What’s in a Name? A Reflection on Who We Are in Christ
The other day, I was messaging back and forth with a wonderful lady who had the most beautiful name—Payne. I commented on how unique it was and told her I absolutely loved it. This led to a fun conversation about the story behind her name, and we eventually got on the topic of my name.
I shared that I was supposed to be named Robin, but somewhere along the way, it got changed to Tania. I once read that my name means “Russian Princess,” and while I can’t confirm that’s true, it’s the story I’ve always stuck with.
Payne enjoyed my little “Russian Princess” tale so much that for the rest of the night, her emails started with “Princess Tania.” Lol! It was fun to laugh about our names and the meanings behind them, but it also got me thinking: what does a name really mean?
When God Changes a Name
In the Bible, names often carry deep significance. There are several instances where God changes someone’s name, and each time, it reflects a new identity or purpose.
Take Abram and Sarai, for example. Their names were changed to Abraham and Sarah when God made a covenant with them, promising that they would be the parents of many nations.
Genesis 17:1-5 (NIV)
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.'”
“Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, ‘As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.’”
The Meaning Behind the Name Change
When I was younger, I used to wonder why God went through the trouble of changing Abram’s name to Abraham. They seemed so similar—why not just keep things simple? But as I got older, I realized the “why” behind it was deeply symbolic.
- Abram means “exalted father,” which must have been bittersweet for a man who had no children.
- Abraham, however, means “father of many.” This wasn’t just a new name; it was a promise and a declaration of what God was about to do in his life.
Similarly, Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah, which means “princess,” reflecting her role as the mother of nations. These name changes weren’t random; they were a reflection of God’s purpose and His faithfulness to fulfill His promises.
Saul to Paul: A Choice to Reflect Change
Not every name change in the Bible was directly from God. Saul, for example, chose to start going by Paul after his transformative encounter with Jesus.
Saul was a Pharisee who persecuted Christians, but after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, he became a passionate follower of Christ. The shift in his name symbolized the transformation in his heart and identity.
It took a while for the name change, but Saul eventually started using his Roman name, Paul. Interestingly, Paul means “small” or “little,” which may have been a reminder to himself to stay humble. It’s a beautiful reflection of his new identity in Christ—focused not on his own strength but on God’s grace.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Paul was no longer the same person he was before meeting Jesus, and neither are we. When we come to Christ, we are made new—our identity is transformed, even if our name stays the same.
Living in Our God-Given Identity
My name didn’t change after I met Jesus, but I certainly did. Like Paul, my name reminds me of who I am to the Lord. No, I’m not actually a Russian Princess, but I am a daughter of the King of Kings. That makes me royalty in the truest sense!
This is an identity I never want to forget. In Christ, we are children of God, chosen and loved, with a purpose that reflects His goodness and grace.
Who Are You in Christ?
Whether your name has a special meaning or not, God sees you as His beloved. He calls you by name and gives you a new identity in Him.
The next time you hear your name, take a moment to remember who you are to the Lord. You are more than just your earthly identity—you are a child of God, created with love and purpose.
To GOD Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
Let’s End with a Prayer
Lord, thank You for giving us a new identity in You. We are no longer the person we were in the past, but we are made new through Your grace. Help us to live each day as Your children, reflecting Your love and fulfilling the purpose You have given us. Remind us that we are precious in Your eyes, chosen and loved. May we never forget that we are royalty because we belong to You, the King of Kings.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Interesting that you were going to be named Robin. It is a name you don’t hear much of anymore. I was a late in life surprise to my family. My mother and father were 46 and 49 and had five other children. My oldest brother was a senior in high school when Mother was pregnant with me, she always said he would sit and go through names and he chose my name,
Robin Michelle. It is especially poignant that he named me because he passed away when I was 10 years old.
Oh, my goodness. I’m so sorry that he passed away at such a young age. I can see why your name is so important to you.
beautiful post. thank you!
I always love your Sunday devotions. One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 2:10. “We are God’s masterpiece”. I have shared that with each of my granddaughters so that they don’t believe what the world tells them, that they need to be prettier, skinnier, or whatever else social media tells them each day.
Thank God for making us a new creation.
Princess Tania another wonderful Sunday message! My name was made up by my mama. My daddy wanted Tammy after Tammy Wynette lol mama thought that was boring. Oh well, I’ve always went by Tammy but have actually finally met another Tamatha! 🎄
I love your name. It is unique and special.
My name “Lana” is not Biblical but is a Hebrew name meaning “to be gentle “ or “to be soft”.
I guess that has pretty much been my nature (for the most part!)
I’m also a daughter of the King!
I love your name meaning “Russian Princess “, so lovely 😊!
Thank you so much for your daily blog, I’m loving it!
The style of clothing you show is my style and I like that you show affordable things!
I love the meaning of your name.
Thank you for this post, Tania!
I just love your Sunday posts! Thank you for ALL you do!!! Have a blessed day 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻
Thank you so much for that beautiful insight. My name was supposed to be “Karen” but my parents decided my name would be Gay. My mother’s name is Georgia, but her younger siblings could not say it so they called her “Joy” and that is the name she has gone by for 58 of her 78 years. People have made fun of my name since I was in middle school, for obvious reasons. However, I never got mad about it, I would explain that in 1970 and before, my name meant Happy, and that I was named that because my mom wanted to name me something similar to hers, Joy. Every time, the “jokester/bully” would have no response!
I truly enjoy your Bible Stories and I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Gay Craig
Clanton, Alabama
Gay is my aunt’s name, and I always associated it with joy. I’m glad you found a way to shut down the bullies.
Gay, I can relate to your story. My name is Sherri Gay. I lied for years about my middle name, I would always say it was Lynn. Now I can embrace the name and I not ashamed any more!
In Christ my name changed to Christian. A follower of Christ.