Names are important and nominative determinism seems to be a real effect.
My surname means 'green river'... I don't know what that says about my line of work, though.
They also have real symbolic power. I recall when I was young my mum being adamant that I should change my surname from my father's (who was abusive) to her maiden name, to avoid any association with him or his family (who she also did not like).
I refused, because I was clear that it was my name, and therefore any honour or dishonour which would subsequently accrue to it would be entirely within my power. I would drag his name (my father's) from the gutter.