Honestly, how many of my faithful readers were surprised at our little girl’s name? Apparently the idea had not crossed the mind of one male relative who shall remain nameless, but most of my friends had guessed correctly even though we weren’t sharing our names ahead of time. My Austen class students asked me this week if she is named after Elizabeth Bennet, and my answer is…sortof…
Elizabeth has always been my favorite girls’ name. If Peter or John had been a girl, they would have been Elizabeth, so maybe my mom’s affection for the name rubbed off on me. I had a doll named Elizabeth long before I read Pride and Prejudice and became an Austen fanatic. Derek and I disagree about this, but I swear to you that while we were dating, he mentioned to me that he had always wanted to name a daughter Elizabeth. I was very happy about this, since I had determined my firstborn daughter would be Elizabeth! Unfortunately, when we got pregnant with Tommy, Derek insisted that he’d always liked a different girl’s name. I was grieved indeed–grieved, shocked! He had married me under false pretences! So we compromised–he got to pick the names for our first son and second daughter, and I got to pick for our first daughter and second son. So far, it’s worked out well.=)
So who is Elizabeth Laura named after? Well, there are so many great Elizabeths out there…our pastor reminded us that the Biblical Elizabeth was a woman known for being full of the Holy Spirit. We hope that our Lizzie has the wit and spunk of Lizzy Bennet. I pray that she will be as sold out for the Lord as my heroine/role model Elisabeth Elliot. In Hebrew, her name means “consecrated to God” or “my God is abundance” (depending on what baby name book you look at). Coming to us almost exactly a year after we lost her sibling, I think both meanings are appropriate reminders of what a blessing from the Lord she is to us. So she’s not really named after anyone, but I think she has a rich heritage in her name, regardless. She is named after one particular Laura, though–her “Auntie Laura” Gentry has prayed with me weekly for six and a half years (we started in accountability group in college and have kept it up on Sunday afternoons since my graduation), and I so look forward to seeing her faithfulness and heart for the Lord influencing Elizabeth for life!
Thanks for sharing the back story on her name. Your daughter takes a rich legacy forward with her into life!
I found my phone! Can I call sometime or is it too soon?
This is a great post. I wondered about the middle name. I look forward to seeing God do great things in this little one’s life. Wow.
I think I’m phone-ready today–6 hours of sleep last night has made me a new woman, and I’m sipping Twinings Lemon-Scented Tea to make my morning manageable!