What's in a name?

What's in a name?

I saw this on another blog awhile ago and I thought it was adorable  I love when names have special meanings or reasons behind them. Helaman named his sons Lehi and Nephi because he wanted them to live up to their namesakes and be righteous like them, so I thought I'd share the meanings behind the names in our family.

Dallas T

Dallas' dad served his mission in Dallas, Texas, which is why he is named Dallas :) The 'T' stands for Tony, his dad's name, and Texas. Pretty cute, huh?

Amaya Belle

I used to babysit the cutest little girl named Amaya and I always loved that name. Luckily Dallas agreed. :)

We really wanted to name one of our kids after Dallas' mission, but we weren't too fond of Geneva.  Dallas spoke French on his mission, and 'Belle' means beautiful in French.  When I was little, my mom always tell me that it was important to be as beautiful on the inside as I was on the outside, so 'Belle' is to remind Amaya that her dad served a faithful mission and that she needs to always be beautiful where it counts--inside.

Oaklie Talitha

Oaklie was another name that we just really liked. After we chose it, I thought it was really neat that it had “Oak” in it like Elder Oaks, but Dallas told me you can’t say they’re named for someone if you named them before you thought of it :)
Talitha, Oaklie’s middle name has a longer story to it. It comes from Mark 5.“22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live."
Elder Howard W. Hunter said,  “These are not only the words of faith of a father torn with grief but are also a reminder to us that whatever Jesus lays His hands upon lives. If He is allowed to lay His hands upon a marriage, it lives. If He is allowed to lay His hands upon a family, it lives.”

"36 … [Jesus] saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment."

I've always loved that story and we thought it was a wonderful name for Oaklie to have to remind her that if she will allow Christ to lay His hands upon her life, she will live.