What's in a Name?

By WRKdefined Podcast NetworkReligion & Spirituality Christianity Education Self-Improvement

What's in a Name? episodes

October 31 S6.12-146 - "Lyndsey" - Love, Protection, and Supporting Grieving Parents
This episode answers two questions: what can a first name's meaning tell us about who we are, and how can friends and family truly help a parent who has lost a child. The first part looks at the origin, history, and symbolism of a name and why people often grow into a name's meaning.
The second part is a candid conversation about grief ten months after losing a child, covering what helps, what hurts, and how to show up in specific, practical ways. Listeners will leave with clear ideas for comforting someone in grief and for thinking about their own name.

Key Takeaways
A first name's origin and symbolism can give a person a set of ideals to grow toward, even if their parents chose it simply because they liked it.
Names can be misheard or misspelled, and those small moments often shape how comfortable a person feels with their name.
Many people find that the meaning of their name lines up with their values and career, such as a drive for justice or a caretaker role.
In the Bible, name changes like Abram to Abraham and Saul to Paul can be read as a statement about identity and who a person becomes, not who their past says they are.
Phrases like everything happens for a reason or comparing losses often feel unhelpful to someone in grief.
Saying let me know what you need puts the burden on the grieving person, so offer something specific, such as bringing dinner on a certain day.
Sitting with someone, listening without advice, and sending a short check-in message can matter more than the right words.
Remembering important dates, like birthdays and anniversaries, shows a grieving person that their loved one is still remembered.
Grief often begins with a haze of adrenaline and becomes more pronounced as time passes, and it changes rather than ends.
Prayer, gratitude, and a supportive community were described as the most reliable sources of peace on hard days.

Timestamps
01:32 – Do you know what your first name means?
03:52 – How a name's popularity and symbolism shape identity
11:39 – Does the meaning of your name affect how you act?
13:30 – Why names change in the Bible
17:48 – Unhelpful things people say to grieving parents
19:52 – Why let me know what you need falls short
21:31 – The fear of forgetting a loved one over time
24:32 – Finding comfort and hope after losing a child
28:15 – What a friend can do that truly comforts
30:14 – Small things that bring peace on hard days

Keywords
how to support a grieving parent, what to say to someone who lost a child, unhelpful things to say to someone grieving, grief after losing a child, meaning of a first name, how names shape identity, name meanings and personality, biblical name changes, comforting a friend in grief, coping with grief with faith and gratitude

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36 min
October 24 S6.11-145 - "Dysheen" - How an Uncommon Name Shapes Your Identity
What does your name mean, and does it affect who you become? This conversation looks at how a name’s meaning, origin story, and pronunciation can shape self-image, creativity, and the way other people treat you. It covers growing up with an uncommon name, learning to embrace it as an adult, and how names can affect hiring decisions. It also looks at why names change in the Bible. If you have an unusual name, are researching name meanings, or want to understand name bias at work, this episode gives you a clear, personal perspective.

Key Takeaways
Researching the meaning of a name can lead to unexpected connections between who you are and what your name symbolizes.
Family stories about how a name was chosen can differ, and the story itself often becomes a lasting icebreaker.
An unusual name can feel like a burden in childhood, especially in schools and communities where most names are common.
Many people come to appreciate a unique name as an adult, particularly in creative fields where standing out is an advantage.
When someone mispronounces your name, the effort they make to learn it says a lot about their respect for you.
Many people feel their name influences how others treat them, which in turn shapes their path and personality.
Names that sound ethnic or unfamiliar can lead to bias in resume screening and job interviews, including concerns about automated hiring tools.
Appearance and name can both trigger snap judgments in hiring, even when the candidate and qualifications are the same.
Name changes in the Bible are often read as a sign of transition, with a new name marking a new chapter in a person’s life.
Embracing what makes you different can change how you see your work, your relationships, and your sense of purpose.

Timestamps
02:08 – Do you know the meaning of your own name?
03:37 – Researching an uncommon name and what it might mean
04:40 – Finding a similar name that means sight or vision
08:18 – How parents choose a name and the story behind it
14:52 – Wishing for a different name while growing up
19:10 – How it feels when your name is mispronounced
20:37 – Does the meaning of your name shape how you see the world?
26:06 – Does a name change how people treat you?
27:22 – Name bias in resumes and job interviews
31:37 – Why names change in the Bible and what it signifies
Keywords
meaning of your name, unusual names, name meaning and identity, name mispronunciation, name bias in hiring, resume discrimination, how names shape personality, origin of a name, Bible name changes, embracing a unique name

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41 min
October 18 S6.10-144 - "Monica" - Choosing an English Name After Moving Countries
A business systems analyst from Calgary, Alberta learns for the first time what the name Monica means and shares the story of how she got it. Born in China with the birth name Meng, she moved to Canada at age 12, and her parents picked Monica from a list of English names in the back of a dictionary, limited to names that started with M and that they could pronounce. Listeners will learn the Latin and Greek origins of Monica, why the ending "ica" is linked to bringing joy, how attending eight schools by ninth grade shaped her sense of solitude, and whether knowing a name's meaning can influence how a person acts. The conversation also covers name changes in the Bible, the study of names known as onomatology, and whether names affect how job applicants are judged.

Key Takeaways
The name Monica comes from Latin and means advisor or one who advises, with related meanings of to warn or to remind.
The first letters of Monica are linked to a Greek word meaning alone, single, or solitary.
In some traditions, the ending ika is associated with someone who brings joy.
Monica peaked in United States popularity in 1977 and ranked 39th among newborn girl names in the 1970s.
Immigrant families often select English names based on what is easy for the parents to pronounce.
The Chinese name Meng can mean dream and is also associated with eldest or firstborn.
Moving frequently as a child can make deep friendships harder and create a sense of solitude, even for an extrovert.
Learning the meaning of your name can shape how you want to act and who you want to become.
Onomatology is the study of names and their meanings, and there are few accessible resources on it.
Research suggests names can lead to prejudgment in hiring, so name meanings should never be used to screen candidates.

Timestamps
00:36 – Growing up between China and Canada and working as a business systems analyst
01:37 – What the name Monica means in Latin and Greek
03:04 – How moving to eight schools shaped friendships and solitude
06:54 – How an English name was chosen from a dictionary at age 12
08:05 – The meaning of the Chinese birth name Meng
10:15 – Why wanting a different name was limited by the letter M
12:22 – Can the meaning of a name shape behavior
13:20 – Why the Bible records people's names being changed
15:22 – How a personal discovery led to studying name meanings
19:12 – Should hiring managers judge candidates by their names

Keywords
meaning of the name Monica, Monica name origin, name meanings, picking an English name, immigrant name change, Chinese and English names, onomatology, name changes in the Bible, name bias in hiring, identity and belonging

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25 min
October 09 S6.09-143 - "Melissa" - How Your Name's Meaning Shapes Your Identity
What does the name Melissa mean, and can a name's meaning influence who we become? In this conversation, an Indianapolis empty nester learns that her name comes from the Greek word for honeybee and reflects on how bee symbolism, including hard work, community, sweetness, and healthy boundaries, mirrors her persistent personality. She shares what it was like to be named after her aunt, why she spent her childhood wishing she had a different name, and how growing up without a middle name affected her. The episode also explores why name changes appear in the Bible, how a parent's own name experience shapes the names they choose for their children, why naming a son can feel more permanent than naming a daughter, and how many people come to love a name they once disliked.

Key Takeaways
The name Melissa has Greek origins and means honeybee.
Bees symbolize hard work, teamwork, prosperity, and protecting your energy and boundaries.
A family nickname or story connected to a name can shape how a child sees themselves for years.
Being named after a relative can make a name feel special and create a lasting bond.
Many people wish for a different name as children and grow to love their own name as adults.
Small details like not having a middle name can feel significant during childhood.
Believing your name carries a strong meaning can build confidence and a sense of leadership.
Biblical name changes, such as Abram to Abraham, invite reflection on how names connect to purpose.
Parents who struggled with their own names often choose names for their children that are easy to pronounce.
Sons typically keep their names and initials for life, which can make choosing a boy's name feel weightier.

Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and guest background
05:38 – Did she know what her name meant
06:02 – Greek origin of the name and bee symbolism
08:11 – Being named after a family member
08:44 – Childhood wish for a different name
10:52 – Growing up without a middle name
13:37 – How a name's meaning shapes personality
14:42 – Why the Bible records name changes
16:57 – How your own name influences naming children
18:41 – Learning to love the name you were given
Keywords
Melissa name meaning, what does Melissa mean, name meaning honeybee, bee symbolism, meaning of names, named after a family member, disliking your name, choosing baby names, biblical name changes, name and identity

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15 min
October 03 S6.08-142 - "Jeff" - Part Two - How to Find Peace in Grief
A returning guest joins the show two years after his first appearance to talk about how the meaning of his name became a guiding value, and how that value carried him through the sudden loss of his wife. Listeners will learn why choosing a child's name with intention and sharing the story behind it can build a lasting sense of belonging, why grief cannot be rushed or scheduled, and what re-grieving looks like around holidays, birthdays, and everyday moments. The conversation also offers practical guidance for anyone unsure what to say, or not say, to someone who is grieving, and explains why steady, long-term presence matters more than advice. The host shares her own experience with empty nest grief after sending her oldest child to college.

Key Takeaways
Learning the meaning of your name can turn a piece of trivia into a personal value you live by every day.
Asking someone about their name is a simple, meaningful way to start a conversation about identity.
Parents can give children a sense of belonging by choosing a name with intention and telling the story behind it often.
Grief does not follow a schedule, and the healthiest path is to walk through it rather than numb out.
Growth often comes from learning to live with tension, such as feeling sadness and excitement about the same change.
Healing from grief rarely moves in a straight line, and setbacks are a normal part of the process.
Comments like "she's in a better place" often ease the speaker's discomfort more than the griever's pain.
The most helpful thing you can offer a grieving person is your presence, not advice, and that presence matters for years.
Re-grieving is normal, and milestones, holidays, and ordinary moments can bring a loss back to the surface.
Grief does not shrink over time, but people grow bigger around it, and sharing grief with others can make it feel lighter.

Timestamps
04:38 – How a name's meaning can shape difficult conversations
08:00 – Using names as a conversation starter
14:23 – Should parents look up baby name meanings
22:11 – Finding peace in the early days of grief
27:15 – Walking through grief instead of numbing out
29:18 – Learning to live with tension during big life changes
34:51 – Coping with anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays after a loss
41:25 – Unhelpful things people say to someone grieving
50:46 – What re-grieving is and why past losses resurface
63:52 – Small, consistent ways to support someone through grief

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Keywords
grief support, how to help a grieving friend, losing a spouse, widower grief, re-grieving, what not to say to someone grieving, empty nest grief, meaning of names, name and identity, living with loss
1 hr 19 min
September 30 S6.07-141 - "David" - How A Name Meaning Shapes Your Actions
Summary
An HR leader with 20 years in the field discovers that his first name is Hebrew and means beloved, cherished, and dearly loved, and then works out what that meaning actually requires of him in practice. The conversation covers why so many people research their last name and never look up their first, how a passive meaning like beloved can be turned into an active daily standard, and what it looks like to apply that standard in a marriage, in parenting teenagers, and in hiring decisions at a small business. He also explains why last names get mispronounced more often than first names, what he would choose if forced to rename himself, and how he reads the renaming of Abram and Sarai in Genesis as an early example of the identity questions everyone faces. The episode closes with the host explaining how discovering her own name meaning changed how she understood her analytical thinking, and the tracked data showing that after more than 130 interviews, over 90 percent of guests did not know what their name meant. Useful if you want to know what a Hebrew name meaning implies day to day, or you are curious whether name meanings actually influence behavior.

Key Takeaways
The name David is Hebrew and means beloved, precious, and cherished, and the name Amy carries the same meaning.
The name David peaked in popularity in the United States in 1955 when it reached number two, which is decades before many people currently named David were born.
Many people research the history of their last name while never once looking up the meaning of their first name, even though the first name is the one they answer to daily.
A meaning like beloved describes something done to you, but it becomes far more useful when you treat it as a description of what you owe other people instead.
Applying a name meaning in practice can look like prioritizing a marriage, modeling behavior for teenagers, and recognizing that every hiring decision affects someone's career positively or negatively.
People can appear fine on the surface while struggling underneath, which is a reason to extend respect before you know someone's full situation.
You do not have to agree with how someone acts to treat them with respect, and that distinction matters in workplaces during divided times.
Last names are mispronounced far more often than first names, and a mispronunciation can even work as a reliable signal that a caller does not actually know you.
Renaming in the Bible, including Abram becoming Abraham and Sarai becoming Sarah, points to the reality that identity and purpose shift across seasons of life rather than being fixed at birth.
After more than 130 interviews, over 90 percent of guests did not know their name meaning, yet most believe the meaning influences how they act or how they see the world.

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Timestamps
03:10 – Why most people never look up their first name
04:15 – The Hebrew meaning of beloved and when it peaked
05:03 – Reacting to a meaning that fits your personality
06:07 – Not knowing why your parents chose your name
06:37 – Whether you ever wished for a different name
07:40 – The name you would pick if forced to change
08:58 – When your last name gets mispronounced constantly
10:02 – How a name meaning shows up in daily behavior
14:16 – What renaming in the Bible signals about identity
17:00 – What 130 interviews reveal about name meanings

Keywords
what does the name David mean, Hebrew name meanings, biblical name meanings, do names shape personality, meaning of your first name, how to be a better leader in HR, name changes in the Bible, why last names get mispronounced, how parents choose baby names, understanding your identity and purpose
24 min
September 23 S6.06-140 - "Sam" - Why Almost Nobody Knows Their Name Meaning
Summary
A professional speaker and entrepreneur who had never looked up his own first name finds out that it is Hebrew and means God has heard, then works through what that actually asks of him. The conversation covers what hearing means beyond sound, why he treats good listening as a standard for himself, and how the meaning reads as a reminder that people are not forgotten during hard stretches. He also shares the family history behind the name, including the fact that his parents switched it at the last minute after birth announcements had already been printed, and the biblical connection to his mother's name that likely influenced the choice. The episode closes with his read on why renaming shows up repeatedly in the Bible and what that suggests about starting a new chapter, plus a look at the host's own tracked data showing that after more than 130 interviews, hardly any guest arrived already knowing what their name meant. Useful if you want to know what a Hebrew name meaning actually implies day to day, or you are curious how naming decisions get made inside families.

Key Takeaways
Most people never learn what their own first name means, and after tracking answers across more than 130 interviews, the host has found that almost no guest knew before being asked.
Even people who do not know their name meaning tend to believe their name has some influence on how they act or see the world, which makes the gap between those two facts worth examining.
The name Samuel is Hebrew and means God has heard, which can function as a reminder during uncertain or difficult periods that you have not been overlooked.
Hearing carries symbolic weight beyond sound, including paying close attention, understanding at a deeper level, and choosing to act on guidance you receive.
Being a good listener is worth holding yourself to as a personal standard, not only valuing it in other people.
Parents sometimes change a baby's name at the last minute, even after announcements have been printed and addressed, and the reason can be as simple as the child looking like a different name.
A name choice often hides a family connection, in this case a mother whose name traces back to the biblical mother of Samuel.
Thinking your name sounds dorky as a kid is common, and many people grow into a name they once wanted to trade away.
Renaming in the Bible tends to mark a new identity or chapter, which supports the idea that your past does not have to define what comes next.
Family naming traditions can produce memorable results, including a man named after a philosopher who has gone by his three initials for life, and a wife who gave up a distinctive maiden name with some regret.

Timestamps
01:36 – Not knowing what your own first name means
02:13 – What hearing someone really involves
03:35 – A name switched at the last minute before birth
04:34 – Thinking your own name sounds dorky as a kid
05:37 – When people misread or shorten your last name
06:10 – How a name meaning can shape the way you listen
08:53 – The hidden family connection behind a name choice
09:23 – Why renaming in the Bible signals a new chapter
10:07 – Unusual family names and going by your initials
13:17 – What more than 130 interviews reveal about name meanings

Keywords
what does the name Samuel mean, Hebrew name meanings, biblical name meanings, changing a baby name before birth, name changes in the Bible, how to be a better listener, family naming traditions, going by your initials, do names shape personality, meaning of your first name.
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19 min
September 19 S6.05-139 - "Misty" - Marriage Name Changes and Personal Identity
Summary
An identity transformation coach who has studied handwriting analysis, graphology, and letterology for 15 years explains what she believes happens when a woman changes her last name. She describes losing her own outgoing personality over the year after she married, getting it back over the year after she took her maiden name again, and how that experience sent her looking for answers. She also talks about the meaning behind a name that literally refers to mist, how her parents chose it, what she has observed in clients who struggled after a marriage name change, why children sometimes feel a parent became a different person, what the name changes in the book of Genesis suggest about identity, and why she thinks goals fail when your identity is not aligned with them. If you are deciding whether to keep your maiden name, trying to understand why you feel different after a name change, or curious how names and signatures connect to self perception, this conversation lays out one practitioner's framework and the personal story behind it.

Key Takeaways
A name that appears simple on the surface can carry layered symbolism, in this case mist, fog, mystery, transition, and hidden truths, and a person can choose which part of that meaning to live into.
Having an uncommon name can be an advantage in childhood, because hearing it called means you know for certain someone is speaking to you.
Learning the story behind why your parents chose your name can be underwhelming or even funny, and that does not have to diminish what you have built under that name.
In this coach's experience, her extroverted personality faded over roughly a year after taking a married last name, and returned over roughly a year after she reclaimed her maiden name.
She argues that how you sign your name reinforces patterns in the brain that shape how you see yourself, which is why she treats a signature change as an identity change.
No two name changes produce the same outcome, and some women describe their lives improving significantly after marriage, which is why she says the question is simply whether it worked for you or not.
She has met clients who trace the loss of a job or a shift in a relationship back to a name change, and says naming that possibility can relieve years of self blame.
Children and adult children sometimes sense that a parent changed after remarriage, and she offers the name change as one lens for understanding a relationship that shifted without explanation.
Reading the name changes in Genesis as deliberate identity shifts suggests that renaming someone is a way of redirecting who they are becoming, not just what they are called.
Goals tend to fail when your identity does not match them, so the identity work has to come before the decision making, or old habits will win.

Timestamps
02:43 – Finding out what your own name actually means
04:33 – The symbolism behind a name that refers to mist
07:08 – Where a name came from and why parents chose it
11:40 – When a personality disappeared after a marriage name change
13:29 – Getting your former self back after reclaiming a maiden name
14:22 – How signing a new name can reshape self perception
16:42 – A client who lost her dream job after changing her name
18:47 – Why a parent can seem like a different person
24:43 – What the name changes in Genesis suggest about identity
30:05 – Why goals fail when identity is not aligned

Keywords
changing your last name after marriage, keeping your maiden name, identity after divorce, handwriting analysis, graphology, letterology, name meaning and personality, identity based habit change, name changes in the Bible, feeling like a different person

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--
You can find Misty's book on Amazon for FREE... "You Can Heal Your Life With Handwriting": https://www.amazon.com/You-Heal-Your-Life-Handwriting-ebook/dp/B08J49MNKC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
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Instagram: Misty Cogdill - Identity Transformation Coach (@mistycogdill_handwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
TikTok: mistycogdillofficial on TikTok
41 min
September 12 S6.04-138 - "Benedetto" - Part Two - Using Your Name Meaning To Build Confidence
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Summary
This is a one year follow up conversation with a returning guest who first learned that his name means blessed and well spoken. He explains what actually changed after that discovery: how he used the phrase well spoken as a practical tool to speak up after decades of shyness, how he stayed honest in a discouraging job search instead of telling hiring managers what they wanted to hear, and how he redefined the word blessed so it means something real rather than decorative. Along the way he talks about what happens when a passion becomes a job, why he has given away nearly two decades of concert photography for free, what he has learned working backstage with teenage athletes on the most overwhelming day of their lives, and whether parents should pick names based on meaning. If you are trying to reconnect with work you used to love, or wondering whether a name meaning can genuinely shape identity, this conversation gives you concrete examples instead of theory.
Key Takeaways
Turning a passion into paid work can make it difficult to enjoy that same activity off the clock, and getting the enjoyment back takes deliberate effort rather than time alone.
Spacing out creative work and being intentional about when you do it can keep a passion project from quietly becoming an obligation you resent.
Offering your skills to people who cannot pay for them can be a practical act of service, and being underpaid or having work stolen does not have to change your reasons for doing it.
Constant online noise can replace your real interests with a borrowed group identity, which is often why people feel dissatisfied without being able to name the cause.
Answering interview questions truthfully, rather than performing the answer you think a hiring manager wants, can make you the candidate they remember even when you do not get hired.
Leaving an unsuccessful job fair or interview does not have to be interpreted as a personal failure, and reframing it that way protects your willingness to try again.
When someone is overwhelmed by a major life moment, the most useful person in the room is often the one who wants nothing from them.
Silence is sometimes better support than another question, especially for people who have already been asked to explain themselves repeatedly.
Learning that his name means well spoken gave him a repeatable way to practice confidence, and treating it as a muscle meant it did not have to work every time to be worth doing.
Parents can choose a name with real intention, but sharing that meaning with a child too early risks handing them a template to perform instead of room to become themselves.

Timestamps
02:25 – When a hobby becomes work and stops being fun
04:11 – Losing enjoyment in a long running passion project
05:33 – Choosing to give creative work away instead of charging for it
08:45 – How constant noise replaces real interest with groupthink
10:05 – Staying authentic during a discouraging job search
12:20 – Supporting people through an overwhelming milestone day
17:32 – Knowing when silence helps more than conversation
19:44 – Using a name meaning to rebuild confidence after years of shyness
21:04 – Redefining what being blessed actually means
29:30 – Whether parents should choose names based on meaning

Keywords
name meanings, name meaning blessed and well spoken, identity and self worth, creative burnout, concert photography career, job search confidence, authenticity in interviews, naming a baby with intention, finding meaning after setbacks, podcast about names
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45 min
September 05 S6.03-137 - "Shana" - Say It Right: Names, Meaning, and Respect
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Follow Shana on Instagram: @rhymeswith__babynames
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
A baby name consultant and former tech manager talks through what a name actually does in real life: how much the dictionary meaning matters, why some parents cross a name off the list the moment they learn its definition, and what it feels like when people you work with every day never bother to learn how to say your name. You will hear how one name can carry Hebrew, Irish, and Gaelic roots at the same time, how the Social Security name database is used to research popularity and spelling variants, and how to find something useful in a name whose meaning sounds negative in English. The conversation closes with why names change in the Bible and what those changes are meant to signal.
Key Takeaways
One first name can carry several unrelated origins, and Shana traces to Hebrew, Irish, and Gaelic roots meaning lily, wise or old river, and God is gracious.
Meaning is a deciding factor for many parents, and a beautiful sounding name gets cut from the list once a definition like bitter shows up.
Mispronunciation from a stranger rarely stings, but repeated mispronunciation from a colleague reads as a lack of effort rather than an honest mistake.
Putting a phonetic spelling in a work profile or chat bio does not guarantee people will use it, so correcting others out loud and repeatedly is usually what actually works.
Legally respelling a name for easier pronunciation is an option, but the original spelling is often tied to family history and no longer looks right once changed.
Children who grow up hearing what their name means may lean into those traits, while people who never heard the meaning are unlikely to be shaped by it.
A name that looks negative in English often has more to it, since dark can suggest depth and bitter can work as a reminder of what to avoid becoming.
Baby name consulting combines personal taste with data, using decades of naming records to check popularity, spelling variants, and trends over time.
Growing up with an unusual name can become a core part of identity and shape lifelong interests, including a career built around names.
Name changes in scripture, such as Sarai to Sarah and Saul to Paul, mark a transformation significant enough that the old name no longer fits the person.
Timestamps
00:28 – Leaving a tech career to consult on baby names
01:24 – Knowing only part of your own name's meaning
01:43 – Hebrew, Irish, and Gaelic roots behind one name
02:39 – Why parents reject names that mean bitter
03:22 – Using naming data to research popularity and spelling
05:59 – When repeated mispronunciation starts to feel disrespectful
07:32 – Why saying a name correctly signals respect at work
08:26 – Choosing a replacement name that still fits you
11:11 – Whether a name's meaning influences how you act
12:19 – What name changes in the Bible represent
Keywords
name meaning, baby name consultant, mispronounced name at work, how to pronounce someone's name, choosing a baby name, names and identity, baby name data, biblical name changes, unique baby names, name pronunciation etiquette
22 min

About What's in a Name?

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Ever wondered if there was any meaning in your name? My podcast explores all things onomatology... the study of names!

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