By becoming parents, we sign on for a million and one unique tasks, some exhilarating, others exhausting. One job that’s an early must for every parent is to name the new baby. Although demanding decisions await, this first duty is a pleasure.
Some parents eagerly name their children after others they love, in a gesture of honor and respect. The hope is that the admired one, the one having a character so strong he/she is worthy of a namesake, will develop an influential relationship with the child.
Often baby names are chosen to link one family member with another as a tribute to the older person. This would include a “junior” or a “I, II, or III.”
Other new moms and dads are all about the meanings of names. This was particularly true in biblical days when parents believed children would live up (or down) to their names. The scriptural Jabez, for example, became famous because he sidestepped this principle. His name meant “borne in pain.” In the only Bible reference to this man, he asked God to keep him from causing pain to others.
I remember our Linnea asking us, as a little girl, what her name meant. Sadly, we didn’t have a good answer. She was named Linnea because we had several other Linneas in the family, and we loved this Swedish name. When we looked it up after the fact, we learned it meant “lime tree,” not particularly noteworthy. (We did redeem ourselves somewhat by discovering a tiny pink flower named “Linnea”.)
The only way the name game can be spoiled is if mommy and daddy can’t agree. When this happens, experts say, “Let the father name the baby, because it’ll bond them together. The mother has been bonding for nine months.”
Nate and I dipped into each of the above methods of naming our seven. While growing up, our kids would say we made an effort to choose the weirdest names we could find. Nate and I chose them all from a Swedish calendar because of our shared Scandinavian heritage and knew their names would grow on them, which they did.
Yesterday I received the glorious call from Hans and Katy announcing the double birth of their not-so-little twins in Manchester, England. There is no greater use of a phone than to communicate the news of new life! When they called a second time to reveal the names, it was nearly as great a thrill. By knowing the names, I began to know the grandbabies. A first step was to write “Evelyn” and “Thomas” on my prayer list, scratching out the anonymous “Baby Girl” and “Baby Boy” written there to this date.
When Hans told me Evelyn’s name, he said, “…after the one and only Grandma J,” my mom. Well put. Evelyn’s middle name, Sarah, is after two remarkable women who share it: Katy’s mum and then Katy herself, as a middle name. The first half of little Evelyn’s name means “giver of life,” and the second half means “beautiful.” As the first daughter in a family of three children, she will give a special kind of life to this Nyman household. Her second name describes exactly how: as a “princess”!
Thomas means, appropriately, “twin”, and he is named after two first-rate role models: my brother Tom and Hans himself, as a middle name. The twin’s middle name, Nathan, means “gift of God” and honors Hans’ father, who passed away five months ago. God took… and he gave. All four of these names are rich with significance and will prompt meaningful conversations with the twins in future years.
Nicholas, their not-much- older brother at 15 months, bears a name linked to two uncles, Katy’s brother Nicholas and Hans’ brother Klaus, whose name is derived from the Swedish spelling of Niklaus. And his middle name, Carl, is shared with my dad, the patriarch of our side of the family. By the way, Nicholas means “mighty in battle” and Carl tells why: because he is “the strong one.” With the twins entering little Nick’s world, he’ll need both might and strength!
My prayer for all three children is that they’ll hear God’s tender call. He’s known their names since before time began and loves them with an everlasting love.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!” (Isaiah 43:1)
I love the names of the babies!!
And at least Linnea is not meaning “lime tree” in swedish… the name is from a flower that Carl von Linné found, that is pink.. and Linnea is from Linné’s name. (So even thou you picked a name from a Swedish calendar the meaning is diffrent from country to country..)
I think I e-mail you with all meanings a long time ago for all names in your family since they are Swedish, probably right before my first visit 2006. I can e-mail them again if you want to know what the names means in Swedish, allthou all names are not Swedish.
Love
I look forward to more posted photos. Beautiful names and meanings; thanks.
These newborn twins, along with your other grandchildren, will bring you much joy, for many years to come! More albums on the shelves.
My first and only, so far, grandson was born one year go on the 22nd…he gets to share the date with your babiesas well as earth day,thrlls! and the Broncos draft day! His name is Zebulon,meaning exalted, honored, in Hebrew, although the Jewish tribe is spelled with an “un” at the end, and of course, Zebulon Pike who discovered Pike’s Peak here in Colorado. His parents love the “Z” and hope that Zeb doesn’t hate them for his name! A short time ago I learned of a couple in a neighboring church who adopted twins from devastated Haiti and named them Zebulon and another “Z” from the Bible which I don’t remember.
The name that has my family and friends in stiches is one that a delivery-room nurse friend of ours told us a few weeks ago, an honest to goodness, birth certificate name! “La-a” pronounced Ladasha!
Margaret, the Scripture I leave with you, today, has nothing to do with your topic of names. It does, however, have everything to do with your double doses of Joy. From the Old Testament, in the Bible, comes Isaiah 61:3 ……
“To ALL who mourn, HE will give BEAUTY to ashes, JOY instead of mourning, PRAISE instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful Oaks for HIS own Glory!”
Oh, Marni! What joy!! I rejoice with you! Pam, you’ve given me something to chuckle about all day, La-a, indeed! I wonder if she’ll love or hate her name!
Congrats, Margaret, on the addition of these two beauties to your family. I loved your explanation of the names.
One further link to the circle of names…my grandmother was called Evelyn!
The twins are adorable!
Yeah, the Nyman names are only rivaled by the Palin’s.
Speaking of name calling- Margaret-a pearl- I am sure you have never been thrown before swine! God compared the kingdom of heaven to a pearl of great price, and the twelve gates into the holy city are each of a single pearl. You are surely a gem highly valued by God. You have been spending a lifetime inwardly adorning yourself with a view toward godliness.
Start having a spot of tea with your oatmeal as you anticipate the trip to the motherland.:)
Love,
Terry
Margaret, I’m rejoicing with you from a distance!:) Congratulations on your sweet additions. Loved the picture and look forward to a full-face one in days to come. Looks as though Hans’s little daughter may be fair like him. What fun having a double dose! You will enjoy knowing that Nathan and Amy are expecting their first in early November.:) Looking forward to seeing you in June. Love, Sue
P.S. How were the muffins?
Such beautiful babies! Your post brought back naming our Crown of Joy – Stephanie Joy, and her brother, Jonathan Michael – his first name is ‘gift of God’ and Michael is one of God’s strong archangels who fights for God’s people. Jon is a police officer.
OHHHH!!!! I am beyond excited about the twins!! Speaking from experience, I think everyone should have a set. They are truly fascinating and extraordinary! I can’t wait to hear all the twin stories from Hans and Kate. Keep the pics coming.
What beautiful babies! I love that your kids have chosen family names–it keeps the memories alive! We named our Thomas after a long dead Warton who we found out was poet laureate of England. Maybe we would have a writer??!! But mostly because Thomas in the Bible was the first disciple to claim the Risen Christ as “my Lord and My God”. No longer doubting but a living personal relationship!
What lovely names. I love hearing how and why children are given the names their parents have selected.