The Power of a Name

There's an old legend that says we're born with two names. One is the name your parents give you. The other is a name no one knows because if they did, they would hold power over you.

Of course, there are those people who try to exercise the power with your given name. Just the other day, my middle child came home to tell me a couple of boys were making fun of her name. The punks. (Mama Bear talking there. Sorry.) I've seen my share of that, too. And you'd think with a name like Ashley, there wouldn't be much to go on, but people found ways, let me tell you!

I think there's something behind that legend. Names identify us. They shape who we are. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare pondered, "What's in a name?" and despite his feelings about a rose called something else smelling just as sweet, I would disagree. The Montagues and Capulets placed great pride in their names. Love just happened to be stronger than the power behind those names. Or did it? As the tragedy unfolds, the two star-crossed lovers end up dying. Sorry about the spoilers, sweetie.

This is one reason names play such a huge part in my stories. I try to make all my character names mean something. Beyond that, though, the names themselves bear importance. In Heralds of the Crown, there are a handful of characters that know the name of the future Ruler Prince. His name holds power to those who know it.

I think of the various names for God in the Bible. Each name holds a special meaning. Even locations were named based on what God did there, built as a memorial to His goodness and might. And those names have lasted throughout time.

Think about your name. Is there a reason you bear that name? What is your secret name? Just remember, there's power there.