My name is Francis Anderson Ritchie. It’s a name with a proud history going back a long way on my father’s side. It was my grandfather’s name and the name of other men in my direct family line quite a way back. My grandfather brought his family to New Zealand from Scotland when my father and his brother were young, so it’s a name that has its home in a land with a rich story that often pulls at my inner being.

I never met my grandfather because I come from a broken family and had a father who took off when I was young enough to not remember him. I met him in my teen years and severed the relationship a few years later because of his alcoholism and how it made him act. He died a few years ago.

He told me things about my grandparents that were far from the truth. Thankfully, due to my uncle and cousins I have since come to know a little more of the truth about my grandparents – wonderful, hospitable people. Caring and family oriented people who had no idea I even existed. They never had the chance to get to know me, or I them. I never knew them but I miss them and so I am proud to carry my grandfather’s name – Francis Anderson Ritchie.

Getting to know my name has been part of the journey of discovering a side of me that disappeared when my father walked out.

It is also the name of one of the figures of Christian history who most inspires me, St Francis of Assisi. The prayer that he was famous for is one I pray regularly. He was a man of humility and poverty. His love for God was clearly evident in his chosen life and he naturally challenged the powers of the religious elite of his time. He understood and lived out the call to love God with everything we’ve got and to love others.

Then there is the meaning of my name Francis = Free, Anderson = Courageous, and Ritchie = Powerful Ruler… Free, Courageous, Powerful Ruler. Wow. Since I think courage can be found in trusting God completely, the idea of being a powerful ruler is ultimately about influence and true power is found in humility, it is a name that under-girds much of who I aim to be.

In short, I see my name as rich in history, depth and meaning. It means a lot to me.

Since I was born I have been called the other version of Francis – ‘Frank’. It’s how I’m known and everyone refers to me, including those closest to me. It’s how I introduce myself. I was teased at school when people found out my name was ‘Francis’. But school was a long time ago.

For some time now I have wanted to use ‘Francis’ more. I would love to see the two become interchangeable and to be easily recognised by both, maybe even having ‘Francis’ one day become the more dominant and have ‘Frank’ reserved more for those who are close to me or work with me regularly.

Now seems like a good time to promote that shift. There is finally a Pope who has given himself the name Francis and he seems to embody values that I hold dear even if we would disagree on some points. With that public recognition of the name, it might be easier to make the shift in my own life even though I know I’ll be accused of just doing it because of the Pope. I’ll happily admit that his decision has given me the impetus to take the step myself.

So here goes, if you know me, feel free to keep calling me ‘Frank’ (my wife will) – it’s a good name and I know it well – it’s a significant part of my identity, but equally feel free to call me ‘Francis’ because the name my parents chose to give me was Francis Anderson Ritchie and I’m thankful for it. I’ll be happy with either.