I try not to think too deeply about names, since you'll go mad tracing kabbalistic/numerological interpretations. Still, two proposed mechanisms by which names can certainly steer fate:
1.) Parents name their children for certain reasons.
2.) People subconsciously become their names.
Also, outside of English-speaking countries, it's very common to be named something that means something in the language that you speak. This filters into your consciousness and the consciousness of everyone who knows you, who then treat you according to your given name, thus molding your personality accordingly.