| I recently had the opportunity to conduct a short but | | | | a positive spiritual message. For girls, the names were |
| fascinating print interview with Judith Tropea, author of | | | | Dannah, Ivah, and Zaccai. For boys, Asher, Barak, and |
| the recently-published book, "Classic Biblical Baby | | | | Jakim. I grabbed my copy of her book to see what |
| Names - Timeless Names for Modern Parents." | | | | the meanings and spiritual significance of these names |
| At the outset, I was struck by a quotation from the | | | | might be. |
| book's introduction -- a quotation from Proverbs, 22:1, | | | | The name Dannah literally means "judging." It signifies a |
| "A good name is to be chosen rather than great | | | | woman who stands for justice and fair play. Ivah |
| riches." Rather a bold statement, I thought, especially | | | | means "overturning," and it is a reminder that faith can |
| when many of us hold "great riches" in such high | | | | move mountains. Zaccai means "just," or "seeker of |
| esteem! | | | | justice." I was beginning to understand what the author |
| What is there to say about a biblical name, or any | | | | meant about names affecting our self-perception. |
| name for that matter, that could make it so important? | | | | The boy's name Asher means "happy" or "blessed." |
| After all, isn't a name just a name? As Shakespeare | | | | Barak, a name currently very prominent because of |
| said, "what's in a name? A rose by any other name | | | | the senator from Illinois, means' "flash of lightning," and |
| would smell as sweet." | | | | the spiritual connotation is "powered by God." Jakim |
| But would it? | | | | means "God lifts up," and it symbolizes a man who |
| In her book, Judith Tropea notes that "Names are an | | | | lives his life as an example to other people. |
| integral part of our identity. A child's name affects his | | | | Quite a remarkable group of names. "Classic Biblical |
| or her self-perception and reflects the parents' beliefs | | | | Baby Names" is filled with examples of names like |
| and cultures. A name pays tribute to the individual spirit | | | | these, spelling out their literal and spiritual meanings, and |
| and is one of the first wonderful gifts you can offer | | | | how the names crop up in different biblical stories. |
| your child." When I asked her about this during our | | | | Some of the names are quite well known, such as |
| conversation, she said "A biblical name gives a baby a | | | | Adam, Paul, or Elizabeth; others, like Darius or Calah, |
| connection to spirituality that may be a springboard to | | | | are much more obscure. After my conversation with |
| finding spirituality later in life." | | | | Judith Tropea, I found myself wanting to dig into her |
| I think that's a pretty good reason for prospective | | | | book more, to see what other little-known names and |
| parents to consider the names in the bible. and see | | | | meanings are lurking in there. |
| what a treasure trove of names might be between | | | | I also found myself in the odd position of having to |
| the covers. | | | | disagree with Shakespeare. Much as the great Bard |
| At my urging, Judith Tropea came up with 3 | | | | knew his stuff, on this point I think he was mistaken -- |
| suggestions each for boy's and girl's names from the | | | | a rose, by any other name, sometimes may not smell |
| bible that are a little out of the ordinary, and that carry | | | | as sweet. |