While you might think that keeping your new baby alive is one of a parent’s biggest responsibilities and pressures, I think that choosing your child’s name is actually one of the most stressful parts of parenting.  Thankfully, once you make the decision it’s done and over, but making that choice is such a big deal because the last thing you want to do is to burden your child with a name they end up hating. While we looked up name meanings after they were chosen, we didn’t really put much thought into it, and ultimately didn’t affect our choices. I thought it would be fun to look up meanings now, though, and see if either of our kids seem to truly fit their name choices.

I went with SheKnows.com because they seemed to have the most information for names, including so-called personality traits, which was a fun bonus.  So, here’s the rundown (I did both first and middle names):

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Enzo

Meaning(s): Rules an estate; Rules his household; Winner

SoulUrge Number: 11 People with this name have a deep inner desire to inspire others in a higher cause, and to share their own strongly held views on spiritual matters.

Expression Number: 6 People with this name have a desire for harmony and balance in their lives, and respond positively to beautiful things.

Gunnar

Meaning(s): Battle Strong; Bold warrior

SoulUrge Number 4: People with this name have a deep desire for order and physical creativity, and want to be involved in conventional, safe activities.

Expression Number 3: People with this name tend to be creative and excellent at expressing themselves. They are drawn to the arts, and often enjoy life immensely. They are often the center of attention, and enjoy careers that put them in the limelight. They tend to become involved in many different activities, and are sometimes reckless with both their energies and with money.

Conclusion: Well, so far I’d say his name is pretty accurate as this little boy definitely seems to rule our house and is often the center of attention.  I would disagree with the “want for conventional, safe activities,” however.  As for being creative and expressing himself… that may come in time, but I would agree that he seems to enjoy life immensely.

Phoebe

Meaning(s): The shining one; Mother of Leto; One of the names for the Greek moon goddess; Daughter of Leda.

SoulUrge Number 7: People with this name have a deep inner need for quiet, and a desire to understand and analyze the world they live, and to learn the deeper truths.

Expression Number: 6 People with this name have a desire for harmony and balance in their lives, and respond positively to beautiful things.

Opal

Meaning(s): A jewel.

Conclusion: I was slightly surprised to see there was nothing for Opal, but anyone who knows what an opal is knows that it’s a lovely jewel.  She is without a doubt my shining one, and I’d say even at this age she often has a need for quiet and can be found deep in contemplation. I also thought it was interesting that they both got 6’s for their Expression numbers.

 

For fun I decided to not stop there, but also look up my own name and Josh’s. J

Heather

Meaning(s): A flowering evergreen plant that thrives on peaty barren lands, as in Scotland.

SoulUrge Number: 11 People with this name have a deep inner desire to inspire others in a higher cause, and to share their own strongly held views on spiritual matters.

Expression Number: 11 People with this name tend to be idealistic, highly imaginative, intuitive, and spiritual. They seek after spiritual truth and often find it. They tend to be visionary and may inspire others. If they fail to develop their potential, they may become dreamers, or misuse power.

Marie

Meaning(s): Bitter; Wished-for child; rebellion

SoulUrge Number: 6 People with this name have a deep inner desire for a stable, loving family or community, and a need to work with others and to be appreciated.

Expression Number: 1 People with this name tend to initiate events, to be leaders rather than followers, with powerful personalities. They tend to be focused on specific goals, experience a wealth of creative new ideas, and have the ability to implement these ideas with efficiency and determination. They tend to be courageous and sometimes aggressive. As unique, creative individuals, they tend to resent authority, and are sometimes stubborn, proud, and impatient.

Conclusion: First off… I find it funny that a middle name so popular has the somewhat negative meaning of “bitter.”  I actually agree with a lot of this, however, I wouldn’t consider myself to be a leader.  Stubborn yes, but a leader… not so much, and I don’t really think I’m all that courageous either. 

Joshua

Meaning(s): A savior; A Deliverer

SoulUrge Number: 1 People with this name have a deep inner desire to use their abilities in leadership, and to have personal independence. They would rather focus on large, important issues, and delegate the details.

Expression Number: 2 People with this name tend to be quiet, cooperative, considerate, and sympathetic to others, adaptable, balanced and sometimes shy. They are trustworthy, respecting the confidences of others, and make excellent diplomats, mediators and partners. They are often very intuitive. They like detail and order, and often find change worrisome. They may sometimes feel insecure or restless.

Paul

Meaning(s): Small; Little

SoulUrge Number: 4 People with this name have a deep inner desire for order and physical creativity, and want to be involved in conventional, safe activities.

Expression Number: 5 People with this name are excited by change, adventure, and excitement. They are dynamic, visionary and versatile, able to make constructive use of freedom. They fight being restricted by rules and conventions. They tend to be optimistic, energetic, intelligent, and to make friends easily. They may be changeable, restless, untidy, and rebellious.

Conclusion: I actually think that Josh’s is fairly accurate aside from the “sometimes shy”  and “quiet” aspects. He’s definitely excited by change and adventure, is intelligent, and makes friends easily. While he usually doesn’t seem insecure to me, I know he gets restless.