Back in the 1980s I made an extensive study of "The Name," and also the Name "movement."

The "movement" is comprised of those who have such strong feelings about this and consider everyone else so wrong that they have dropped out of their churches altogether and have formed churches and what amounts to denominations over the Name.  It is an interesting subject, compelling to some unless one gets the proper perspective.

I had some friends in a small group who were so extreme that they even believed that unless you "call upon the Name" or "baptized in the name of ...." (in Hebrew) that you are not saved.  A problem developed, however, when their out-of-state gurus began to vary on what they considered the correct spelling and pronunciation!  Scholars are not in agreement, but most believe the OT Name is YHWH, pronounced "Yahweh" (mistakenly pronounced "Jehovah" since Mmediaval days), although they say they are not 100% sure.  There are also several claims for Jesus' real name, such as Yeshua, Yahshua, Y'shua, and more.  So since they were not 100% sure of the actual name, no one in that group could be assured of his salvation,  which borders on the ridiculous, as well as tragic.

Sadly, my acquaintances in this movement came from a very legalistic, Old Testament-related  background hopelessly trying to keep the Law of Moses and they were never sure of their salvation anyhow.  So now they were even less sure!  As linguistically proper as it may seem, the whole thing is not of God because of the fruit -- people acting as though their little legalism is actually contributing (they hope) to their salvation.  Not surprisingly, I could never get them to really understand the grace of God and the New Covenant.

So what is the answer?  I believe it is how the word "name" is used in the Bible.  It is not just the appellation, or proper name.  References to one's name really encompasses one's total personhood, nature and attributes.

In Hebrew, the word for name is shem.  Strong's Enhanced Concordance says shem can mean
"reputation, or fame."

The Greek word for name is onoma.  Strong's says, "The name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one’s rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.

This clarification is relevant whenever just the word "name" is used in the Bible.  However, whenever YHWH is actually used (about 7,000 times in the Old Testament), it refers to God's personal name.  In most English Bibles, YHWH has been mistranslated as "the LORD," largely following the Jewish superstition of not pronouncing the Name and instead substituting "Adonai" (Lord) for fear of even inadvertently profaning the holy Name.

Personally, I often use God's probable Hebrew appellation, Yahweh, and Jesus' real Name, probably Yeshua (short for Yehoshua), in prayer because it increases the sense of intimacy.  I want to think I may be calling Him what Mary and the disciples called Him.  But I am not legalistic about it, and I have learned that He answers to other names (such as Lord, God, Jesus, or pronounced Hay-soose in Spanish) if we are referring to His holy Personhood and none other.

Praise His Name!

Jim