What’s Really In A Name Anyway?

Be forewarned…this got a bit more in depth and into personal thoughts than I intended.

We have finally come up with a name for this next sweet little boy we are having, but before I tell you what it is, let me just say that it hasn’t been as easy as naming Josiah.   We knew from very early on what Josiah’s name should be.  We both liked it and it felt right.  This little guy’s name didn’t come to us quite so easily.  He is so active that we initially looked for a name that meant happy or excitable, but “Festus” just wasn't working for us!

This time we didn’t like the names each other picked out.  Then, by the time we came around to liking the name the other picked, the original name-picker no longer liked it!  Two names, one  for each the first and middle names kept coming back up, so from that we have chosen Elijah Corban.  We liked them mostly for their meanings, which I will tell you about shortly, but also because they are not too common (though Elijah is rising on the popularity list).

What’s really in a name anyway?  I don’t know, but I like a name to do more than sound nice.  I want my child’s name to mean something and hopefully to inspire them sometime down the road.  While I don’t really believe that a person grows up to be whatever their name implies, I do know that it can be a source of pride and an example to some.

So, here’s why we chose Elijah Corban:

Aside from liking the sound of Elijah, which means “my God is Lord”, obviously he was also a great prophet of the Old Testament.  He is the one who, among other things, prophesied many things, challenged Baal, and saw God - finding him in a “gentle whisper” following a strong wind, an earthquake, and a fire.  Additionally, even while he was unsure of his future, God provided for his every need during a time of famine and while he fled for his life to escape persecution.  Even with all this, he was still human and had the natural tendency to fear for his life even to the point as to tell God he had had enough.  His great faith and steadfastness in a time when people doubted God, persecuted believers, and challenged his faith and prophecy is something I can aspire to, but most likely never match.  He didn’t keep God to himself, but taught boldly about him and shared his word.  In fact, he taught the prophet that was to follow him, Elisha.  I hope that my son is bold enough to live the life God has made for him.  What an awesome blessing (and challenge) that would be to him.  Besides, how cool is it that he is one of the very few that God took up into heaven without him having to die first?  (Thus there was never a need for him to have feared for his life!)

And as for Corban…yes, I know it is a bit different.  We went back and forth on this one for many reasons.  It means “a gift dedicated to God” or in other translations “to the Temple” (as a means of dedication to God).  One reason I struggled with choosing the name was because I wanted to make sure I meant it in every way, shape and form.  I wanted to be able to fully “give” this little boy to the Lord.  That sounds easy on the surface, but it can mean a lot of different things…some easy to accept as a mother and some difficult.  And again, while I don’t believe your name is your “destiny”, as a parent I didn’t want to use such a name generically.  I want to give my little boy over to the calling God has for him so that he can be fulfilled and God can be glorified.  The other point of struggle that both Jacob and I had is if it makes sense to be able to give a gift to God that He already gave to us.  But I believe that is what parenting is all about.  He only really sends theses gifts of children to us to raise up to follow him anyway.  And the other point of struggle…Corban does sound a bit strange, doesn’t it?  But I think it sounds cool at the same time and it is certainly unique.

On a side note…Unfortunately, if you look “Corban” up in the Bible (you will find it in Mark 7:11), it is used in a somewhat negative context there, but that is because once again the people were manipulating God’s word to their benefit and Mark called them out on it.  Don’t misunderstand the meaning of Corban from that passage if you do look it up.

So, that is the name we have chosen.  Honestly, we are trying it on for size hoping we get a sense of settled peace with it or that God shows us otherwise.  I’m so excited to call him by name since I love the opportunity to form that bond and know him as personally as I can without actually laying eyes on him and interacting with him.  I’m tired of saying “the baby” or “this next one” or whatever.  Now it is just “Elijah”.