by Laura Leigh Fields

Created on: August 12, 2008

Determining the meaning of your name isn't as simple as just looking in a dictionary. Of course, this is a possibility, if you want to know the generic definition. You can read baby books and do research on your name. You can also learn the etymology of your name, the origin, and famous people that share your name.

You can also ask your parents how they came about giving you the name that they did. Once you know who or what you are named after, learn more about it. If it is a relative that you never met, meet them through documents, pictures, and other personal items. If you were named after a celebrity, watch their films or study their work. Try to put yourself in your parents' shoes and don't just know why they gave you your name; feel it.

Many parents name their children "Hunter". This does not mean that the child will grow up to hunt. In some cultures, "Jesus" is a very common and popular name. This does not mean that these kids are perfect. It also doesn't mean that they can walk on water or will hang on a cross.

Several celebrities and important icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Bill Clinton, and Jim Morrison made their names famous. When they were born, it is likely their parents hoped that they would be destined for greatness but they didn't give them those particular names so that they could. Not all children named Marilyn will be stars. All kids named Bill won't be president. Everyone with the name Jim won't be a musician.

There are men named Charles in jail, while others who share that name are famous. Some women named Candy are adult film stars while others might work in a bookstore. The name may be the same but it doesn't have power over your existence. There is also no rule that you must live up to the name's expectation.

The truth is, there is no guarantee that you will live up to your name's definition or meaning. Your parents' goals and ideas for you at birth aren't always accurate in the grand scheme of things. No matter what your given name is, you are the one that can make or break it. It is up to you to choose and define your own destiny.

You will choose your own path. It is up to you to decide what your name means to you and what it will mean to others. Only you can have the power to create an accurate description of your name. In the long run, it does not matter what a book says or how you got your name. Those things are great to know but they are not the factors that define you.

Be your own person and make your own choices. This is what will help you decide the meaning of your name, more than anything else. Set good examples for others and maybe one day, someone will be named after you, also.

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