Onoma is Greek for name, character, or reputation. I’m going to quote Helps Word-studies here: Name is “the manifestation or revelation of someone’s character, i.e. as distinguishing them from all others.” (Helps Word-studies at biblehub.com). Think of the word anonymous–without any name.
God told Mary to give her son the name Yeshua, which translates to Jesus in Greek, having the meaning “God saves” or “savior” or “Yahweh is salvation”. So Jesus’ name reflects his purpose. In Hebrew times, parents carefully selected names for their children. A person’s name was supposed to reflect the person. Sometimes people would change their name to reflect a change in their person. A few Old Testament examples would be Naomi (Mara), Abram (Abraham), or Jacob (Israel).
God gave Jesus the name above all names. Philippians 2:9-11, NASB: For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In Revelation 19:11, Jesus is on a white horse and he is called Faithful and True. In verse 12 it says that “He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.” In verse 13, “His name is called The Word of God.” And in verse 16, “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.”
So in my limited understanding, Jesus is His name. His name(s) reflect what He is, his essence. As long as we are on earth, we can never fully understand or know the full meaning of Him or His names. We, over time, come to understand more and more as it is revealed to us, but never all. May God help us (me) to keep seeking and understanding.
In the New Testament, onoma is found 228 times (according to Strong’s). It is used for the names of men, the name of God, and the name of Jesus.
Verses:
Matthew 1:23 KJV Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 6:9 NIV This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Hallowed means to make holy or to treat as holy.)
Matthew 10:22 NASB You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
Matthew 18:20 KJV For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Matthew 28:19 ESV Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Mark 3:16-17 NIV These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”).
Mark 9:41 NASB For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
Luke 10:20 NIV However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
John 14:13-14 ESV Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (This isn’t just mentioning Jesus’ name when we pray. This is asking, while seeking God’s will. Asking as a true believer of Christ who is working for Christ. Asking according to Christ’s character.)
John 15:16 NASB You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
Acts 4:12 KJV Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 10:43 NIV All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
Philippians 4:3 ESV Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Hebrews 13:15 NASB Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
James 5:14 NIV Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
1 Peter 4:14 ESV If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (The NASB says reviled instead of insulted.)
1 John 3:23 KJV And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 5:13 NASB These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Revelation 2:17 NIV Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
Revelation 3:12 KJV Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Revelation 14:1 ESV Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
Revelation 15:4 NIV Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.
The G/K number for onoma is 3950.
The Strong’s number for onoma is 3686.
