What’s in a name?
Names give us identity. People know us by our names. We feel special when our name is acknowledged. Some have short names while others have longer ones. Names can bring us to fame or it can put us to shame, too.
The origin of our names have stories to tell as well.
Real names are taken anywhere else from a great grandmother’s Restituta; a memorable place, Florida; a Hollywood star, Elvis to even a special day, Tuesday. On the other hand, pet names are based on initials like AJ; physical attributes like Chinky; the too common thus timeworn Baby or Babes to out-of-this-world sounding names like Perps or Perpski.
Somehow, people have an idea of our nationality by our names aside from our physical features. Peculiar as it may sound, some Filipino names are also repeated twice like Ning-ning or a letter H is placed in between a consonant and vowel letters like Bhoy. It's simply Pinoy.
Every culture has their own way of writing names as well.
In Thailand, they only have two names, first and last. Others would need a first and second name then a last name like in the USA. While in the Philippines their middle name would be their mother’s maiden name together with their first, second and even third names. Also, in some Asian countries, the last name is written first before their real name. Unlike in the Western world where the last name is written at the end.
Confused? Okay here’s a simpler way of showing it:
Philippines: Annette Jane Sofia Mendoza Pamintuan – first name, second name, third name, middle name and last name Consequently, Filipinos give emphasis on their mother’s maiden name. It is also a way to easily figure out their mother’s family tree through the middle name. Maternal family members would even remind their grandchildren, nephews or nieces not to forget to include in their names their middle initials in reference to their mother’s maiden name. When used, it is also a form of respect to the mother’s family.
Another worth mentioning is the changing of names in a foreign land. For example, the names Juan and John, both are used by one person. The name Juan was his christened name in the Philippines and John is what he used now in the USA.
At first, people might have raised their eyebrows and would have said “Nakatira na kasi sa Estados Unidos kaya pinalitan na rin ang pangalan nya.” (He’s now based in the US that is why he also changed his name).
There's truth behind it, however, there’s also a reason for that name change. Americans could not pronounce Juan as it is properly pronounced in the Philippines thus in order to avoid additional phonology lessons Juan just changed it to John since it’s a common name in the US.
Other examples are the Chinese. They have their own Chinese names written in Chinese characters other than their Americanized or Filipinized names. The same thing goes in countries that have their own writing calligraphy like Japan and Thailand.
One more thing, in the Philippines, a name written in Ma. with a period prior to another second name, means Maria. There was a decade that most of the girls born within the mid-1950’s to early 1970’s have Maria as their first names in honor of the Mary in the Nativity Story. But since Maria is a very common name, the second name is most often used to distinguish one Maria from another Maria.
Nevertheless, whatever is the story behind our name a name with a good reputation is still worth having one.
"A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches ... "- Proverbs 22:1
The origin of our names have stories to tell as well.
Real names are taken anywhere else from a great grandmother’s Restituta; a memorable place, Florida; a Hollywood star, Elvis to even a special day, Tuesday. On the other hand, pet names are based on initials like AJ; physical attributes like Chinky; the too common thus timeworn Baby or Babes to out-of-this-world sounding names like Perps or Perpski.
Somehow, people have an idea of our nationality by our names aside from our physical features. Peculiar as it may sound, some Filipino names are also repeated twice like Ning-ning or a letter H is placed in between a consonant and vowel letters like Bhoy. It's simply Pinoy.
Every culture has their own way of writing names as well.
In Thailand, they only have two names, first and last. Others would need a first and second name then a last name like in the USA. While in the Philippines their middle name would be their mother’s maiden name together with their first, second and even third names. Also, in some Asian countries, the last name is written first before their real name. Unlike in the Western world where the last name is written at the end.
Confused? Okay here’s a simpler way of showing it:
Thailand: Danchittrong Duangkamol - last name and first name
USA: Michael James Holmes - first name, middle name and last name
Philippines: Juan Antonio Sy Reyes - first name, second name, middle name and last name
Philippines: Annette Jane Sofia Mendoza Pamintuan – first name, second name, third name, middle name and last name Consequently, Filipinos give emphasis on their mother’s maiden name. It is also a way to easily figure out their mother’s family tree through the middle name. Maternal family members would even remind their grandchildren, nephews or nieces not to forget to include in their names their middle initials in reference to their mother’s maiden name. When used, it is also a form of respect to the mother’s family.
Another worth mentioning is the changing of names in a foreign land. For example, the names Juan and John, both are used by one person. The name Juan was his christened name in the Philippines and John is what he used now in the USA.
At first, people might have raised their eyebrows and would have said “Nakatira na kasi sa Estados Unidos kaya pinalitan na rin ang pangalan nya.” (He’s now based in the US that is why he also changed his name).
There's truth behind it, however, there’s also a reason for that name change. Americans could not pronounce Juan as it is properly pronounced in the Philippines thus in order to avoid additional phonology lessons Juan just changed it to John since it’s a common name in the US.
Other examples are the Chinese. They have their own Chinese names written in Chinese characters other than their Americanized or Filipinized names. The same thing goes in countries that have their own writing calligraphy like Japan and Thailand.
One more thing, in the Philippines, a name written in Ma. with a period prior to another second name, means Maria. There was a decade that most of the girls born within the mid-1950’s to early 1970’s have Maria as their first names in honor of the Mary in the Nativity Story. But since Maria is a very common name, the second name is most often used to distinguish one Maria from another Maria.
Nevertheless, whatever is the story behind our name a name with a good reputation is still worth having one.
"A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches ... "- Proverbs 22:1
Comments
Re 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.
(NOTE: This is in reference to have our names in the Book of Life)