THE NAMES WE BEAR AND WHO WE ARE: A CULTURAL AND LITURGICAL STUDY OF NAMING AND IDENTIFICATION

Abstract

Naming practices are discussed from cultural and ecclesiastical perspectives. A somewhat new trend here referred to as ‘affective names’ is identified and analysed. Affective names are so called because of their tendency to express a feeling, an emotion or wish of the name giver, and they are by definition names in the English language. Affective names are characterised as culturally 'surrogate' since they fit into neither the ecclesiastical nor the typical cultural tradition. Responding to a pastoral problem according to which affective names are sometimes contested as fitting names for Christian initiation, this paper argues that affective names are appropriate names, but for purposes of identification, their vernacular versions are encouraged for use during initiation ceremonies. The paper illustrates the need for liturgical identification by considering the way a 'seeming discontent' with the approval of the anaphora of Addai and Mari was settled. Thus, the paper demonstrates that seeming differences need not be taken too far. Finally, a new definition of Christian names is provided and its advantages are discussed.