behind the name

Yay, we finally got the name for Baby Zi!

For quote a while, we want the names Zoe and Zion should we have kids. Zoe Victoria which to me, means Victorious Life if we have a darling daughter. Not that I want a daughter for an eldest. (I used to want four boys! hahaha) It's a name I was just carrying in my heart. (Yes, I want Zoe Learning Atrium for our dream school = "life learning center") and now we are trying to register Gen's desired IT Company (yes, another dream) as ZOElutions for life solutions. Oh, taxonomy! =D

The name Zion was born when we prayed for a child who would be a carrier of the presence of God. And just right, because it also starts with letter Z! =D We were conceiving the name and mostly sure we are going to badge our son with this declaration. It means, the place where God dwells or presence of God; and sometimes keen to heaven.

The quest for the second name went a bit long. We were actually tempted to settle for one name only. Mothers tell us that little boys are more slack in writing their names than girls so we have to give a shorter name. Nonetheless, we kept listing names from the most popular to most unique; biblical to secular; modern and back to vintage. Despite the growing list, Gen jests me to name our eldest Zion Exodus since a lot of people would look for the ghost during acquaintance: Ah, Genesis pala name mo?! Saan si Exodus? 

Of course, he was joking. I hope. =D

We waited. We knew God would give us a name that comes from His heart. We asked the help of our families. Bem (my brother) and mama said we should look up Jewish names. And we did.

Then, we came across Isaac.

#swoon

We smiled. Big smiles. There was confirmation in our hearts!

Isaac was the son promised to Abraham and Sarah. And we did receive a promise from the Lord, too. That by this time next year (dated last year), you will have a son. Gen 18:14 He was also the son of covenant when God tested Abraham. And he was the only patriarch, a prince, who stayed in Canaan, the promise/d land. And we love all these.

Not much combination of our names happening. But really, we thought, Isaac's life story is in the book of Genesis and it actually means laughter or he will laugh--so close or synonymous to my name, Rejoice. So, there, our names merge. Subtle, we know.

Zion Isaac. [zahy-uhn]*[ahy-zehk]

God-given. #smitten