I’ve never liked my birth name – Ligia.
No matter how hard I looked, I could never find my name on personalized pencils or toothbrushes. Ms. Molly from Romper Room always kept me waiting, never calling my name while looking into that silly mirror. My name also sounded much like my father’s, which felt like a punishment. The sound of my name has triggered so many painful memories and hurtful feelings. There was only one tone in which I ever heard it said: loud and demeaning.
My name was also too complicated to pronounce. Correcting people’s mispronunciations is uncomfortable for me. As a Latina, I was raised to believe that children should be seen and not heard, so correcting anyone, especially those older than myself, was never an option.
Over the years, I have experimented with different names, hoping to find one that would suit me — one that would help me fit in while still highlighting aspects of myself that I was hesitant to celebrate. After much searching, and at the suggestion of a resume workshop facilitator who advised me that my last name was “Hispanic enough” but my first name was too complicated for potential employers, I decided to adopt the name Leah. The facilitator made a valid point: people might avoid calling me for interviews because, as she put it, “Who wants to sound stupid on the phone?” So Leah stuck!
I have read verses like John 10:3 (CSB): “The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
I have also come across Isaiah 43:1:
“Now this is what the Lord says—
the one who created you, Jacob,
and the one who formed you, Israel—
‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are mine.’“
But I questioned whether I truly believe that God cares enough about something as seemingly insignificant as a name. After all, there are likely more important matters to Him in the grand scheme of life, right?
On a podcast, I was once asked if I knew the meaning of my name, Ligia. It struck me that I had never looked it up before. The question caught me off guard, so I quickly turned to Google to find the meaning. As I read, tears began streaming down my face. Emotion overwhelmed me.
All I could utter was, “He knows me; He knows me by name.”
The name I had long avoided embracing unveiled the truth about who God created me to be.
Ligia means “clear-voiced” or “sweet loudness.”
The gifts and talents He placed within me, along with the vibrant tone of my voice, were never insignificant. And though those entrusted to love and care for me may have overlooked or spoken against my worth, my heavenly Father never missed a beat.
He always knew me.
I had often associated my name with negativity, but at that moment on the podcast, I realized it had a purpose, starting from the moment I drew my first breath. Despite my hurts, sins, failures, and shortcomings, God chose me. And He chooses you, too, friend!
While the enemy may call us by our sins, God calls us by our names — not just our earthly names, but names that He has given us: Chosen, Loved, Seen, Forgiven, Whole, and many more. He created us in His likeness, redeemed us, and called us by name as His children.
I’m not sure what names or labels you may have carried throughout your life — perhaps not a replacement name like Leah, but terms such as rejected, broken, abandoned, alone, unloved, or lost. These are just some of the identities the enemy would have us believe are better alternatives to the one God has already given us: daughter.
I pray that you will embrace and live out your God-given name today and walk in authority as His daughter.
Regardless of what the world calls you, remember that you are His.
I know a gorgeous, sweet woman named Ligia. It took me a minute to remember her name, but now I truly think it’s beautiful!
Really? You know another Ligia? That’s incredible. We are few and far between. Now you can say you know two—blessings, friend.
Thank you for sharing your angst about your name! God truly knows us and purposed our lives to bring Him glory!! Names are so vital because we decree a thing every time we say it!!
Amen! I love this reminder – “we decree a thing every time we say it.”
People have always mispronounced my name, and when I was younger I always jumped to correct them. Now I just let it go and realize how my name is mispronounced doesn’t change who I am or the fact my mother loved it so much.
Maura, I appreciate your perspective. However, I encourage you to feel confident in correcting others when it comes to your name. You have the right to have it pronounced correctly. I have chosen to include the phonetic pronunciation of my name to help others articulate it properly. Blessings friend and Happy Thanksgiving!
I feel like this is a powerful reminder to fight against dismissing or scoffing at the meaning of a name. (Something I’ve been inclined to do with my own!) Thank you for sharing!
There’s more to our names than we realize. It’s a powerful proclamation of God’s promises, plans, and love for us every time it’s spoken.
Amen! I am also Amanda and I’ve always hated it! Everyone made fun of it. It means “worthy of love” yet there is no one here in this world who does. I’ve been told before it wasn’t a mistake but that’s not what I have experienced.
Amanda, I am thankful for your life. You are a gift to this world simply by being who you are—nothing more and nothing less. The Lord sees you and hears you, my friend. Look to Him; He will never leave you.
Ligia,
Interestingly, as I typed your name It was auto corrected to “logos.” Daughter in Christ, you are a writer using the word to bring other daughters to their father! You are good with words, Ligia! Keep writing… I shared your devotion, so others can read it and be encouraged as well!
Sending you pre-Thanksgiving Joy,
Lisa♥️
Lisa, thank you so much for your beautiful and encouraging words. I am truly grateful that the Lord has given me the opportunity to serve Him and His daughters by sharing, in writing, what He has placed on my heart. I pray that it brings Him glory. May the Lord bless you, Lisa, and thank you for taking the time to read this devotional. Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear Leah/Ligia…………..I love both of those names. I have a little battle with names too, but you have cleared that up with your devotion. My problem is a little different as my name is Betsy and I am 77 years old. All the boys in school called me Betsy-Wetsy the doll that was popular in the late 50’s, early 60’s. I hated that nickname as it was NOT funny to me, but here is where I connect with your words. People keep changing my name to Elizabeth as so many people over the many years thought Betsy was a nickname. My wonderful Mother’s name was Elizabeth and when she gave birth to me 77 years ago when the nurses asked her what they had named me and she told them, they were very rude to her . They asked her how she could give her first child a horrible name like Betsy. Can you believe nurses in the Maternity part of the hospital would say that to a young mother? She and my father were very upset about this and I can see why. I get mail from many organizations that I donate to with my name changed to Elizabeth and that makes me mad. That lovely name was my Mother’s name and I feel angry sometimes what these computer robots do. I feel my name is special just as yours is, so that is what I want to be called. Your devotion today Ligia reminded me that my name is a God-given name and I am His daughter too, so I will disregard what people are calling me and just tell them that my name is BETSY. I loved your words and I think your God-given name is beautiful and I also like Leah as well as I have a good friend with that name and she is the sweetest, kindness and she is very young and just got married. If you celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you a joyful day to thank God for all the Blessings He has given us so far over our lives. Love to you Ligia and you as me are God’s daughters and that is a blessing in itself……….Betsy
Betsy, what a beautiful name! I am so grateful to the Lord that you and I get to be sisters in Christ. Regardless of what the world may choose to call us, we are defined as His daughters. Thank you for sharing about your sweet mother, Elizabeth. What a blessing it must be to have called her yours! Sending God’s love your way, and thank you for reading this devotional and sharing with me today.
Ligia, now I need to look up the pronunciation of your lovely name. My name, Irene, means “peacemaker”. I have always struggled with loving my name, because it is an old fashioned name. I wanted to be a ” Kathy” or a “Suzie” or a “Cindy”. Now that I’m older, I have made ” peace” with it.
My name is pronounced Lee/Hee/Ya, as it is in Spanish. I love that your name means “peacemaker.” It is such a powerful declaration over you every time it is spoken. Much love.
I really enjoyed reading what you shared here & I love the meaning of your name Ligia !
Thank you for reading, Maryanne. May the Lord bless you.
Ligia thank you for what you wrote. I loved it so much. What you said every word so true. I had to be told my name was not a mistake nor was I mistake. I also used to think my name was just a name that my Parents decided to call me. Then I was told by my last Salvation Army Officer. I am daughter of the King. That king is Jesus. Plus when I remember that. It reminds me of a kids songs that is even true for us as Adults too not just kids. It is “Jesus loves all the Children red and yellow black and white” how true that is. So that says to me Jesus loves me even with the name my Parents gave me. Jesus does not see me and my name as a mistake. Jesus does not see anyone in this world ls name as mistake. Nor them themselves. As it says in God’s word that he knew me before I was born. Jeremiah 1:5. It also says before I was formed in the womb. I say Amen to that. Also Psalm 139 verses 13-16 tell about me being knit in my mother’s womb and I was wonderfully made and my frame was not hidden from God. God words also says God say my unformed body all the days ordained for me we’re written in God’s book before any came to be. I might not have written these down as written in the Psalm. But I wrote them as best as I can. How good that is to know about me and all women in incourage and you Ligia. That is just amazing when you think of it. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland xx
Dawn, I am grateful that you have chosen to hold on to the Word of God. My prayer is that we will always remember our identity is found in Christ. Blessings, sister!
Thank you for sharing this. I find that names are so important and on my podcast I love asking my guests if their names have a meaning or if it’s a common name in their culture since I interview immigrants.
Ligia – your name sounds so lyrical and beautiful to me. As I read your story, I felt your pain. For years I felt plain and boring because my name sounded so plain and boring. And then in my 40’s I found Isaiah 43:1. I had decided to choose a word for the year to concentrate on rather than making a new year’s resolution. The word God gave me was redeemed and the verse was Isaiah 43:1. He has redeemed me, He has called me by my name, I am His. For the first time in my life I felt beautiful and loved by God in a way I had never felt before. From that day on my name no longer sounded plain and I no longer felt plain – I was a beautiful daughter of the King! Thank you for this devotion. I pray you have a very blessed Thanksgiving!
Ligia,
Your name sounds so beautiful to me. My name is simply Beth. It is a name of Hebrew roots meaning house. It is also the second letter in the Hebrew alphabet and is written in Psalm 119. Wow. It makes me feel special. God knew what He was doing when He had my dad & grandma name me.
Blessings 🙂
How precious an how many folks must read this message
Your name reminds me of my Mother’s Character
she definitely spoke with a sweet spirt that was loud a clear
Her name was Alice which means noble” or “exalted”
Thank you for reminding me just how precious savior we serve.
They call me, Mama Sharon
Thank you for such a beautiful devotional. And He also knows the hairs on our head. The Good Shepherd gives His life for His sheep…. There is no end to His goodness towards us. Again, thank you!