In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Juliet says, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” She spoke of Romeo, of course, but what is true of a rose may not be true when you try to apply it to a person. Of course, if she 
meant what lies within each of us is what matters, I’d have to agree. But does a name make a person? Many would say it does!
Studies have been done that link teacher’s expectations of student performance to first name stereotypes. If Brandon’s fifth grade teacher expects more from Brandon than she does from Clyde, Clyde might only perform to her low expectations of him.
Lewis Lipsitt, professor emeritus of psychology at Brown University, suggests that our names are in our genes. Musician parents might name their child “Yehudi” or adventurous parents might choose something adventurous (Cheyenne?), and the gene trait will have more of an impact on the child than the name itself.
In looking at my own family genealogy, the Horton surname is believed to come from the Latin word “Hortiss”, 
meaning a garden. I’ve traced my family lines back to the early 1200’s in England, where the Hortons were landowners and mill owners, which fits nicely with Professor Lipsitt’s theory.
That my mother, a Horton, possessed a green thumb suddenly is no surprise. I suspect it’s in her name as well as her genes!
Can you identify a family trait with a family name? Do you think the name makes the man or woman? In naming your child, did you give him/her a trendy name to be their springboard, or did you name them after great-grandmother/father to be a warm hug from the past?
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of mine heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14, Geneva Bible 1599.