Parshat Vayishlach: Naming, Perspective, and Relationships

...When a person is born their parents call them a name in the world that comes to their mind. This is not a random occurrence, Hashem puts the name that is bound to the soul onto the parents lips. As is says in Tehillim 46:9 “Who puts destruction (read Shemot, names, rather that Shaamot, destruction) on the earth”

(18) But as she (Rachel) breathed her last—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

Ben-Oni means “son of my suffering.” Ben-Yamin: Rashi explains that this is because he alone was born in the land of Canaan, which is in the south when one comes from Aram Naharayim, i.e. it is on the right hand side (yamin) of the traveler. Nachmanides objected, [and] instead explained instead that because his mother called him "Ben-Oni," which could mean "Son of My Mourning,"... his father simply translated it based on a more positive interpretation of the name, that is, the language of strength, like in [Genesis 49:3, the naming of Reuven] "the first of my vigor". Therefore, he called him Ben-Yamin, the son of strength, because the right hand (yamin) is the source of strength and salvation, for he wanted to call him essentially the same name that his mother gave him, for all children are called by the names that their mothers give them. It is only that Jacob translated his name using only its connotations of goodness and strength.

Rabbi Aha said: when the Holy One, Blessed be He, came to create the world, he consulted the angels of the heavenly court. He said to them: "Let us make Adam" (Genesis 1:26). They said to him: this Adam, what is his nature? He said to them: his wisdom exceeds yours. He brought before them the domesticated beasts, the wild beasts, and the birds. He said to them: what are their names? They did not know. He brought them before Adam. He said to him: what are their names? Adam said: this is a ox, this is a donkey, this is a horse, this is a camel. And you, what is your name? Adam said to him: it is fitting that I should be called 'Adam' as I was created from the earth [adamah]. And Me, what is My name? Adam said to Him: it is fitting to call You Adonai, as You are the master [adon] of all your creations.