There’s power in a name.

It’s one of the first gifts we receive in life, and when someone says our name, it signals that we matter. That we’ve been seen. Known. Respected.

As someone who thinks deeply about faith and human connection, I often reflect on how important names are—not just in our everyday relationships, but in our relationship with God. 

The Bible overflows with names for the divine: Yahweh. El Shaddai. Adonai. Jehovah-Jireh. Each name reveals a different facet of God’s nature—protector, provider, almighty, and more.

But my favorite naming story? It’s in Exodus 3, when Moses meets God in the burning bush. Moses asks, essentially, “Who should I say sent me?” And God replies, “I AM THAT I AM.” (KJV)

I AM.

Not “I was” or “I will be.” Just… I AM. It’s powerful, mysterious, and deeply personal. It tells us that God isn’t confined to a moment, a place, or a single description. God is a presence. God is existence itself.

So what does that have to do with us and our names?

Everything.

When we call someone by their correct name, we are imitating a divine principle. We are acknowledging the sacredness of a person’s being.

My name is Edna, but my friends call me Edie. Not Eddie. I think of the times when people have called me by the wrong name or mispronounced it without effort to correct themselves. It stings. It’s a small signal that says, “I didn’t take the time to truly see you.”

You know who gets it? Jay-Z. In the song Encore, he says:

“I came, I saw, I conquered / from record sales to sold-out concerts / So if you want this encore / I need you to scream my name!”

He’s not just asking for hype. He’s asking for recognition. This personal reflection explores why calling someone by their name—just like God’s “I AM”—is a sign of deep respect and recognition.

They remind us we matter.

In a world that often rushes past people—mislabeling, renaming, ignoring—I want to be someone who pauses. Someone who listens. Someone who remembers your name. Because when I do, I’m honoring more than just a syllable or a sound.

I’m honoring your I AM.

Names matter. People matter. And respect begins with recognition.

🎧 Watch Jay-Z’s Encore here (Explicit Lyrics): https://youtu.be/7VksyVUAwi8?si=rh2oy1tYFX69WdfR