was and will be. It is the perfect energetic compliment to your understanding of this experience for yourself; your role, your relationships to others, basically everything about you.

Indiginous peoples all over the world throughout history have recognized the differences between these two ideas; name as a label and Name as a description. The second is almost universally bestowed well into one's life or after some defining moment and is connected with high ceremony and much celebration. Many people will work their entire lives to understand their Spirit Name and what it means to and for them.

So... with all that said, call yourself whatever you want. But if you really want to know what your Name is, then ask Spirit.

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by Mato Kinze

Indiginous peoples all over the world throughout history have recognized the differences between these two ideas; name as a label and Name as a description. The second is almost universally bestowed well into one's life or after some defining moment and is connected with high ceremony and much celebration. Many people will work their entire lives to understand their Spirit Name and what it means to and for them.

So... with all that said, call yourself whatever you want. But if you really want to know what your Name is, then ask Spirit.

What exactly do you mean by that? To what cultural background or spiritual practice are you referring ?

[Mato Kinze]

Originally Posted by bluedragon

What exactly do you mean by that? To what cultural background or spiritual practice are you referring ?

Take your pick: Maori, Hawaiian, Maasai, Kalahari Bushmen, Lakota, Dine (Navajo), Tslagi (Cherokee), Apache, Cree, Mongolian Steppemen... The list is longer than I can possibly go into.

But the "religious" base doesn't matter. What I'm talking about is a personal communication to Source/Spirit/God/ (whatever you want to label it that helps your understanding of its essence) to find out how IT/HE/SHE/THEY (again...whatever works for you) understands and identifies YOUR essence.

The name humans call you by can be applied to many. The Name that Spirit recognizes you by is singular and uniqe. There can be hundreds of thousands of John Smiths, but there's only one you. You, as an individual, are unique. Spirit recognizes you as such and will share with you a Name which can impart your uniqueness as well as describe you, your past and your future - a Name which describes your purpose and how to acheive it.

The ceremonies I was talking about usually use intermediaries (Shamans, Medicine People, Priests, etc...) between Spirit and the individual, because most people haven't developed a connection sufficiently clear enough to ask for themselves.

Is that what you were asking, or did I miss the point of your question?

[Arlene deWinter]

Its interesting. I just put a post about this on my blog.

I am a clairvoyant counselor and I can tell you that the name you are given at birth is a powerful key for psychics to access your inner plane reality.

That said, this is also why Magicians and those who know this use spiritual names in one form of another to protect themselves from occult attack.

Pseudonyms are very useful.

In Qabbalistic tradition, it is said that you know your name before birth. You choose your name based on its sounds and vibrations. Your birth name, even the weird one your parents "gave" you, is like your natal horoscope. It holds the keys to who you are in essence.

Many cultures use name changes to mark life transitions. Native Americans for instance. Women at marriage in the old days not that long ago.

The new name is like a progressed horoscope -- it changes your vibration but does not define you the way the birth does, or the natal horoscope does.

Hope that helps,
Arlene deWinter

WINTERSPELLS: Life on the Magical Path, Legacy of the Witchblood
http://www.gothcfaerytales.com

[Mato Kinze]

Originally Posted by Arlene deWinter

Its interesting. I just put a post about this on my blog.

I am a clairvoyant counselor and I can tell you that the name you are given at birth is a powerful key for psychics to access your inner plane reality.

That said, this is also why Magicians and those who know this use spiritual names in one form of another to protect themselves from occult attack.

Pseudonyms are very useful.

In Qabbalistic tradition, it is said that you know your name before birth. You choose your name based on its sounds and vibrations. Your birth name, even the weird one your parents "gave" you, is like your natal horoscope. It holds the keys to who you are in essence.

Many cultures use name changes to mark life transitions. Native Americans for instance. Women at marriage in the old days not that long ago.

The new name is like a progressed horoscope -- it changes your vibration but does not define you the way the birth does, or the natal horoscope does.

Hope that helps,
Arlene deWinter

WINTERSPELLS: Life on the Magical Path, Legacy of the Witchblood
http://www.gothcfaerytales.com

That makes a fair amount of sense to me - at least from my own personal perspective. My "Given Name" and Spirit Names have much in common from a meaning standpoint.

[Brown Eyed Mystic]

Originally Posted by david2885

I can tell you that in Thailand where I'm from, a name isn't just given willy nilly. A lot of people will either consult monks or astrologers, who will take your time and date of birth, including the day of the week, and try to come up with a good name for you. Different letters can have different influences/effects on the baby's life, so depending on what you want the baby to have (wealth, power, horribly bad luck, etc) you'd pick and choose from various letters and try to come up with a name.

Yep. Same with India. People don't just name their child with their choice of names. It so happens that according to the day of birth of the child, a "beginning" letter is chosen and names starting with the same are shortlisted and one is picked outta them.

Originally Posted by david2885

Even adults, when they find that they're running into bad luck or they want to change their life, may consult an astrologer/monk in order to get a more auspicious name and then legally change it. This is just the first name though, I don't think I've heard of people changing their family names for better luck.

Hmm...Actually, that's also referred to as part of Numerology. The letters have pre-assigned numbers to them and accordingly the names have a sumed up number (addition of all numbers associated with letters in the name). Many celebreties especially go through name changes so as to raise the popularity/fame etc. atleast here in the country.

[Excellent Lodestar]

I picked up this book some years back, and I couldn't put it down... it talks about the phonetic attributes of language and how humans perceive "hard" and "soft" vocal sounds and how the vibe of our names kind of indicates how people will REACT, to the phonetics of any name
subtle stuff...I always wondered why so many US Pres were named William,John,or James vs say, Charles...
Amazon.com: The Secret Universe of Names: Roy Feinson: Books

[Arlene deWinter]

How many Kings are named Charles and Louis, and Queens are called Elizabeth?