LightGrams
November 6, 2025
Volume 29, Number 35
Laurence Watkins is like a lot of other people in the world; he wanted to have his name appear in the Guinness Book of World Records. He devoted much time reading through the book, trying to find an area in which he could excel all others. It was in March of 1990 when he finally realized his dream.
Watkins lives in Ireland and is not particularly athletic. But he decided he could change his name to become the world’s longest name. He had to make several trips to court to accomplish this, but it finally resulted in his having 2,253 middle names, the longest name in the world. Earlier this week he published a YouTube video with him reading all those names. The length of the video is over an hour!
Following the legal proceedings to make this name-change official, laws were passed that would prohibit others from doing the same. (I suppose the courts in Ireland feel they have more important business to attend to.) But Watkins is happy, noting that his favorite name is AZ2000, indicating that he has more than 2,000 names that go from A to Z.
This story made me wonder: What is the longest name in the Bible? That honor goes to the name given by the prophet Isaiah to his son: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (try saying that three times quickly!). As you know, names in the Bible usually have significance. This one can be interpreted as “The spoil speeds, the prey hastens” and was a message that disaster was going to fall upon the land at the hands of the Assyrians. There are other long names in the Bible, such as Zaphnath-Paaneah, a name given to Joseph by Pharaoh (Genesis 41:45), and Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon (Daniel 1:1). But Watkins’ full name has more words that several of the books of the Bible.
Later in his writing, Isaiah had good news for Judah: “The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name.” That new name has been the object of much discussion. But here is the interpretation I prefer, found in Acts 11:26: “… And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
Some say that “Christian” was originally used as an insult to followers of Jesus. Even if that’s true, it doesn’t insult me at all to be known as a Christian. My whole purpose in life is to be more like my Savior. I agree with Paul’s statement in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Even higher, however, than the name “Christian” is the name “Christ”. Philippians 2:9 affirms this truth: “Therefore God also has highly exalted [Christ] and given Him the name which is above every name.” Laurence Watkins may have a world record for the longest name, but I wear a name which is above every name. That honor is better than anything the world can bestow!
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2025, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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