Yahyā proclaims in the nights, Yōhānā on the Night's evenings. Yahya proclaims in the nights and speaks: "The [heavenly] wheels and chariots quaked. Earth and Heaven weep and the tears of the Clouds flow down.""My father," says Yahyā, "was ninety and nine and my mother eighty and eight years old. Out of the basin of Jordan they took me. They bore me up and laid me in the womb of Enishbai. 'Nine months,' said they, 'thou shalt stay in her womb, as do all other children.' No wise woman," said he, "brought me into the world in Judæa, and they have not cut my cord in Jerusalem. They made for me no picture of lies, and for me hung up no bell of deceit.I was born from Enishbai in the region of Jerusalem." The region of Jerusalem quakes and the wall of the priests rocks. Elizar, the great house, stands there and his body trembles. The Jews gather together, come unto Old Father Zakhriā and they speak to him: "O Old Father Zakhriā, thou art to have a son. Tell us now, what name shall we give him? Shall we give him for name 'Yaqif of Wisdom,' that he may teach the Book in Jerusalem? Or shall we give him for name 'Zatan the Pillar,' so that the Jews may swear by him and commit no deceit?"When Enishbai heard this, she cried out and she said: "Of all these names which you name, will I not give him one; but the name Yahyā-Yōhānā will I give him, which Life's self has given unto him."When the Jews heard this, they were filled with wicked anger against her and said: "What weapon shall we make ready for [a certain] one and his mother, that he be slain by our hand?" When Anōsh, the treasure, heard this be took the child and brought it to Parwan, the white mountain, to Mount Parwan, on which sucklings and little ones on holy drink are reared up. (The Gnostic John the Baptist)

In both Christian and Mandaean scripture the naming of the child is a crucial and controversial act.

Yōhānā or John - his public name - means, "God is a gracious giver." Yahyā, his private and true name, means, "He lives" or "God lives."

For the ancients of many cultures, one's name - "hallowed be thy name" - was no mere label. It was fundamental to identity.

It was common to keep one's true name hidden, much as moderns may sublimate our true identity.

To speak the true name of another is an act of great intimacy and power. To know our own identity - and to live it fully - is a powerful choice.