Reprint of the Nomicon @ this blog. Pt four:how do Wiccans pick names?

How do Wiccans pick Names?

The problem here is the assumption that Wiccans pick their craft names. In fact, very few names are picked or generated by a random craft name webpage. Most often a craft name is researched, explored and carefully chosen. In a group, this may be done by consensus. Still other times a name is choosen by a coven's leadership. Some groups have strict naming conventions, for example, my inner circle name in one group I was in when younger translates as "Windsinger," this name was given because I met certain attributes and characteristics, and came from a list of about 30 such names. These names, which tangentally resemble the virtue names we are familiar with from the Puritans and other strict Christians (Mercy, Patience, Prudence, Chastity, Faith, Hope, etc,) are typical of a strict naming tradition. Less orthodox groups may dictate that names come from nature or from animals. Still other groups ask that names come from history. As an example, one group I encountered assigned everyone the name of a person hung or burned for Witchcraft.
Still other names are the result of prayers and meditation, Ouiji boards, instinct, picking scrabble pieces out of bags and numerology.
There is no singular right way. There are some wrong ways, like picking a name because the next guy over has it, but there are often very many right ways, especially if you do not belong to a group or tradition that has a singular way. REMEMBER, solitary practioners can belong to traditions. Solitary means without a coven, not without a tradition!