By Melody Kenney
Some cross-cultural thoughts about names. . .
Africa
Some cross-cultural thoughts about names. . .
• Home
to hundreds of languages - over
1000 ethnic groups
•Name is most valued possession - it
survives death
•Children are revered throughout Africa naming ceremony is ritualistic and festive
China - Male Names
Some cross-cultural thoughts about names. . .
May have many names:
•“milk” names - birth (may be disgusting to keep away
evil spirits)
•“book” or “school names - when they enter school
•“marriage” name - at time of his wedding
•Another name when entering a career
•“everyday” name to use with close friends
•Surname - generational name
•“Ornamental” name - with great personal meaning
China - Female Names
Some cross-cultural thoughts about names. . .
•“milk” names - birth
•“marriage” name - at time of his wedding
•“everyday” name to use with close friends
•Surname - generational name - keeps hers and
adds his as a courtesy
•“Ornamental” name - with great personal meaning
•Names are more elegant and graceful
Native Americans
Some cross-cultural thoughts about names. . .
Each tribe is unique cultural group
Common to many is bestowing names during important times
•Birth
•Puberty
•Adulthood
•Event marking achievement
•Change of rank
Names influenced by nature / feat / characteristic are common
Some cross-cultural thoughts about names. . .
Germany - Early Germans
Some cross-cultural thoughts about names. . .
•Preferred names reflecting warfaring ways
•Surnames and family names unknown
•Given names were expressive of a certain idea
•Root names derived from mythology, animals,
words relating to war and peace, nature and social
status
Germany - Later naming practices
Some cross-cultural thoughts about names. . .
•Names made from elements of parent names nonsensical
Under Hitler:
•Names were censored - approved list
•Nicknames weren’t allowed
•Jewish people had to adopt “Jewish sounding” names
Germany - Modern naming trends
Some cross-cultural thoughts about names. . .
•German mythology
•Names from Low German dialects
•Foreign / Slavonic / French names
•Saints’ names (Catholic influence in southern Germany)
•Surnames:
Places
Occupational Names
Descriptive Names
Animals
Patronymics
Some cross-cultural thoughts about names. . .
Hindu/Indian Names
Some cross-cultural thoughts about names. . .
•Source for names are most commonly from
the names of the Gods
•Hindu children can have as many as three
names
•Common practice to mention a person’s
caste with his name
First Names. . .
We choose a first name because it
describes the child.
Blanche = white
Adamma = Child of beauty
Ibo, Nigeria (AH-DAHM-MAH)
Calvin
= bald
First Names. . .
We choose a name which is taken
from some event or circumstance
at birth.
•Adebayo (he came in a
joyful time) Yoruba
•Summer
•Atu (born on Saturday)
Fante, Ghana
First Names. . . .
Sometimes names are chosen
based on some hope or aspiration
on the part of the parents
•Hope
•Elizabeth (oath of God)
•Abimbola (born to be
rich) Yoruba, Nigeria
•Duc (moral, ethical,
virtuous)
First Names. . .
Sometimes children are named
after an object
Flowers:
•Holly
•Rose
•Hoa (flower)
Jewels or gems:
•Amber
•Jade
First Names. . .
At times people are given first
names because of the association
or relation to the surname
•Lily White
•Happy Sadd
•Kenneth Kenney
•London Bridge
First Names. . .
Some names are given from error
or ignorance.
•Misspelled names
•Names given to immigrants
•Names that cannot be
pronounced properly
First Names. . .
Oddities
Skeezix
Oddities
First Names. . .
First Names. . .
Names can originate as a result of
chance.
•Close your eyes and point to
a word in the Bible
•Use the name of the first person
you meet / thing you saw
•Draw sticks or paper
First Names. . .
We name children in order to honor
another person.
•Parent
•Grandparent
•Friend
•Relative
First Names. . .
We may choose names for children
because we admire a famous person.
•Religious character
•Poet
•Movie Star
First Names. . .
We sometimes choose a first name
because it is “pretty” or seems
harmonious with the last name or
middle name.
•Peggy Sue
•Melody Ann Sandman
Surnames . . .
Some surnames arise from local
influence.
Where does he/she live?
Where is he/she from?
•Westfield
Surnames. . .
Some family names arise from a
person’s most prominent
peculiarity.
•James Brown
•George Young
Surnames. . .
Last names can originate from an
occupational background - based on
what he/she does or an office held.
•Miller
•Smith
•Bishop
Surnames. . .
Some surnames are patronymical,
referring to his/her father’s name.
•Johnson
•Anderson
•Tomsdaughter
Surnames. . .
Some surnames are created as an
invention, possibly with invented
spellings.
Sandmann
•Talk to your parent / guardian
to learn stories about your
naming ceremony.
•Come to the library media center
and we’ll find out what the name
experts say about your name.
Norman, Teresa. A World of Baby Names. New York: Berkley
Publishing Group, 1996.
Smith, Elsdon C. The Story of Our Names. New York: Harper and
Brothers Publishers, 1950.