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The Power of Names: Uncovering the Mystery of What We Are Called
Our proper name is as much a part of us as our own skin. It travels with us like a passport, testifying to our unique presence on this earth. The articulation of our name rolls off our tongue with ease and familiarity, yet we rarely turn and examine the part our name plays in what makes us who we are. Our first name reflects the hopes and dreams of our parents and family, our culture, and our own sense of self, while our surname carries our ancestral history, a branding of both affiliation and transmission.
In The Power of Names, Mavis Himes explores both the profound ambivalence that many of us feel toward our names and the conscious and unconscious impact our names have on our lives, sometimes for good and sometimes for ill. She explores such questions What do our names mean? How do they influence our destiny? What does it mean to lose or change our name - and what does this reveal or conceal about who we are?
Himes engages readers through a skillful interweaving of reflections on her own Jewish surname, shortened by immigrant ancestors to accommodate a new life in a new world; the historical and cultural impact of a group on naming practices; the various ways different cultures celebrate the naming of infants; the power of names in myth and legend; and the impact of names on friends and patients from her practice. Readers are invited to consider their own names, the names they give others, and the names of those around them as a starting point for understanding the stories of our lives.
In The Power of Names, Mavis Himes explores both the profound ambivalence that many of us feel toward our names and the conscious and unconscious impact our names have on our lives, sometimes for good and sometimes for ill. She explores such questions What do our names mean? How do they influence our destiny? What does it mean to lose or change our name - and what does this reveal or conceal about who we are?
Himes engages readers through a skillful interweaving of reflections on her own Jewish surname, shortened by immigrant ancestors to accommodate a new life in a new world; the historical and cultural impact of a group on naming practices; the various ways different cultures celebrate the naming of infants; the power of names in myth and legend; and the impact of names on friends and patients from her practice. Readers are invited to consider their own names, the names they give others, and the names of those around them as a starting point for understanding the stories of our lives.
- GenresNonfiction
238 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2016
1 person is currently reading
497 people want to read
About the author
Mavis Himes
3 books17 followersI am a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst with a private practice in Toronto, Canada. I have had an interest in the arts and the relationship between various forms of art and psychoanalysis. I have published a number of professional articles on psychoanalysis.
As an writer, I am the author of three books of non-fiction: The Power of Names: Uncovering the Mystery of What We are Called (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and The Sacred Body: A Therapist's Journey (Stoddart, 2002.) and most recently, Cello Notes: Music and The Urgency of Time, a memoir about taking up the study of the cello in later life.
I received my doctoral degree in Psychology from the University of Toronto and completed my analytic formation in Lacanian psychoanalysis at Apres-Coup Psychoanalytic Association.
As an writer, I am the author of three books of non-fiction: The Power of Names: Uncovering the Mystery of What We are Called (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and The Sacred Body: A Therapist's Journey (Stoddart, 2002.) and most recently, Cello Notes: Music and The Urgency of Time, a memoir about taking up the study of the cello in later life.
I received my doctoral degree in Psychology from the University of Toronto and completed my analytic formation in Lacanian psychoanalysis at Apres-Coup Psychoanalytic Association.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 2, 2022
I wanted so badly to like this book. And there are definitely parts of this book that are super interesting. However, there was way way to much psychology babble and it's just too much. There's also way to much talk of Jewish naming. Which I do understand is part of the author's culture but again it was just too much and repetitive and didn't add much for me.
June 23, 2020
This book touched on the identification of self, through a type of labeling. or "naming", and was an interesting perspective. Names are often altered or changed; that said, too many times too much significance and undue weight is given to them.
December 23, 2016
http://psychcentral.com/lib/book-revi...
Since I was a child, the origin and meaning of my name has always been a personal Holy Grail. Though the origin was somewhat straightforward — literally, the name of an ancient city — I have never been content to stop there, instead wanting to find deeper layers of meaning and significance to the word that has come to embody me so well. It was from this deep, vested interest in names and their significance that I opened The Power of Names: Uncovering the Mystery of What We Are Called, by Mavis Himes.
As a psychoanalyst, Himes has composed a work that is somehow cerebral and coffee shop conversation all at once. Equal parts essay, etymological discourse, and transparent autobiography, The Power of Names balances the line between deep, personal, self-effacing, and widely accessible with masterful ease. Himes goes further than simply providing a history of etymology and how names gained their significance; she delves into the foundational components of the self and the role a given name plays in identity, all through the telling of her own journey of discovery.
Most studies of names I’ve encountered skirted the surface, pointing to the ancestral roots and the obvious meanings found by defining the word in its language of origin. These books have been a disappointment, especially to a linguistics and language junkie who searches for meaning anywhere it can be found. The Power of Names is unique in its approach. While rich in history and the ancestral origins one would expect in a academic thesis or article, it is sprinkled with humanity in the form of Himes’ journey through her own Jewish ancestry and the role her name has played in her own life.
As Himes states, “to be named is to occupy the spirit of one’s identity, no matter who one’s parents and grandparents may be and no matter how one’s life will unfolds&hellips;to inhabit one’s name is to enter the shared universe of discourse and activity with other speaking beings.” In the early sections of her book, Himes introduces naming as that first initiation to life, often preceding the birthing process by days, months or even years in some cases. As the section is titled, to be named is to be “Called Into Existence,” offering the very essence of life and identity in a single word or phrase. This particular point was one that I had never thought about, though I can now see that the earliest acknowledgement of my identity was when my pregnant mother would speak to me in the womb, calling me by the very name I now sign to every thing. As mentioned, this section is mixed with personal history as Himes traces her ancestral lineage, showing how her names exist in separate worlds — Jewish and English. The extent of history and etymological research shown in this section is comprehensive and appreciated as it provides a primer on naming back to Biblical times.
The latter portion of the work focuses on the weight — the “Burden or Blessing” — of an individual name. Himes explains the burden of family history, pedigree, racial and ethnic tensions and even personal dislike when it comes to naming, as well as the great honor and blessing that can be transmitted at the same moment. As she states, “Names are rarely neutral. There is pride or there is shame; there is a bond or there is a rupture; there is a positive association or there is a negative disassociation: There is curiosity, there is gratitude, or there is regret.” She also discusses the challenge of living up to a heavily weighted name, the effort many take to run from the history of a tragic name, or the personal turmoil one might experience if that name has no history or meaning at all.
According to the preface, The Power of Names was the result of the author’s exploration into her own name within the context of a larger etymological study. Peppered with autobiographical components and tidbits from Himes’ own client base mesh together to turn what could have been a dry discourse on the history of naming practices into a personal, rich, and at times, emotional journey. As such, it stands out as both an autobiography and etymological study and was a very pleasant and engaging read.
Suitable as both a casual read and a course text for those studying the history of naming, The Power of Names is a pleasantly personal look at what it means to name and be named, all through the lens of the author. The personal discovery is communicated in a deep, thoughtful, yet accessible manner that simultaneously educates, empowers, and entertains.
Since I was a child, the origin and meaning of my name has always been a personal Holy Grail. Though the origin was somewhat straightforward — literally, the name of an ancient city — I have never been content to stop there, instead wanting to find deeper layers of meaning and significance to the word that has come to embody me so well. It was from this deep, vested interest in names and their significance that I opened The Power of Names: Uncovering the Mystery of What We Are Called, by Mavis Himes.
As a psychoanalyst, Himes has composed a work that is somehow cerebral and coffee shop conversation all at once. Equal parts essay, etymological discourse, and transparent autobiography, The Power of Names balances the line between deep, personal, self-effacing, and widely accessible with masterful ease. Himes goes further than simply providing a history of etymology and how names gained their significance; she delves into the foundational components of the self and the role a given name plays in identity, all through the telling of her own journey of discovery.
Most studies of names I’ve encountered skirted the surface, pointing to the ancestral roots and the obvious meanings found by defining the word in its language of origin. These books have been a disappointment, especially to a linguistics and language junkie who searches for meaning anywhere it can be found. The Power of Names is unique in its approach. While rich in history and the ancestral origins one would expect in a academic thesis or article, it is sprinkled with humanity in the form of Himes’ journey through her own Jewish ancestry and the role her name has played in her own life.
As Himes states, “to be named is to occupy the spirit of one’s identity, no matter who one’s parents and grandparents may be and no matter how one’s life will unfolds&hellips;to inhabit one’s name is to enter the shared universe of discourse and activity with other speaking beings.” In the early sections of her book, Himes introduces naming as that first initiation to life, often preceding the birthing process by days, months or even years in some cases. As the section is titled, to be named is to be “Called Into Existence,” offering the very essence of life and identity in a single word or phrase. This particular point was one that I had never thought about, though I can now see that the earliest acknowledgement of my identity was when my pregnant mother would speak to me in the womb, calling me by the very name I now sign to every thing. As mentioned, this section is mixed with personal history as Himes traces her ancestral lineage, showing how her names exist in separate worlds — Jewish and English. The extent of history and etymological research shown in this section is comprehensive and appreciated as it provides a primer on naming back to Biblical times.
The latter portion of the work focuses on the weight — the “Burden or Blessing” — of an individual name. Himes explains the burden of family history, pedigree, racial and ethnic tensions and even personal dislike when it comes to naming, as well as the great honor and blessing that can be transmitted at the same moment. As she states, “Names are rarely neutral. There is pride or there is shame; there is a bond or there is a rupture; there is a positive association or there is a negative disassociation: There is curiosity, there is gratitude, or there is regret.” She also discusses the challenge of living up to a heavily weighted name, the effort many take to run from the history of a tragic name, or the personal turmoil one might experience if that name has no history or meaning at all.
According to the preface, The Power of Names was the result of the author’s exploration into her own name within the context of a larger etymological study. Peppered with autobiographical components and tidbits from Himes’ own client base mesh together to turn what could have been a dry discourse on the history of naming practices into a personal, rich, and at times, emotional journey. As such, it stands out as both an autobiography and etymological study and was a very pleasant and engaging read.
Suitable as both a casual read and a course text for those studying the history of naming, The Power of Names is a pleasantly personal look at what it means to name and be named, all through the lens of the author. The personal discovery is communicated in a deep, thoughtful, yet accessible manner that simultaneously educates, empowers, and entertains.
October 12, 2016
A great read. This book offers a thoroughly enjoyable exploration into the significance of names. I have been encouraged to consider my own names (both my given name and my surname) and how they have shaped my identity and my own perception of self. In the fast-paced world many of us inhabit these days, this call to introspection -- to slow down and take the time to consider our names and the richness of our personal identity and heritage -- is a gift.
I particularly enjoyed Himes’ discussion about voluntary and involuntary name-changing. This is hugely relevant in an age when people of certain religions, ethnicities, backgrounds etc. can be stereotyped or marginalized because of their names. Some feel coerced into changing their given and/or family name to avoid discrimination. But what is the cost in such cases? This is one of the many fascinating questions Himes asks in The Power of Names.
My advice: Get yourself a copy and enjoy the journey.
February 7, 2017
Disjointed and doesn't come close to delivering on the title. The majority of the book is small stories she has gathered from people, spliced with her thoughts (that seldom seem to be on topic) and what other psychologist have had to say on the types of situations the people are in. The most interesting parts are when she talks about her Jewish heritage and the importance of names in the Jewish community, but these are so scattered and few that it is not enough to redeem the book.
September 30, 2016
Wonderful read on the significance and power of names. Beautiful writing and informative details on names, naming rituals, name changing and the psychological meaning of the first and last names that we carry with us through life.
September 18, 2016
Psychobabble from a Jewish perspective. I had a hard time finishing it. Maybe its just me.
September 29, 2016
Easy reading, good stories, and lots of author's insights that resonated with me. Read this book if you ever asked yourself how names came about.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews