What's in a name?

Today I saw a new workplace opened in my street. The name; God Bless China, motorbike repairer. I always learnt that China has a bit of a complicated relationship with God, but apparently that doesn’t matter. Many shops here have names referring to God, like God is able (selling meat), God Bless Kumbo (fabric) or In God we Trust (a taxi, personally I would prefer the driver to trust his driving skills). In general, names often make me smile. Would you ever buy bread from Pees bakery?

Not only shops, also people can have interesting names. In Nigeria I knew a little girl whose name was Obedience. I think only Patience (what is also very common) would have fitted her less. There was really nothing obedient or patient about her. Or what about Immaculate, mother of two children?

In many names, God is remembered. Common names are Godswin, Godswill, Glory and especially Divine. That leads to funny miscommunications sometimes. I remember someone saying something about a talent of a person; ‘She has a divine gift’. Then people turned to my colleague Divine; what did you do for her to learn that?

Names like Hope, Gift, Promise or Favour are also very common. You also meet people called Sunday (and no, it is not necessary to be born on a Sunday to be called like this). Many of these names can also be used for both boys and girls.

To make life more difficult for someone like me, many people use their African name and also their Christian or Muslim name. So sometimes people refer to someone and I have no clue that it is the same person, as I know him or her by a different name. Sometimes people even have different spelling of their names in their government documents and church documents. How will I ever learn if it is all so complicated?

My own name also still leads to confusion. In the Netherlands people called me Elly, Elsie, Esther or even Angelique. Here I have been called Siesie and (most interesting) Elvis. And also my official name is different. So maybe I just fit in very well with all my names confusion.

But well, what’s in a name?