What is in a name?!

Merry Christmas to all my friends, family and loved ones. May the joy of the season not pass us by neither shall it leave us behind in Jesus name!!! What is in a name? why do we have names in the first place? What meaning or impact does the name we bear or are given have on our lives? A lot of us have wonderful names with great meaning but we reduce the name and its effect by ourselves or we allow our family and friends to do that for us. When you shorten a name it no longer makes sense and you reduce the full impact the name should have. This is why I use Mariam instead of Oluwatoyin a name with great meaning. I don't like been called "toyin" because for me it has no meaning. At least its difficult for your to abbreviate Mariam. lol Back to the note jare. Some of us even enjoy nicknames with odd and terrible meanings just because we want people to be scared of us or realize our popularity. I love a particular place in the bible in the book of Genesis. It was when God took all the animals to Adam so he could give them names. Adam looked at each animal and with wisdom of what they could or would be able to do he gave them names. One thing I love and which stands out for me is the fact that the bible makes us to understand that "whatsoever name Adam gave them that was the name they answered to" If your friend calls you "ijapa" for instance like i hear some people call themselves, it means you are and behave like a tortoise. The same thing goes for names that are shortened. Take for example "wonuola" meaning enter into wealth. People will shorten it to wonu meaning enter or ola meaning wealth. One is good for the the former short form is questionable. Why? where is the child entering into? The uniqueness of the Yoruba race and Africa in general means that names carry a lot of weight and has a great impact in the life of the child. Some people go to the extent of giving names to their children without actually knowing the meaning of such names. I remember a few years ago when we were watching a Mexican film and the lead ladies name was Paloma. At the end of the film people started naming their child Paloma without even finding out what the name means. My people will say "oruko a maa ro eni" meaning a name will always have an impact in the life of it bearer. If the meaning of the name of your child is king then most definitely you shall see the attitude of a king in him. If it means servant however he might behave like one. lol Aside from this is the annoying way that Nigerians now have of pronouncing and spelling names. Oluwatoyin has become Horlowatoying or something worse. I tell people that this has no meaning. If you need to have an English name that people would find easy to pronounce then get one NEVER EVER reduce yourself to a meaningless name that has lost value. Basically if you do that you are like the salt when it has lost its taste and its value. A name must always remain unique and help you to stand out! Please this goes as a sign of warning (and the last warning) to friends and family who feel that the best thing for them is to re-shapen the name my mama and papa gave me the day of my naming. It angers me and makes me feel little in your eyes if your dehumanize my name. Again my name is OLUWATOYIN meaning God is worthy of praise no man has a right here on earth and even in even to change my name. If you find that name difficult to pronounce use my last name or use MARIAM. I sabi vex o! You all know who you are please as we enter into a new year value your name and endeavour to find out the meaning of whatever names you have been given. ONCE AGAIN MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Ps; It is Christmas and not xmas it is also In Jesus name and not IJN don't insult God or ......................