On Naming

Names are a part of our identity, name is such a huge factor in any African setting, that’s how much importance Africans place on name, they mostly believe that the meaning of your name rubs off on you and your personality.
That’s a wholesome view to naming, from hearing beautiful yoruba names to enjoying the meaning of each of those names but seldom does the name affect the personality of the individual.
One would think that the meaning of your name would reflect in your personality but reverse is the case. Lol, I mean what bearing does the name Adekiitan have on one’s personality(apologies if you bear that name), just saying...

I like my name so much, a tad much, I had to create a nexus between my name and surname. Several people bear my name and it occasionally annoys me that you could be in an open space and scream my name at the top of your voice and you will have at least two people staring back at you. The downsides of having to share a name with thousands of others.

This hasn’t in any way made me reduce the love I’ve for my name. Almost all my life, I’ve been called by my surname, it’s so nice to see it cause the name sounds like an aesthetically pleasing name.
But I sometimes think about the fact that I will have to part ways with it someday even though it has been a part of my identity for most of my early beginnings, how I’ve been awarded prizes with the name, called by the name, even become the name for the most of it - my identity.

I don’t know what it going to be like but I like to prepare myself to be able to come to terms with it.

I like being called Ife! Please call me Ife.
My name is Ifeoluwa. Yet to know which of my parent thought it a great idea to call me that but I am grateful they didn't give me an awkward name, lol.

I don't think I've lived up to the expectations of my name, I don't like some people on certain days, I get angry and keep quiet for the most of it, I tend to think about myself first in all situation, very ironic for someone who claims to bear Love, lol.

But, as much as I strive to become more like my name, I realize that I can't by myself do it, I don't have what it takes to love someone who has caused me pain at some point in life, neither do I have the strength to do things that my name signifies but the Lord has made strength available for me, not by my power or might but the spirit of the Lord. The word of the Lord says that by no strength shall no man prevail and I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.

Eventually brethren, I have to look to the one who has promised to strengthen me and help me in all situations either I have the capability or not. To become one with my name, I have to look at the one who has known me even before I was formed in my mothers womb, the person of Jesus.

If one's name really does have a bearing on one's personality, I hope to someday live mine out for the world to see.