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HelpNY Times article on English names in Zimbabwe
Here's an article from the New York Times that people on both the Facts & Opinions Boards on this site should be interested in:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/world/africa/01names.html?ex=1191902400&en=c4d5af0e649a0633&ei=5070&emc=eta1
It's interesting to me that the author of the article doesn't seem to know that Justice is fairly common as a given name in the USA these days. I've also seen many examples of Passion in the USA, probably taken more from the trade name of the perfume than directly from the word. Knowledge and Praise also have been used in the USA, if rarely.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/world/africa/01names.html?ex=1191902400&en=c4d5af0e649a0633&ei=5070&emc=eta1
It's interesting to me that the author of the article doesn't seem to know that Justice is fairly common as a given name in the USA these days. I've also seen many examples of Passion in the USA, probably taken more from the trade name of the perfume than directly from the word. Knowledge and Praise also have been used in the USA, if rarely.
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I'm curious, why do you conclude that Passion is probably taken from the perfume rather than from the religious concept?
Fascinating article, thanks.
Fascinating article, thanks.
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I've seen Gift used a couple of times in the US. That was really interesting. I had no idea it was such a widespread practice.
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Some of those names were kinda cool. I'll admit that I'm a sucker for Puritanesque names. From the article, I liked Godknows, Norest, and Passion (though I doubt the Puritans would've used that). I also like names like Blessing, Promise, Thanksgiving, and Goodwife nn Goody.
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Goodwife
Normally "Goodwife nn Goody" was not a NAME but a title. Every married woman was called "Goody"; it was like calling a woman whose name you don't know "Lady" or "Ma'am" today. :)
Normally "Goodwife nn Goody" was not a NAME but a title. Every married woman was called "Goody"; it was like calling a woman whose name you don't know "Lady" or "Ma'am" today. :)
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If I had my way
We'd revive use of Goodwife as an honorific. I also want to reclaim the proper title of Mistress! We've had Lounge discussions about this before.
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=471525&board=ot
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=2933475&board=ot
We'd revive use of Goodwife as an honorific. I also want to reclaim the proper title of Mistress! We've had Lounge discussions about this before.
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=471525&board=ot
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=2933475&board=ot
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Never Trust a Woman? Yikes.
Loved the article. Thanks. It's nice to see people take the meaning of a name seriously. Although I can't accept some of those names, like Never Trust a Woman. What did the kid do to deserve that? I trust the author did his homework and that's not just a Zimbabwean (sp?) urban legend.
Loved the article. Thanks. It's nice to see people take the meaning of a name seriously. Although I can't accept some of those names, like Never Trust a Woman. What did the kid do to deserve that? I trust the author did his homework and that's not just a Zimbabwean (sp?) urban legend.
This message was edited 10/1/2007, 10:12 AM
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Interesting. I used to know a Zimbawean girl whose name was Patience, apparently her sister was named Faith while her two brothers had Zimbewean names. She explained to me that it was because in Zimbawe it was considered important for a name to have a meaning, and there aren't many English male names that have a clear meaning.
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