Recently, I was perusing Facebook and came across a post by our amazing InspyRomance author, Angela Ruth Strong, in her Strong Readers group. She was talking about her name (I won’t spoil it for you…if you aren’t already a part of Angela’s group, you should be!), and it got me thinking about the origins of my name.
I’ve known since I was a child that my mom didn’t intend to name me Judith Jonelle. The name she originally chose if they had a girl was Christina Dawn. Once she had gone through labor, she changed her mind. She says they would have named me after my dad if I had been a boy, but they didn’t know for sure since there weren’t ultrasounds to find out back then. I wasn’t, and she went through all the pain to bring me into the world, so she wanted to name me after her instead. Jonelle wasn’t something she originally had on her mind, but she chose it because she liked it, and it sounded pretty.
When I was pregnant with my daughter, we didn’t have a change of heart. Early in my pregnancy, I picked out a list of names I liked and showed them to Doug. I said, “I kinda like Emma Grace.”
He said, “Me too. Let’s do it.”
From that moment on, she was Emma Grace.
It’s amazing that it was so simple because, for me, the hardest part of writing is choosing names—character names, place names, pet names, and even titles. I struggle so often that I’ve run several contests with my readers to name different parts of my stories when I needed something specific. We never chose a boy name for Emma because God had promised us a girl before I even conceived her.
When I started researching the meanings of our names for this blog after reading Angela’s post, I found that my first name means “Woman of Judah,” and my middle name means “God is gracious.” You could combine them to mean God is gracious to the women of His people.
My mom’s middle name is Ann. The meaning of Ann is “grace” or “he was gracious,” so he was gracious to the women of his people.
Now buckle your seatbelts because this is where it gets really good. We already know Emma’s middle name is Grace, so when I looked up the meaning of her first name, I literally shed a tear or two. Emma means “universal.” I named my daughter “Universal Grace.”
Praise God…moved by the Spirit, three generations of believing women in my family all passed down God’s grace to the next generation. It makes me think that maybe I should take a little bit more care in naming my characters. After all, what’s in a name? It could be everything!
Tell me in the comments how you got your name, or if you have a cool story about how you named your kids, tell me that, too!
Renate says
Happy Thursday, Judith! My German mother was a believer and knew the meaning behind names even in 1950. My father was not a believer when I was born, and his family wanted to name me Barbara – meaning Barbarian. My mother decided on Renate – meaning born again. Fitting for being raised in Christian home.
Pastor Hubby and I took naming our children seriously. We never knew the gender of our 3 sons – named Matthew, Jonathan, and Nathan – all meaning Gift of God. Middle names are from family members – father’s or grandfather’s first or middle name. Studying the origin of names and their meanings is fascinating. Stay warm and safe.
Beth Westcott says
My parents used family members’ or close friends’ names for their children. My mother’s grandmother was Elizabeth, so they gave me the first name Beth. My paternal grandmother was Stella, and my middle name is Estelle. My husband and I combined names we liked, biblical names, and family names for our children. I enjoy perusing name lists to find names for the characters in my books.
Judith McNees says
That’s beautiful Renate. I love that your name means “born again.” I hope you’re digging out of all this snow! My kids are finally back in school today after a week off.
Judith McNees says
I gave my first child, a son, family names as well. I think it’s great you have fun with the naming process. It would make that part of the job tedious otherwise! Thanks for the comment.
Bonnie says
I have no idea where my mom and dad got my name from. I looked up my name: Bonnie is of Scottish origin meaning “beautiful, cheerful”. My middle name: Elaine is of French Scottish origin meaning “bright, shining light”.
Lori R says
My grandfather’s name was Bryan so my first son was named Ryan. I didn’t know my grandfather’s middle name started with an M and ironically we gave my son a middle name starting with an M. My grandfather died 6 months later. He did get to meet his first great grandson.
Trudy says
When my oldest sister was born, Mom decided to give her Daddy’s initials, since she couldn’t name her after him. She carried that on which the other three of us were born. She liked my first name, and for my middle name, she changed the first letter of a cousin’s name to fit for Daddy’s initials, and named me after her. I’m now the only one that still has only Daddy’s initials. I know that my oldest niece named her sister, as she liked the name Bethany.
Judith McNees says
What a lovely combination, Bonnie! Thanks for sharing!
Judith McNees says
I have a similar story with my son, Lori. His first name is Scott after my dad, but his middle name is Arthur after my grandpa. Scott was his first great grandchild, and we had about 4 or 5 years wit him after Scott was born before he passed away very young. I also love using family names in my books as a way to honor them. Thank you for sharing!
Judith McNees says
That’s sweet that you all received initials from your daddy. My middle sister got my dad’s first name as her middle name, which is rather interesting to me. Thanks for the comment!
Renate says
Grandkids went back to school today. Even at 70+ hubby keeps up keeping our drive clear – we have 2 types of snowblowers and in 20 minutes are drive and front patio is done. He likes the exercise. Take care.
Shelia Hall says
I named my daughter in memory of two friends of mine’s daughters who were killed in a car wreck by a drunk driver. her name is Emily Brooke
Alicia Haney says
Hi, I loved reading this story how special! I was named after my mom, my parents had 3 sons before me and I was their first girl so my dad wanted to give me my moms name. I have 2 younger sisters. I named our daughter Cynthia because when my sister that is younger than I had her first girl my mom wanted her to name her Cynthia since she really liked the name. Well , my sister did not name her that , so I then told my mom that whenever(which I did have a baby and she was a little girl a little over a year after) I had a baby and she was a girl that I would name her Cynthia and I did, we named her Cynthia Marie. Our next child was a boy and we named him Peter Joseph, Peter for his great grandfather on my husbands side and Joseph after my dad. May you have a great rest of the day and a great rest of the week. God Bless you.
Judith McNees says
What a lovely tribute to your friend’s daughters. Thank you for sharing, and God bless you.
Judith McNees says
How cool! I don’t hear of other women who were named after their mothers very often. Seems as though family names are the way many of our Inspy readers got and gave names! Thanks for commenting!
TexasMomma says
My name actually is Christina, which means follower of Christ. I’m guessing my parents didn’t know that at the time, as I wasn’t raised in a “following Christ” kind of home, we were nominally Christian & I could count on one hand how many times we went to church when I was growing up.
My oldest 2 kids are named after family, but my youngest we had trouble finding a name we agreed upon. We still didn’t have a name when she was born, so we asked everyone that came into my hospital room what they’d name a baby girl & made a list on a napkin. Someone suggested Lillian & we both immediately loved it. Her middle name comes from an NHRA motorcycle drag who happened to be on TV at the time, Angelle Sampey. Lillian means purity & Angelle means messenger from God ❤️
RuthieH says
It’s great hearing everyone’s stories about names. When I was younger I used to plan out names for my future kids, but when it actually came to my eldest being born my husband and I found it really hard coming up with names we liked and agreed on.
My maternal grandma had similar issues – my mum is one of eight children, and when the youngest was born my grandma was quite unwell and was kept in hospital and my youngest uncle also had some health issues, so it was decided to have him baptised in the hospital Chapel. My grandma wanted to call him Matthew and my grandad was set on Gerard, and they just couldn’t agree. They were still discussing it when the time came for the baptism, and my grandad took the baby down the the Chapel. When he came back, grandma asked what the baby’s name was. Peter, grandad replied. She was surprised to say the least – it wasn’t a name they had thought of, but grandad thought it wasn’t fair for either of them to chose the name since they couldn’t agree, so he asked the priest to name the baby! And my youngest uncle is names Peter Matthew Gerard.
Judith McNees says
Wow, that’s pretty cool. So either way, my mom would have been naming me as one of His people. Thanks for sharing that!
Judith McNees says
That’s such a fun story! Thanks for sharing it Ruthie!
Nicole Santana says
My dad didn’t want kids (or so my mom claimed…I’m not sure I believe the story because my dad always refuted it). When my mom got pregnant she freaked out because of my dad’s supposed feelings. So, she named me Nicole after my dad (his name was Nick) thinking he would love me more if I were named after him. I think that story is hilarious. Turns out, my dad totally loved me and it wasn’t cause of my name.
Judith McNees says
I love it! Thank you for sharing your story with me.
Debra Pruss says
I know that the spelling of my first name and middle name were changed by a nun who was a nurse at the hospital where I was born. My parents did not know the spelling had been changed until they received the birth certificate. I do not remember how they came up with Debra. I know my middle name was after my grandmother’s name. My Dad wanted to name me after my grandmother, but my Mom would not allow me to be Blanche. They decided on using Josina as my middle name. It was supposed to have an h at the end. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Judith McNees says
How very interesting that the nun would change the spelling of your first and middle names. I wonder why. 🤔 Thanks for sharing, and have a great weekend!
Diana Hardt says
My parents told me that they named me after the song “Diana” by Paul Anka. My middle name is my Mom’s name.
Ausjenny says
When my brother who is over 4 years older than me found out he would be a big brother he told everyone he was going to have a baby sister and her name would be Jennifer (it came out as jennimer) People would say what if its a baby boy and he would give them a look like he was thinking and say well I guess we can call him Michael and as quick as a flash would say but its going to be a girl.
Mum had a c section and knew it would be Feb 24 or 26. they had the announcement ready to go just needed a phone call to her brother to go with the boy or girl announcement I am Jennifer Alice. (Alice is after mum’s sister). and if I have been a boy I would have been Michael Henry (Henry was after mums Maiden name). We had 2 other Jennifers in the church which is where he got the name. I was Jenny from as early as I can remember.
Judith McNees says
How fun! I’ve met people named after singers and movie stars before, but I don’t remember anyone named for a song. Thanks for the comment!
Judith McNees says
Awww. That’s amazing that your parents let him name you. How sweet! My oldest stepson was convinced his little brother was going to be a sister. When he found out it was a boy, my husband said he cried. Lol. Have a great weekend!
Dianne K says
I love that you use your books to honour your family :)
Dianne K says
One of the things my mother’s father always insisted on was any girl born into the family must have Anne in her name after his beloved mother and sister. Mum is named Florence Annabel with the compromise that the “bel” part is as grandmother’s name was Isabel. So my older sister is Annette Florence (mothers first name is always the middle name of the oldest daughter.
Allegedly Mum and Grandmother were sitting at the table reading the newspaper one morning about 6 months along and Mum looked up and announced this one is Dianne Joy (her little bundle of love (from the goddess of love) and joy and as Mum registered my name that was it.
We do have a number of rather odd names in the family and incorrect genders from happily inebriated fathers registering children’s names, so Dad never had the opportunity to register any of our births. Thanks for the interesting post. :)
Judith McNees says
I love that your family tradition passes along the name of the mothers! How lovely. Have a great weekend!
Laura Cynthia Chambers says
I was given my mom’s name as a middle name (Cynthia) because I was born prematurely on her birthday! My due date was in April, but I was born on February 13th. I was originally going to be named “Laura Elizabeth” after Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder.
Judith McNees says
I think it’s awesome how many people are saying they’re named after their mom in some way. I haven’t met many people like that before. I also think it’s cool you’re named after Laura Ingalls Wilder. My kids love the TV show! Have a blessed weekend.
Julie Arduini says
My official name is Juliann, and my mom worked for Prudential. She got it from an insurance file. No one says it right, so I go by Julie.
Our son is Brian Paul. I was an infertility patient when I became pregnant and was in a car accident. The van flipped upside down. I have more pain in my 50’s getting out of bed than I did that day. I walked away without a bruise despite $13k damage to the van. Brian means strong, and Paul was my remembering how I used to make fun of Christians. Don;t give up, I was stubborn but look what He can do!
Hannah Christine–I miscarried after Brian and clung to the promise God gave us that we were meant to have one more child, a daughter named Hannah. 1 Samuel 1:27. I became pregnant and the ultrasounds refused to reveal any information, but I knew. My husband had doubted we could have a child, let alone a daughter, but he agreed to pray for a weekend to see. He came back in less than 24 hours and said “Her name is to be Hannah, and we give her the name Christine.” God promised she would be an overcomer. She had a lot of health challenges and even near-death as a baby. She’s now 20 and sharing His love everywhere she goes.
Judith McNees says
I love how intentional you were in naming your children. Thank you for sharing!
Lori Smanski says
My birthname (and I LOVE it) is Lournetta. My dad and mom married before either dads or moms brothers. So when mom went into labor, dad and her had picked out a name if it was a boy. Lourn for a boy after dads brother. 63 years ago they had no real idea what the sex of the child would be. I was born a girl. At the time dads were not allowed into the birthing room. So when asked what the baby girls name was, mom said without hesitating, LOURNETTA LYNN. Mom really liked that name. My grandmother (dads mom) only called me Lournetta. Uncle Lourn only called me Lournetta. I loved my name and I loved Uncle Lourn and Grandma D. Mom called me Lournetta when she was angry with me. But with five kids my name for her got shortened to Lori. But for the last 20years I am amazed how many people try to shorten Lori to Lor. What??? no. I was a server for many years and finally I told everyone that if you call me Lor instead of Lori I will not answer you. Well they had to try it. And when I didnt answer, they went to our supervisor. LOL Well the supervisor who I had also told what I was doing, answered with “We do not have a Lor working here”
Judith McNees says
That’s awesome that your supervisor backed you up! I have people try to shorten my name to Judy without asking, and I think that’s something people should definitely ask about before doing it. Good for you for sticking up for what you want. Thanks for the comment.