What's in a Name

"Ruth, that's enough."

That was the greeting from my Turkish friend when I walked into her apartment one day.  But she was grinning, and it only took a minute for her to explain that this was the name of the friend who was visiting.  

"Yeter" does usually mean "that's enough". But maybe her mother felt that this baby would be all the family would need to be truly happy.  

Most Muslim women I've known have lovely, poetic names, and they love being asked about the meaning.  Many girls are named for flowers--we might never name a girl Tulip, but in Turkish the word Lale (LAH'leh) sounds so lovely.  There are lots of variations on the name Rose:  Last Rose, Spring Rose, Misty Rose, Joyous Rose, Whimsical Rose; and names that refer to the moon:  Misty Moon, Moon's Gift, Moonlight.  I think my very favorite is Şebnem (SHEB'nem).  It might not sound pretty to you, but that's the poetic name for the morning dew.

Some names, like Aisha and Khadija, were the names of the Prophet Muhammed's wives or relatives.  Some, like Leyla, are taken from famous literary works.  And some have spiritual meanings, like Purity or Holiness or Kindness.

When you make a Muslim friend, be sure to ask the meaning of her name.  And then you can begin praying that God will redeem that name!  He can infuse it with more beauty and grace than the lady's parents ever imagined; He can use it to attract others to Himself.  And won't it be wonderful to meet ladies named Aisha and Khadija--names intended to shroud women in darkness--dancing around the Throne with you in Heaven?