Revelation 19:12-13, 16 — His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Someone that I regard very highly said, as he passed me in our Bible and Life Group (Sunday School Class), “I need to get a better name badge”. The thought went through my mind, “You don’t need a badge my friend. Everyone knows you, and your name is written in golden letters in Heaven.” It started me thinking this afternoon. How important are names? Do you remember the words Shakespeare put in Juliet’s mouth?

What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,?Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part?Belonging to a man. O! be some other name:?What’s in a name? that which we call a rose?By any other name would smell as sweet; (Romeo and Juliet, Act II Scene ii)

Then these verses from the Revelation came to mind, and started me thinking some more … The giving of names, in the Bible, is a sign of authority. God named Adam, and devolved to Adam the task of naming the living creatures. God changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Jacob to Israel. Time and again The Lord instructed His people on the name of their offspring — with John the Baptist and Jesus Himself having their names conveyed through Angelic messengers. It might be said that Juliet, in questioning the importance of names was questioning parental — and even Divine — authority.
Some Biblical names are, just like today’s names, the creation of affection or whimsy (Deborah, for instance, means “Bee”). Others mark significant events in the life of the parents — Rueben, for example, was chosen by Leah to express the fact that “God saw my needs, and therefore blessed me with a son.” Yet other names reflect changes in position — Abram, “Exalted Father”, became Abraham, “Father of Multitudes”.
Perhaps we give too little thought to the giving of names. Who, for instance, would call a child “Buddy Boy” (Jamie Oliver would), or Bronx Mowgli Wentz (Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz would). At the very least, giving children “quirky” names sets them up for a lot of pain at school!
Maybe there’s more to it than that? It seems to me that God takes names seriously. We know that the name of Jesus has great power. We know too that God honors Him with new names. And then in the Revelation we find, too:

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17)

Perhaps my friend did need a new name badge. Names matter!