The Sydney Morning Herald noted that many of the top names from 2009 were still up there and some were simply swapped around in order of favourites. Jack and Lachlan swapped around as did Chloe and Olivia. (www.smh.com.au)
Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson says that each generation have favourite names for their new babies and that this is one area that the politically correct aggressively feminist self-appointed police have had no sway nor look as if they ever will.
He says can any one imagine parents being somehow persuaded by radical social engineering to name every one of their children with names that could either be boy or girl. Out would be names such as William for boys and Ruby for girls, although recognises that there are some common such names as Robin / Robyn and Kim / Kym spelt variously for boys and girls.
In ancient times names were definitive and spelt out the future character of that baby. The Bible is complete with numerous examples such as Noah (Genesis 5 verse 29). Moreover names were changed to illicit a specific spiritual notation. For example in the New Testament Simon's name was changed to Peter (Matthew 4 verse 18) and Saul's name was changed to Paul (Acts 13 verse 9).
In some cultures names reflect the family chain of names following a tradition of naming the first born son after the grand-father or with a religious name as Mohammed which is the world's most favourite boy's name by parents of the Muslim religion.
There are books of names
There are books of names whereby parents can review the variety of names whereby the parents will choose . In many cases today, parents will know the sex of their baby before the birth and a name will have already been selected. For those who choose not to know prior to the actual birth or who have no such medical assistances, two names are chosen, one for a boy and one for a girl.
Mark Tronson said that he and his wife had two names selected for each of their four children not knowing whether their new babies would be boys or girls. There was a humourous side to this in his family. Their fourth was a girl. The boy's name selected (had the baby been a boy), was three years later, given to a new puppy.
Jesus' names
Perhaps the person with the most names was Jesus the Messiah. This web site provides 150 such names all with Bible references. (www.abetterhope.com)
The most well known of these are as follows:
ALMIGHTY: Revelation 1 verse 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF FAITH: Hebrews 12 verse 2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
AUTHOR OF SALVATION: Hebrews 2 verse 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
CHIEF SHEPHERD: 1 Peter 5 verse 4 When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn't fade away.
COUNSELOR: Isaiah 9 verse 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
GOD: 1 Timothy 2 verse 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
GREAT HIGH PRIEST: Hebrews 4 verse 14 Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession.
I AM: John 8 verse 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."
ROCK 1 Corinthians 10 verse 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.
WORD: John 1 verse 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
A name is very important, a name provides identity. Mark Tronson says that over a life time in Christian ministry, one common denominator of all new parents reflections (including him and his wife with their four), is how this new tiny life exercise their own will from day one. His comment has been, that in some sense the only thing a parent has control over is the 'name' they give to their new born.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
