What is in a name?
Last week's episode of My name is Toby podcast had a twist to it. Dayo Moyo took over the show and I became the guest… Lol.
I love talking about myself but this time, I enjoyed it more because somebody was asking. However, I do not think that I did justice to the question about my name and what it means.
The whites can bear anything as name.
Rice. Wood. Sky. Black. Grey. It doesn't matter.
But you see Africans, especially Nigerian? they do not joke with the meaning of their names. There is this popular belief that a person's name follows them.
Of course, there are those with the unpopular opinion that names have no control over people's lives.
And then there is me who believes that I follow my name and not the other way around. I am responsible for my life's decisions, actions, journey and destination... but my name is the instruction manual to point me in the right direction. That is why my names have personal meanings for me, different from what people may interpret them as
My first name, Tobechukwu, is often lazily translated as “praise God”. But that is not the meaning. Tochukwu is to praise God. The be in my name is a continuous tense that makes Tobechukwu into "keep praising God."
So, it's a continuous process.
I firmly believe in the existence of God and therefore know that through my thoughts, words, actions and inactions, God should continually be praised.
Oluchukwu, my middle name, is quite a common one and the most difficult for me to find out what it meant to me. But alas, Eureka!!!
The name literally translates to "God's work". And It doesn't mean that "I am God's work" or that "I should do God's work". For me, it means that I shouldn't do God's work. I should figure out what my work/purpose/business on earth is and mind it. Instead of worrying over things I can't control, I should do my part and leave the rest for God. Instead of arguing whether people are doing good or bad or if they will go to heaven or hell, I should concentrate on loving my neighbour and leave the whole judgement wahala for God.
This particular name has helped me navigate anxiety. When I start my endless episodes of worrying over things I have no business worrying about or when I catch myself being judgemental, I paused and remind myself to leave Oluchukwu for God.
By living my first two names, I manifest the third one, Ifechukwu which translates to God's light. Again, I am not God's light, I cannot be. Praising God continuously and fulfilling my life's purpose only makes me a vessel through which God's light shines upon the world.
And now the best for the last, Toby.
Toby doubles as both my confirmation (Catholic sacrament) name and the short form of Tobechukwu. It has a Hebrew origin and it means 'God is Good'... All the time!
What does your name mean to you???
From Toby, With Love ❤️