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ArchivesNY 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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Replies
Thanks for the interesting article!
During my times in Africa, I came across some interesting names, but none that I can recall that are like the phrase names (Trymore, Godknows, etc.) from the article. A few of the more interesting virtue names I came across are Happy, Immaculate, Patience, Innocent, and Divine.
I think the similarities in the significance of names between (some) African cultures and Biblical (Old Testament) culture are very interesting. In both cultures, names can be given because of something in the parents' or person's life. For example, Rebecca naming her son Esau because he was hairy, or Naomi changing her name to Mara to show the bitterness of her life.
During my times in Africa, I came across some interesting names, but none that I can recall that are like the phrase names (Trymore, Godknows, etc.) from the article. A few of the more interesting virtue names I came across are Happy, Immaculate, Patience, Innocent, and Divine.
I think the similarities in the significance of names between (some) African cultures and Biblical (Old Testament) culture are very interesting. In both cultures, names can be given because of something in the parents' or person's life. For example, Rebecca naming her son Esau because he was hairy, or Naomi changing her name to Mara to show the bitterness of her life.
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I know a woman whose husband tended to beat her up over weekends; nothing personal, just the consequence of being paid weekly. And one weekend she had to go into hospital to have a baby -- their only son -- which was fortunate, so she called him Lucky, although the luck was actually her own.
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OMG - that is so sad!
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"Never Trust a Woman" certainly is an unusual name and a burden for the child.
I think it is interesting that in some countries the meaning of a name is more important than the sound or the trendiness.
When you read the many posts on the board you might get an idea for people's desire to have a name with some meaning.
Thank you for the link!
I think it is interesting that in some countries the meaning of a name is more important than the sound or the trendiness.
When you read the many posts on the board you might get an idea for people's desire to have a name with some meaning.
Thank you for the link!
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