What’s in a Name?

February 5, 2025
Children are our future.

I want to share a personal life event with you! I recently had a baby. In Jewish tradition we say Mazel Tov! The Hebraic equivalent of Congratulations. The newest member – or should I say newest muse – for the Israel 365 content team is an adorable four-month-old boy who is thank God healthy and happy! I am so grateful for the opportunity that God has given me to be the parent of this tiny little human. And more than that I am humbled by the awesome responsibility I have ahead of me and his long and full life.
As any parent knows, one of the most exciting and important decisions you get to make for your child is what to call them. My grandfather always said ā€œYou can call me anything, just not late for dinner!ā€ But in all seriousness, naming a child is a fantastic and spiritual gift that we have as humans. It is one of the few things that we do that I think bridges the gap between the human and the divine. In naming someone you are identifying their soul, giving them a sense of purpose and potential. With a babyā€™s name comes all of the hopes and dreams a parent has for their child as they enter the world. I know my children have all been named with that intention.
And itā€™s no surprise that naming in the Bible takes on that essence as well. Naming is as old as the world itself. Letā€™s Dive in.Ā 

In the Bible, names carry profound spiritual weight, often serving as prophetic declarations of a person’s essence, destiny, or the circumstances of their birth.Ā 

The story of Leah’s children provides one of the most moving examples of how names can reflect both personal longing and divine purpose. With each son she bore, Leah expressed her deepest hopes and feelings through their names. She named her first son Reuben (meaning “see, a son”), saying “Because the Lord has seen my affliction”.

Her second son she named Simeon (“hearing”), declaring “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved”.

With Levi (“attachment”), she voiced her hope: “Now this time my husband will become attached to me”.

Finally, with Judah (“thanksgiving”), Leah reached a place of profound gratitude, simply stating “This time I will praise the Lord”.

Through these names, Leah transformed her personal journey from pain to gratitude into an eternal testament of faith.

Consider also the story of Benjamin, Rachel’s final son. In her dying moments after a difficult childbirth, Rachel named him “Ben-oni,” meaning “son of my sorrow.” However, Jacob, understanding the power that a name holds over a person’s destiny, renamed him “Benjamin,” meaning “son of my right hand” or “son of strength.” This profound moment shows us how a parent’s choice in naming can transform potential sorrow into strength, redirecting the course of a child’s life through the power of words and intention.

The story of Samuel provides another powerful illustration of how names can bridge our earthly existence with divine purpose. Hannah, after years of fervent prayer for a child, named her son Samuel, saying “Because I asked him of the Lord”.

The name Samuel, or “Shmuel” in Hebrew, carries the meaning of “God has heard.” In this naming, Hannah didn’t just commemorate her personal joy; she created an eternal testimony to the power of prayer and divine responsiveness. Every time someone would call her son’s name, they would be reminded of the miracle of his birth and God’s attentiveness to sincere prayer.

These biblical accounts of naming reveal a profound truth: when we name our children, we aren’t just giving them a way to be identified ā€“ we’re participating in a divine act of creation. Just as God named day and night, bringing order to chaos, when we name our children, we help shape the first brushstrokes of their life’s canvas. Each name carries within it a story, a prayer, and a dream.

As my husband and I have discovered, a list of potential names can become a living document of our own journey. For years, we’ve kept a running collection of names for our children – each one telling its own story of inspiration, loss, and faith. Some names honor beloved relatives who are no longer with us, carrying forward their memory and legacy through a Jewish tradition that sees naming as a way to keep souls connected across generations. Other names reflect moments of divine grace in our lives, marking times when we felt God’s presence most deeply. Like pages in a journal, this list has grown and evolved with us, shaped by the people we’ve met, the challenges we’ve faced, and the blessings we’ve received.

The act of naming isn’t just an ancient biblical tradition – it’s alive and vibrant in every Jewish home today. When we choose our children’s names, we join the ranks of our ancestors who understood that a name is more than just a word – it’s a blessing, a prayer, and a vision of possibility. From Leah pouring her heart into each of her sons’ names, to Hannah’s testament of faith in Samuel, to our own carefully curated lists of possibilities, we continue this sacred dialogue between the human and divine.

That moment when you finally choose your child’s name feels like uncovering something that was waiting to be discovered – as if the soul and the name were meant for each other all along. Just as our biblical ancestors did, we weave our hopes, our history, and our faith into the names we choose. 

Each name becomes a story, a prayer, and a promise.

If you’re inspired by the power of communal prayer, don’t miss out on our vibrant WhatsApp prayer group for Israel! Rabbi Rami Goldberg posts daily videos and pictures of life in Israel, with thought-provoking and inspiring reflections for prayer. This group is the perfect way to feel connected to Israel through daily prayer. Letā€™s unite in support of Israel. Join our daily prayers here.

Sara Lamm

Sara Lamm is a content editor for TheIsraelBible.com and Israel365 Publications. Originally from Virginia, she moved to Israel with her husband and children in 2021. Sara has a Masters Degree in Education from Bankstreet college and taught preschool for almost a decade before making Aliyah to Israel. Sara is passionate about connecting Bible study with ā€œreal lifeā€™ and is currently working on a childrenā€™sĀ BibleĀ series.

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