Getting a new name

Perhaps you have noticed that many of the Chinese friends have English sounding names. They also have their Mandarin names too, of course. Many of them have names similar to our own, like David or Amanda but some of the people that I meet have very different English names, like Lemon or Big. Often it is a group of English-speaking people who have given them their new name.

It took me a while to realize that those who work here often are given Chinese names. The staff at Asia Lutheran Seminary chose a new name for my husband soon after we moved here. His name is in Cantonese and means Sea-Promised Land (pronounced See Hoi Ga). If I could figure out how to write Cantonese on my keyboard I would put it right here. But because I cannot I will just put a picture of his name and his official name plate (that has his name then doctor and then below is professor) right here.

My name came a bit later. I was told that Chinese names are given to us by Chinese people. But which group was going to do this? I visit several cities and have gotten to know many people. I waited patiently for this to unfold. In one of the cities the teachers formed a band with some of the local people. I happened to be in the city the night that they first performed at a local bar. I met a nice group of local people in that bar. They knew only my first name and we talked about many things. When they asked if they could give me a Chinese name, I was curious as to what they would come up with. They chose the name 安 琳 （pronounced an lin) which sounded amazingly close to my first and middle name ANita LINnea. I was told that it meant peaceful, calm, safe harbor, beautiful jade gem. Later they found out I was a counselor. Funny how that 安 really did fit me. A few weeks later I was visiting another city and told them about my Chinese name. They all thought the 安 (an) part fit very well but wanted to add 宁 (ning) which also means peace. So my new Chinese name is now 安宁, meaning peace, calm, quiet, and tranquility.

Some days my life is anything but peaceful or tranquil. But I am enjoying that my new name is a great reminder of the peace that God has given us through Jesus and that God has given us a new name! Isaiah writes, “And you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give” (Is. 62:2b). As the crowd proclaimed on Palm Sunday, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38) May His peace be with you all through this Easter season.