The Meaning of Naming
Once a baby is born, it must be named; once a ship is built, it must be named; when a company registers for business, it must be named; when a store opens, it must be named; once a park or a road is constructed, it must be named; … In daily life, everything from the smallest insect and flower to the vast universe and celestial bodies requires naming upon first encounter or discovery. This is because only after something has been named can people conveniently refer to and distinguish it. As soon as someone mentions a particular name, everyone knows what they are referring to. This is the fundamental reason why naming is necessary.
However, naming is not done casually; one must examine its characteristics and contemplate its meaning. It arises from the context that prompts its creation, which gives naming profound significance. This understanding of naming has been consistent throughout history and across cultures. For example, the centipede is also called “hundred-foot insect” because it has many legs. Similarly, Pluto is the farthest planet from our solar system, with an elusive path that resembles phenomena in the underworld; hence its name. Another example is Yue Fei, a famous general from the Song Dynasty—he was named “Fei” because his mother dreamt of a giant roc soaring in flight at his birth. My own name “Tian Ci” means “heavenly gift,” as I was born on the day celebrated by the heavens; I chose “Tian” to connect with my cousin’s name but used “Tian” instead of “Tian” for continuity.
Therefore, achieving high standards and levels in naming requires deep thought and understanding of context before making decisions. It should not merely aim to conform to certain sect rules without considering the significance of names. Recklessly using unrelated or meaningless words as names leads to a loss of meaningfulness in naming and reflects poorly on naming standards—something that both ancient and modern scholars would reject. This has led to practitioners in this field being derogatorily labeled as wandering sorcerers—a great shame for anyone engaged in this profession.
In light of this, I specifically urge my colleagues: To shed the bad reputation associated with wandering sorcerers, I hope everyone will use a wide-angle lens when exploring and reviewing names during their analysis or creation process. Do not narrowly adhere to certain sect rules while speaking carelessly or making unfounded claims because no single school of thought on names is perfect. After reviewing various introductions and applications across different schools of thought, one can understand that what I am saying now holds true.
by – Naming Arena