When people hear our son’s name, the reactions are quite varied. Â We hear everything from an enthusiastic “Oh, I like that!” to a puzzled “Well. That’s different.” Â It is a bit unusual, so I understand why people would be curious about where it came from, and why, or how we chose it…
And, no. It is not a family name. (That is the most common guess/assumption.)
Titus: In Latin, it means “A great defender.†In Greek, it means “Honorable.†His first name comes from the New Testament book of Titus, one of the Pastoral Epistles. The recipient (Titus) was a Greek convert to Christianity. He was the apostle Paul’s “true child in a common faith” (Titus 1:4), and became a faithful fellow worker in the ministry of the gospel.
Ryle (pronounced rye-el):  His middle name is in honor of John Charles (J.C.) Ryle. J.C. Ryle was an Anglican pastor in England, in the 1800’s. It is said “that perhaps few men in the nineteenth century did as much for God, for truth, and for righteousness, among the English speaking race, and in the world, as [J.C. Ryle].”  Today, his books, commentaries, and sermons are favorites in our home.
Our prayer is that he would grow up to truly live out the meanings of his name. That he would be a man of honor, and a great defender of the faith…like these faithful men of God whose names he bears.
“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned…†~Titus 2:7-8
I love it! What a meaningful name. We have friends who named their son Titus also!
I knew where both of those names came from and loved it as soon as I saw your announcement that he was born (and had a name!). I love it and I’m sure with parents like you guys, he will live a blessed life, worthy of his namesakes! I’m actually reading a J.C. Ryle book right now! (The Duties of Parents!) It’s amazing. I am almost done with it in one sitting. I don’t think it’s long, but of course my Kindle says it’s 545 “sections” however many pages that translates to! Congratulations, Titus Ryle is ADORABLE!
Great gesture towards J.C. Ryle. 😉
Excellent! 😉
Thanks Erik! 🙂 I thought you would approve! 😉
I love names to mean something. Our four children are named after grandparents/great-grands. I *do* have another boy’s name and a girl’s name ‘ready(!), were we to be blessed with more 😉 (I don’t think that’ll happen at my age – I’m getting to look forward to grandma-hood 🙂
My names are Hannah, because it’s a variation of my own name, it’s the name of a Godly woman in the Bible, and it has a lovely meaning. My boy’s name would be Micah, because it means, ‘Who is like unto Jehovah?’ …. And who indeed!
I *love* your choices, and I *love* the photo of that adorable wee boy. May God bring him into His kingdom at a very young age, and may his life be one of seeing to honour and glorify his Saviour.
Anne,
I love both of your name choices too…My daughter’s name is Hannah! Her middle name is Elisabeth, in honor of Elisabeth Elliot. 🙂
Thank you for your sweet comment! 🙂 It is our prayer that the Lord would have his heart at an early age as well.
~Veronica