Should One Need To Change His/hers Name When They Become Believers?

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Richiee

Richiee

Member
#1
May 25, 2012
38
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#1
When people are converted from non-Christian background, the question arises
whether their original names should be changed.

In India, especially among Hindus, most names are associated with deities.




So, is it better to change their original names to a Christian name ???


Or


Is it okay to have their original names associated with Hindu deities ???














A Funny Side: I’ve seen few wanting to change their non Christian names have changed
their son’s name as "Apollo" and daughter as "Diana."

Both these are actually names of Greek deities!
 
I

isoneedahug

Guest
#2
#2
I definitely agree it is wisdom to consider a name change after conversion if the former name carries evil spiritual meaning or weight. God changed people's names in the bible when He wanted to take them to a different level of blessing and some "accursed" names have been detrimental to those who bore them.

When i got saved i did a search on my names (i was given 5 at birth because each branch of the family had to be pleased lol) and discovered one of them, which is my formal everyday administrative name, actually means "a light that comes from above", which is amazingly prophetic considering i came out of a family that knew nothing of Christ. I felt peace about keeping it but find it fun to use the other 4, since i have options :)

God bless and thank you for starting this topic because i think some people are unaware of its importance. Check the meaning of your name and pray for wisdom! If needed , ask God Himself to give you a new name. You really don't want to walk around being called by the name of some demonic entity, which can sadly happen because of darkness and the backgrounds we have.
 
R

Rachel20

Senior Member
#3
May 7, 2013
1,639
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#3
Richiee said:



So, is it better to change their original names to a Christian name ???


Or


Is it okay to have their original names associated with Hindu deities ???

Click to expand...
I would answer both your questions phrased in that manner.

Firstly - No, I think each of us should continue as we were , when we were called to Christ, instead of worrying about these things such as the names given to us by parents.

It's not the name of a person that makes them who they are.

Secondly -

In terms of Indian names, I would throw an example of the name Parvati. Parvati is the name of a Hindu goddess, but it also means sinless and pure. Even names associated with Hindu deities have some meaning.

Even so, I understand that people would not want to be associated with anything that is not of Christ, and that's a good thing.
But the whole legal procedure of changing your name sounds tedious.


Rather than having a name define a person, the person should define the name. It reminds me of the character in the Bible named Jabez, whose name meant pain but his prayer to the Lord was granted, which was to be kept away from evil that caused pain.


So instead of being being known by a name Parvati, which is so innocuous, people don't even care, it would be wonderful to be known as the Christian named Parvati.

Still at the end of the day, it's up to a person's individual discretion.

And sometimes parents just name their kids absolutely ridiculous names. Even in the west, you see hollywood celebrities naming their kids Apple, North and stuff like that.

I don't blame anyone for wanting to change that.
 
steffie

steffie

Junior Member
#4
May 4, 2014
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#4
Psalm 16:4 says ,Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]if it is deity name, had better change the name[/FONT]
 
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