If your name is to be immortalized and summon instant recognition, it doesn't matter what your name actually is. Actors change their names before they hit the big screen, and all that counts about a multi-billionaire is his bank account. Names seem to be simply for identification purposes.   
 
In Jewish tradition, a person's name reflects the essence of his/her soul. Children are named for beloved and revered family members or biblical personalities with the hopes that the little ones grow to emulate their namesake.
 
In this week's Parsha we are told how a handful of Jews managed to survive in the unfamiliar land of Egypt, in the midst of overwhelmingly powerful and hostile neighbors.  They survived, though not by imitating their non-Jewish neighbors and trying to hide their identity. On the contrary, it was by realizing they were different and by guarding-- most zealously and uncompromisingly-- their Jewish identity and spiritual independence. Our sages point out the secret of the Jews' survival in their commentary in the first verse of the Parsha:
 
"And these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt."
 
Because they did not change their names and their customs, not only did they manage to survive in spite of such adverse circumstances, they multiplied in number and grew strong in spirit until they were redeemed from Egypt and received the Torah at Sinai, bringing light to the entire world, and accomplishing the purpose of creation.
 
Since then, when a Jewish child is born, he connects with our ancestors from 3,300 years ago in an unbroken chain of Jewish identity.
 
Shabbat Shalom!