What's in a Name?

On Sunday, my family and I were able to visit my cousins and be there for the blessing of their sweet little baby Rita. In our church, babies are given a blessing in front of the congregation. In the blessing, which is basically a prayer, the baby is given a name: Rita Eve.

I was thinking about the meaning of our names and how my mom always says that you live up to your name. She has always told me that my name means “leader of men” and that my sister’s name means “helper of men,” but I just looked our names up online and in Russian, my name actually means “helper of men,” and in greek means “defender” or protector.” (Which is funny because my siblings and I always talk about which character from The Chronicles of Narania that we identify with and I always say I’m Peter – who is totally a defender and protector!) My sister’s name is supposed to mean either “she who entangles men” or “curly headed.” The curly hair is definitely false, but she is still young so we will see about the entangling of men. Whatever that means. But if it means what I think it means, she better not entangle any men!

Anyway, for “Rita” I found the meanings: pearl, righteous and true. I think she has already begun to live up to her name. She is a little pearl, isn’t she?

The curly headed, pearl and defender. Pearl is making a really funny face here.

curly headed playing with little pearl.

my mom holding her niece, a sleeping pearl.

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