Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.
There is a popular saying in the Chinese community—“Uncle is not afraid of having a bad surname but very much afraid of having a bad given name.”
In many Chinese families, parents of little education employ some fortune tellers to name their children according to the parents’ desires. In the United States and the U.K. , most parents name their children after those famous names appeared in the Bible, such as David, John and Paul etc. for boys, and Mary, Elizabeth and Ruth etc. for girls.
The meaning of my first name is “Give thanks to Jehovah”. I take the meaning of thanksgiving being not only by word but also by deed. The fruit of gratitude is the fruit of repaying for the lovingkindness of our saviour. My father named me, and my given name has set my goal of life—to give thanks to God by following His precepts in the journey of my life.
God has a name, too. He tells us His name is “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). God’s one and only Son is named Jesus, the meaning of which is “Jehovah/Yahweh saves” or “the Lord is salvation”. The people of God call Him “Immanuel”, which means “God with us” (Matthew 3:21-22).
I see that a given name by parent does impact the life of a person, and for some shows from the day of birth the purpose of his or her life.
I write poems on life, and sometimes write poems using people’s given name to inspire and motivate others at loss to live up to their given names. Share some of these names here👇🏻
“fèngyīng”✨
Soaring grace is Fengying’s flight,
Crossing oceans, leaving home’s shore
Though far from homeland, never far from the Way
The path smooth, the journey blessed, life secure
Yielding to the Saviour, homeward bound in peace,
Leaning on God’s truth—this is Fengying’s grace
…
“shūhuá”✨
Shuhua belongs to the Lord on high,
Adorned in faith, on Him she relies
Walking the path, righteous and true,
Day by day, she serves with love ever new
The Spirit nourishes a soul alive and bright,
Lovely in heart, radiant in light—this is Shuhua’s sight
…
“měiyí”✨
Graceful in form, graceful in way,
Fitting for home, fitting each day.
A woman of virtue, holding faith, hope, and love,
Guided by blessings from heaven above
Kindness travels a thousand miles afar,
Neighbors near and dear, under love’s guard
Care and affection never apart,
Even every fragment flows from the heart
Love within all things resides,
Christ revealed in and out, where light abides
Searching the heart, refining the soul within,
A spirit that delights the Lord, pure and genuine
✨✨💖 ~
en yan hua fang 