Actually, my reasons for bringing this subject in so early are two fold. Firstly, to get you thinking about the importance of your development, whatever your current stage might be. But also so that you could start to see what characteristics and traits are significant and what you should be expecting. I figured that now was as good a time as any!
WHERE TO START WHEN SEARCHING FOR A WITCH/WICCANNAME?
Wiccan names and meanings are very wide ranging, but also very personal. Every witch will tell you a different story of how she came by her (or his) name. For some, it is intensely private, and is kept secret between themselves and the Gods and Goddesses. Others, reveal it to their coven, while others still are happy to make the name publicly known (although this is frowned upon by many covens and practising wiccans).
In choosing your name, I'm of the opinion that as well as representing something that you strive to be, it should also epitomise your strongest personality traits, seeing as it is something that will potentially remain with you for a very long time.
So, you should be starting to think about some of the qualities that you have as a person now, as well as those you would also like to develop as you progress as a witch. Take a moment to really think about it. Many people fall into the trap of trying to become someone different when they take up witchcraft and mistakenly choose a name that is the opposite of them, revealing the fact that they are running away from something. This is a mistake. You will wind up having to change your name again and again and this will interfere with your progression and your blossoming abilities. While being open minded and flexible is essential, being aimless will get you nowhere.
To give you a few pointers I thought it would be useful to look at some of the more common wiccan names and meanings as well as suggest places for you to look for inspiration. As you need to make your wiccan name as personalised as possible, I wouldn't personally recommend a wiccan name generator for making any final decisions. However they can be a lot of fun! And it may give you a rough idea of the sorts of names and combinations that are out there.
Some wiccan names have become very popular of recent years, with names such as Amber, Morgan, Phoenix and (maybe predictably) Merlin so you may wish to seek out what the most regularly used names are to give you inspiration. A word of warning when going for popular names - try to avoid the names of Gods or Goddesses. It is ok to incorporate some kind of homage to them into your name, but to adopt their name exactly will come across as if you believe yourself on a par with them and their higher state. And it might not win you any friends!
You may be surprised to know that baby name books or sites are as good a source as any, as they give clear definitions and name meanings. Therefore, you can then seek out names that mean strong, resilient or gracious etc.
Lastly, look to the earth and its gifts and consider names such as Oak, Rain or Rose to represent both the power you gain from nature, and also to honour it.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE FOUND THE RIGHT WICCAN NAME?
There is no simple answer to this question unfortunately. It is a matter of waiting until the right Wiccan name and meaning finds you - you will just know it's the right one. It can be helpful to try sitting quietly and letting your thoughts run over the name in your mind to see whether it feels complete. Try a simple ritual, such as writing it in runes or a cleansing, smudging ritual.
If you are just starting to take an interest in Wicca and/or Witchcraft, of course there is no rush in finding a name. But it can be very useful in helping you with your journey personal, and aid you in bringing out your strengths. Good luck!
