In verse 11 the people of Amlici call themselves Amlicites (later spelled Amalekites), and, curiously, “therefore” the Nephites understood the military threat and armed themselves. Why would the people’s selecting a name trigger this reaction when moving out and choosing a king did not? Possibly, this incident emphasizes the power of a name among ancient peoples. Just as Benjamin gave his reformed people a new name, so the Amlicites declare their difference by proclaiming a new name. Moving to a new community was not, in itself hostile; likely that was how many of the new communities dependent upon Zarahemla had been created. But unlike those other new communities, the Amlicites moved away, not only geographically but conceptually, a change they marked with their new name.
It seems probable that the Amlicites included kin of the Zarahemla Nephites. Cultural taboos would prohibit taking up arms against kinfolk but the new name might effectively erase such kinship, and new alliances, including military alliances, might be formed.
It is not surprising that the new name was the king’s. It was probably compatible with Mesoamerican kingship conventions, strengthened their rejection of Nephite beliefs, and announced their intention of also following the Mesoamerican custom of making war to establish tributaries. (For more information on the Nephite weaponry, see the commentary accompanying Enos 1:20.)