Custom equations' names

If you use the amsmath package you can do

\begin{equation}
  \tag{*}
  \int_{\partial\Omega} \omega = \int_\Omega d\omega
  \label{eqn:Stokes}
\end{equation}

By \eqref{eqn:Stokes} ...

Is that what you want?

The \tag{your name here} construct can be used inside \begin{equation} .. \end{equation} and the amsmath \begin..end{align} constructs in order to give equations visible names instead of numbers:

\begin{equation}
  \tag{Super Fun Equation}
  y = 3x
\end{equation}

Labels can then be used to refer to names in references:

\begin{equation}
  \tag{Super Fun Equation}
  y = 3x
  \label{eqn:super}
\end{equation}
...
See \eqref{eqn:super} for an awesome equation % See Super Fun Equation for ...