Those Lamanites who experienced such a profound change then desired, and received, a new name: Anti-Nephi-Lehies. When any of us make life-changing covenants, we receive a new name—at baptism we take the name of Christ. We note that righteousness also brings industriousness and a desire for peace.
The first part of the term Anti-Nephi-Lehies may be an integral component of the name-title, not the Greek prefix meaning “against.” Some have also wondered if these righteous converts wanted to be identified as descendants of Lehi, but they were not descendants of Nephi. In other words, they were Lehites but they were not Nephites; thus the name: the Lehites, or Lehies, opposite or apart from the Nephites.