Shane - Inspired Baby Names from Around the World

PRAISE FOR INSPIRED BABY NAMES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

The sounds in words a name are hands that shape us. The spoken, when from the heart, can bring the sun, moon, earth, and ones own soul closer when the need is greatest. A childs name is a prayer all the angels know. DANIEL LADINSKY, bestselling Penguin author-poet Inspired Baby Names from Around the World is a wonderful guide for the joyful and sacred task of discovering your childs true name. Such a unique collection of names with their meanings and spiritual affirmations will be a great addition for your bookshelf for years to come. Light a candle, sip some tea, and enjoy the exploration! DENISE ROY, author of Momfulness and My Monastery Is a Minivan Neala Shanes Inspired Baby Names from Around the World is a beautiful and inspiring resource not only for parents searching for the perfect name, but for all who are interested in one of the roots of who we are in the world.

The quotations alone make this a wonderful book. I use Nealas name derivations and meanings in Your Souls Purpose, a course I teach. Her amazing research provides wonderful clues! JANET CONNER, bestselling journal-writing author of Writing Down Your Soul and The Lotus and the Lily Impeccably researched, Neala Shanes book is a treasure of wonderfully matched quotes and fascinating information to help you name your child one of the first and most meaningful gifts we ever bestow. BETSY CHASSE, author of Tipping Sacred Cows, cocreator of What the Bleep Do We Know?!, and mom to Elorathea (goddess of light) and Maximus Theodore (greatest divine gift) It is said when you say your name, you call in the soul. Choosing your babys name is a sacred act. Neala Shane has created a timeless gem.

What a loving, eloquent gift this is to all mothers- and fathers-to-be. RENE PETERSON TRUDEAU, author of Nurturing the Soul of Your Family

New World Library 14 Pamaron Way Novato, California 94949

Copyright 2015 by Neala Shane All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, or other without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Text design by Tona Pearce Myers Permission acknowledgments on are an extension of the copyright page. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Shane, Neala, date. pages cm Includes indexes. pages cm Includes indexes.

ISBN 978-1-60868-320-8 (paperback: alkaline paper) ISBN 978-1-60868-321-5 (ebook) 1. Names, PersonalDictionaries. I. Title. CS2377.S435 2015 929.4003dc23 2014042449 First printing, April 2015 ISBN 978-1-60868-320-8 Printed in Canada on 100% postconsumer-waste recycled paper

New World Library is proud to be a Gold Certified Environmentally Responsible Publisher. www.greenpressinitiative.org

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To Jake, Adam, and Bethan,
the lights of my loveThou hast found grace in My sight, and I know thee by name. EXODUS 33:17B (KJV) CONTENTS A name pronounced is the recognition of the individual to whom it belongs.
He who can pronounce my name aright, he can call me, and is entitled to my love and service. www.greenpressinitiative.org 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 To Jake, Adam, and Bethan,
the lights of my loveThou hast found grace in My sight, and I know thee by name. EXODUS 33:17B (KJV) CONTENTS A name pronounced is the recognition of the individual to whom it belongs.
He who can pronounce my name aright, he can call me, and is entitled to my love and service.

HENRY DAVID THOREAU, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers C ongratulations! If you are reading Inspired Baby Names from Around the World, odds are good that you or someone you know is having a baby. What an exciting time in your life! Choosing the perfect name is one of the most important gifts you will give your child. Its a gift that lasts a lifetime. Your name is a key to who you are. It is the link that connects the inner self with the outer world, the first contact point that ties you to family and the community in which you live. Your name helps to form your character and can affect the outcome of events in your life.

To most native cultures, a name reflects the essence of the individual. It is more than a means of identification. It represents the soul and foundation of its bearer. In many cultures around the world, to name a baby is to bless the baby, to give the child a gift of spiritual meaning. I have always been fascinated by the meaning of names and how parents choose a particular name for a baby. We all know of parents who picked out a baby name that seemed set in stone, but who then suddenly changed their minds after they heard a name that caught their fancy.

Their promise to name their baby after beloved Grandma Dorothy melted away, for they simply knew the new name was the right one. Many cultures believe that the unborn baby already knows his or her name and gives clues all throughout pregnancy for the parents to pick up on. Its an interesting thought. Hopefully, the most important consideration when choosing a name will be the welfare of the child, for a name must be borne with pride and pleasure. In fact, many believe that people who are happy with their names are also happy within themselves. In lots of ways, Americans choose names that relate to their cultures and countries of origin.

When previous generations immigrated to the United States and landed at Ellis Island, they often changed their names in order to assimilate more easily, but today many people are reidentifying with the names and original spellings of the old country. People with an Irish or Scottish background are often choosing more authentic Celtic names, and African Americans are using more African names. The significance of baby naming can also bring more stress to parents, who often struggle to find just the right name. Parents want something special for their child, something unique. Parents facing the often-daunting process of finding the perfect name can consider many factors. Many children are named to honor a relative; in one way or another, incorporating family names is often considered very important.

To others, religion is a major factor in choosing a name. Some name their children after historical or popular figures, while others simply want a name that sounds right. Names also frequently celebrate valued ideals or personal qualities that it is hoped the child will possess. For example, German, Scandinavian, and Scottish names often reflect strength, valor, and other warrior traits. American Indian and African names can reflect aspects of nature or other living things. Celtic names usually emphasize physical characteristics, geographic locations, and aspects of gods and goddesses.

Though the monikers certainly sound strange to us today, Puritans often named their children after biblical virtues, phrases, or verses, which resulted in such names as Silence, Abstinence, Stedfast, Thankful, Search-the-Scriptures, Sorry-for-Sin, and Zeal-of-the-Land. One of the most unusual Puritan names was Through-Much-Trial-and-Tribulation-We-Enter-the-Kingdom-of-Heaven or Tribby for short (thank goodness!). That might seem a bit

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