Language
   According to the principles of the many traditional spiritual cultures, the best languages from which to draw a person’s name are the ones where the sounds of the words are derived from nature and where their spiritual meaning is clear. In my tradition it is Sanscrit, the language of yoga and tantra, said to be one of the most basic and vibrationally pure. All spiritual names are mantras, sound vibrations which match the frequency and soul-nature of the person. In the case of naming a baby, they should also be appropriate to the time and place of their birth (incarnation). As well as identification, they are subtle forms of healing for the mind and soul. Frequently using the spiritual name accelerates evolution towards the actualisation of its meaning. The problem with the English language is that firstly, its words are not pure – it has such a mish-mash of origin. While the words do have meaning for us, few of them have any vibrational power. Secondly, there is a tendency when hearing English names to imagine the item as we know it in its physical, worldly form, whereas the traditional languages are richer in metaphysical imagery and meaning.

Non-Gender
   Spiritual names are not gender specific, because the nature of the soul or the spiritual nature is beyond sexual polarisations. In the true yogic traditions, a swami or a guru may be of either sex (although this is not often known. Many people mistakenly think that a swami must be a Brahmin priest). Yoga teaches that, although living in a sexualised body, anyone of any gender can discover the unitive experience beyond such dualities. And this is another function of the spiritual name. It treats a person as a person, irrespective of their sex, and reminds them to look beyond the debates of male and female conflicts to more humanistic principles of existence.
   As well as the nature of her child, a mother can intuitively know the gender, but this is only of passing interest. Of all my 6 children, I was quite clear about the gender of 5. The unexpected one, my third daughter, revealed the name “Shivapre-mananada” (literally consciousness-love-bliss) well before her conception. I felt quite clearly that this child would be a strong-willed boy. Although Sanscrit names are not gender specific, Shiva is the personification of the male element in the tantric system and is representative of destruction and re-creation, death and resurrection. I knew I would be in for a challenge with this particular child! All through that pregnancy, Shivapremananda was
 

perfectly true to name and form. She was incredibly strong, both physically and in her willpower, as well as quite “masculine” or warrior-like in her energy. But, as it turned out, he was a she! At the time of her birth, surprise rather than disappointment was my strongest reaction. Since then, her strong “maleness” has continued to develop along with all the other personal attributes she has shown me since conception. Her most recent suggestion (at age 5) was that she will be “a builder or a furniture removalist” when she grows up!
   I sometimes wonder if this modern disparity between the usual given name and a child’s true nature might be the reason many parents have disappointments when a child’s nature does not fit the particular name they were given upon their birth – or why so many children experience a spiritual anxiety through desperately trying to be the little “honey bee” (Melissa) or “strong and manly type” (Andrew) their parents wanted them to be. What if, instead of a Herculean footballer or business tycoon, Andrew turns out to be an effeminate interior designer or Melissa’s chosen career is as a professional wrestler!

Changing Names
   Many people who start off with parentally given names change them over the course of their lives to something they feel is more suitable and more in line with their nature. Some of these may be self-chosen and made legal by deed poll, whereas others may just be adopted in common usage. So long as these changes are serious and sensible, and based on unfolding self awareness, I think this is healthy. In doing so, there needn’t be any malice or rejection imagined by their parents. Whilst possibly feeling sad that their child has changed their birth-given first name or their family name, they should realise that the child has not changed their nature or any link they may have with their parents – after all “a rose by any other name is still a rose”. Some yogis choose to use their spiritual name only for yoga occasions and amongst other yogis or take it as an extra middle name they can give out when desired.
   Naming a child is one of many initiations in the mother and child, guru and disciple relationship. The earlier a mother can discover the child’s name, the longer she can use it to communicate with her baby, during pregnancy and particularly during the birth. In meditation she can chant it or sing it to harmonise the child within and in daily life she and her family can use that name for early and powerful bonding.