The name is one of the five essential parts of the individual, which included the the ba, the akh, the name, and the ka. But the name has significence beyond the individual; objects and people only had existance the moment they were named. A name was just as much a necessary spiritual element as the ka or ba. The name contained such power that knowing the 'true' name gave a certain power, thus names of the Netjeru (gods) were often 'hidden' or 'unknown'. A Netjer may be credited with over a hundred names - none of which were the hidden true name. Power over harmful spirits or demons could be achieved by uttering the words. "I know you and I know your names." In one text Ptah brought everything into being by pronouncing their name.

A person's name was so much a part of their sustenance, that the inscribing of the name in the tomb or on monuments assured one's existance in the afterlife. Destroying that inscription could obliterate that existance and was a dire punishment. An Egyptian proverb, "whosever's name is uttered, he then lives", demonstrates this belief.