"What's in a name?"

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Okay, I get it. But, who says that if the rose had a different name, we wouldn’t be talking about a different rose?

In the story of Creation, as “in the beginning…”, the Creator creates, sees what was created and then names what was created. Naming is one of the top 3 actions; create, see and name. The first task or responsibility assigned to the first human being was to name; every beast and fowl.

Whatever your belief system, cross-culturally and cross generationally, names are significant.

When I came across Claire L 🐝 Cardwell, I was immediately drawn to reading it. Claire does a wonderful job communicating the significance of names. This buzz inspired me to start the “What’s in a name?’ hive.

The following is the dialogue in which the line quoted above appears. In Act II, Scene II of Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, the line is said by Juliet in reference to Romeo's house, Montague, implying that his name means nothing and they should be together.

Juliet:
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
Romeo:
[Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Juliet:
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.
Romeo:
I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.