Guy Mason - The name game

Vanessa and I have just a few days to come up with a name for our son to be.  We currently have a two-year-old named Summer (cutest girl in the universe!).  I don’t know what it is, but it seemed a million times easier to come up with a name for a girl. 

Boys seem much trickier.  You want it to be unique but not too unique, you want it to be strong but not so strong he sounds like a superhero (though Batman certainly has a good ring to it). 

That being said, most people assume that being a minister I’m going to go for a Bible favourite, e.g. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John or perhaps the less prominent Bible names like Noah, Jonah, Merodachbaladan, Tilgathpilneser or why not Judas?  All great names, but I think I’ll go for something different.

Maybe our celebrities have something to offer.  They certainly aren’t afraid to think outside the square.  Bon Jovi named his son Jesse James, David Bowie went for Zowie,  Nicolas Cage chose Weston, Jane Fonda couldn’t go past Troy, Stephen Seagal decided on Justice, Shannyn Sossamon named her boy Audio Science, and Robert Rodriguez went for Rocket. 

As much as I like creativity I’m not sure how Rocket Troy or Audio Science would fit into the Melbourne scene. 

So in search of further wisdom, deep insight and an expert opinion I went where every urbanite goes – Facebook and Twitter! 

Yes that’s right I have recently put the challenge out on my status.  Some great suggestions have come in – Optimus Prime, Winter (a good match for our daughter Summer, Stone (a good match for my surname Mason), Perry, Thor, Levi and probably my favourite Chuck Norris. 

What dad would not be proud of a son named Chuck Norris?

Choosing a name is clearly not only a hard task, but also very important.  A name says so much of who we are, our heritage and our personhood.

In the Bible for example, Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter.  Why?  Because Peter (in ancient Greek) means rock!  Jesus wanted “The Rock” to know that he was a man of strength, courage, conviction, a man on whom the church would be built. 

Jesus himself had a significant name – it means God saves. 

At other times Jesus is called Immanuel which means God is with us.  Both are awesome descriptions of who Jesus is and why he came.  He came as God in flesh, to be amongst us; and he came on a rescue mission to save and liberate us.  It’s a most significant name. 

So Docklands I have a challenge – help me find a name. If you have a suggestion email [email protected]. God willing, we will have boy (and a name!) by the next edition and I will announce the winning name.  

Guy Mason is the lead pastor of Docklands Church, a new and growing community that meets Sundays at 10.30am and 6pm upstairs at James Squire Restaurant, Waterfront City.