O.K.,so you started in the craft and after but a bit your teacher asks you what you would like to be named in your initiation ceremony,yet you have no idea how to go about it...  The ceremonial bestowing of such a name upon the initiate is a part of many initiation ceremonies. Afterward, the new Wiccan is usually exclusively called by this name within the circle. Magickal names are quite popular among Wiccans; so popular, in fact, that many Wiccans have two or even three such names: a public Craft name (used at Wiccan gatherings, when writing articals, and so on), a secret name (The one bestowed during initiation), and perhaps even a third name which is used only when addressing the Goddess and the God, and more than one tradition may have different names for each group. For many Wiccans, taking a new name is an outword symbol of her or his devotion to Wicca. It's seen as a part of the process of rebirth into the religion. Throughout history, names have been given considerable magickal importance. A spirit's name had to be known before it could be exorcised from a sick person in ancient Sumer, Babylon and Assyira. In Hawii, babies were given revolting names in infancy to guard them from molestation from evil during their early, vulnerable years. A more fitting name was given to the child when she or he reached a certain age and was less susceptible to the wiles of evil spirits. In some cultures, mother will bestow a secret name on their children. This 'real' name, unknown to anybody but the mother, protects the child. The common name by which he or she is called has no power over them. In our country, numerology is used to discover the power of our names, and many people change their names to advance in their careers. usually the name is converted to a number and reduced to a single digit using theosophical reduction and then played with a bit to create a summation equal to the life path number. With all this importance all this importance attatched to names, it's not difficult to understand why many Wiccans use Craft names. To cut to the heart of this matter: is it necessary for you to adopt a Wiccan name? If you wish your Wicca to correspond to conventional Wicca as far as is possible, yes. If you feel freer than these constraints, adoption of a special name isn't necessary. Once again, the decision is yours alone. The major reason for utilizing a Craft name, as mentioned avove, is that it represents the Wiccan in you. For some, use of this name gives them a sense of power and mystery which they may otherwise not feel. We live in such a mundane world that it can indeed be difficult to "switch on" the magickal side of our nature. Thus, use of a Wiccan name may assist in altering the conscious mind and preparing it for ritual. Some people take an entirely different approach:they legally adopt their Wiccan name. Thus, Sally Thompson becomes Amber;Frank Jones, Greywolf. This name may even appear on driver's licences, leases, and other documents. This legal avenue is inadvisable unless you're completely open about your religion, since such a name will naturally draw attention to its bearer. Though many state that they've chosen to use their new name to the exclusion of the old one purely for spiritual reasons, most are also making a public statement regarding their religion-and not all of us are ready for such a step. How do you find your magickal name? There are many approaches. Some Wiccans adopt the names of a Goddess or God, in honor of them. Others look into their family's cultural history and choose a name from the associated folklore:a person with British ancestery may opt for a name culled from British folklore. Many contemporary American Wiccans incorporate an animal in their name, such as "Howling Wolf" or "Sweeping Eagle". Flower and plant names (such as Rose,Oak Keeper, Grove, Fir, Ash) are other possibilites. You may also simply make up a name. Many Wiccan names consist of two words that have been put together. Such names are usually quite descriptive. Some famous Wiccan names have been published. Gerald Gardner (one of the people who formed Wicca into the religion as we know it today) publicly used the name Scire. At least one of Doreen Valiente's magickal names was Ameth. A well-known High Prest adopted a public Craft name of Pheonix. Still other popular names include:Morgan, Morgana, Morgaine,Morgraine, Lugh and Arthur (all associated wtih Celtic mythology);Ariadne, Diana, Hermes, Poseidon, Cassandra, and Triton (Greek and Roman mythology); Selket, Ma'at, Osiris, and other Egyptian names. (Among the most commonly used names are Amber, Phoenix, and Merlin. Calling out one of these names at a Pagan gathering will usually cause many heads to turn.) So there are plenty of possibilites for which to choose. If you decide to use a Wiccan name in ritual, always use it. Use it in prayer. Use it in rituals. Write it, in runes or in english, on your tools. You may even wish to perform some sort of name-adoption ritual. This could consist of casting a circle and invoking the Goddess and God to be present and asking Them to recognize your new name. Use of a Craft name may not give you any additional power, but it's a traditional practice, and many enjoy it. Magickal names are very personal things and come to each person differently. I just knew what name to use, but I have known others that have taken a year to find the right one. Names really do in many ways define a person. Think of all the names you have had in your life, nick names, gaming names, work names, etc... I myself have the name I was given at birth, the name I chose to call myself, the name my guides call me, various nicknames some of which I have forgotten there have been so many, my magickal name, my married name, two vision names, etc... Each name works off of a different aspect of yourself. Say you are Sally Jones. Friends might call you Sal, acquaintences might call you Sally, co-workers might call you Mrs. Jones. To your children's friends you are Jonny's mom or Auntie or Mrs. Jones. Each image is a little different and you act differently when addressed by it. So in your life you will have many names. You may even get special names given to you specifically in visions from the spirit world. In time you may grow out of the name you first pick as your magickal name. Nothing is unchangeable, so do not worry about the permanence part of it. All you will do is make yourself nervous that way. Magickal names are what the spirit world knows you as. It can be a name that specifically describes you as you see yourself now, or it can be a name that you want to grow into as time passes, a name that describes traits you wish to learn. It can be a set of sounds that is specifically pleasing to you, or a name of a God or Goddess you feel drawn to. It can even involve the name of a person that you look up to or a name whose meaning you feel drawn to. A magickal name has a different source for each person. A good way to start is to make a list of colors, crystals, gems, weather, seasons, times of day, animals, places, times, trees, roles, Gods, Goddesses, etc... that mean something special to you. Just list them all down and don't worry if any are silly. Then read through your list and see what calls to you and what doesn't. That should help you at least get some sense of what you are actually drawn to. Then it would probably be a good idea to go out and meditate on what your search has pointed you towards and see if it doesn't form up into the right name for you at this time. it has even been jested that in our day,some names have become so common that one could easily construct a list to generate names,there seem to be only about 30 or so name parts. . .ie.raven,star,wolf etc.   Sample Magickal Names Gods Arawn-celtic god of the underworld(called Annwyn) Belatucados-celtic horned god of war Cernunnos(Ker-nu'-nos)-stag antlered god of otherworld,death,resurrection,and the wild hunt;lord of animals and protector of wildlife Dionysus(Die'-oh-nee'-shahs)god of the mysteries of death and rebirth Dis-roman god of the underworld Februus(Feb'bru-us)-etruscan dark lord of the underworld Gwydion-god of magic Hades(Hay'-dees)god of the underworld Herne-british version of cernunnos,lord of the wildwood Hiesi-finnish god of sorcery and communication with the dead Kuvera-earth god of india similar to pluto/hades Lucifer-the sun at midnight,sun god,consort to Diana Lugh-celtic sun god Mars-god of war Midhir-underworld god Moros-dark god of unknown destiny Morpheus-dark god of deep sleep,psychic dreams and death Pan-earth god of rustic lifestyle and flocks,domestic animals and fertility Pluto-another name for hades Pwyll-underworld god Shiva(Shee'-va)-lord of animals and king of the dance,he dances creation to its destruction to become part of the all and recreated Tages(Tay'-ges)-etruscan god of divination and fortunetelling Thanatos-greek god,personification of death Thor-norse god of thunder,storms,and weather Tunni-finish god of death Vulcan-god of fire and molten lava Yama-indian god of the dead   Goddesses Aine-celtic goddess of the moon,crops,and cattle Angerona-goddess of secret names Athena-greek goddess of war and wisdom Badb-celtic goddess of war,hag image of the morrigan trilogy Bellona-goddess of war and battle skill Black Annis-celtic hag goddess who collects the dead for passage Bone Mother-slavic hag goddess who gathers and tends the dead Cailleach(Ca'-lee-ack)-celtic crone goddess Cerridwen(cerr'-id-dwen)-celtic goddess of grain Cybele-goddess of wild beasts,untamed nature,and caverns Demeter(De-mee'-ter)-goddess of grain and changing of the seasons Diana-huntress,lady of the wild animals,the moon Durga-great goddess of india Freya-norse goddess of witchcraft,prophecy,shammanism,nature,fertility,and the dead Hecate(Hec'-a-tay)dark goddess of the moon Hel-norse crone goddess of death,ruler of the underworld Hulda-underworld goddess who controls the weather Kali-dark aspect of the mother nature goddess,passage of life through death to new life Kalma-finnish hag goddess of death Kupala-slavic goddess of magic,herbs,springs,and rivers Libitina-goddess of funeral rites Louhi-finish dark goddess of magic Macha-war goddess,part of the morrigan Medb-third aspect of morrigan war goddess triad Minerva-etruscan goddess of war and wisdom Nemesis-goddess of destiny and retribution Persephone(Per-se'-fa-nee)-daughter of Demeter and married to Hades Prisni-dark goddess of the earth,fertility Ran-norse sea goddess and crone aspect for those lost at sea Rhea(Ree-ah)-dark aspect of the great mother Teiltui(Tell'-sha)goddess of the primordial earth