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ArchivesIn search of the etymologies of these names...
Hello,
I am looking for some information on the meanings of these girls names from the Kikuyu culture of Kenya.
Wangari
Wanjiru
Wanjiku
Njeri
Wairimu
Wangui
Waithira
They are the names of seven of the nine daughters of the legendary forefather of the Kikuyu, Gikuyu.
I have managed to find the meanings of the remaining two names, Wambui ("zebra") and Nyambura ("of the rain").
Thank you so much!
I am looking for some information on the meanings of these girls names from the Kikuyu culture of Kenya.
Wangari
Wanjiru
Wanjiku
Njeri
Wairimu
Wangui
Waithira
They are the names of seven of the nine daughters of the legendary forefather of the Kikuyu, Gikuyu.
I have managed to find the meanings of the remaining two names, Wambui ("zebra") and Nyambura ("of the rain").
Thank you so much!
1
Replies
I found "Wangari" to mean "leopard" in enough places (not only questionable "baby names" websites) that I would trust this meaning, e.g. here (although in German):
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikuyu_(Ethnie)
Interestingly that page gives a meaning of "female singer" for "Wambui", and not "zebra".
Edit: Just found this:
"This name translated literally means 'of stripes' that is why the zebra in Kikuyu is called wambui micore (pronounced mishoore). So, it is thought that the name Wambui is derived from some name-link association with the zebra."
http://www.babynology.com/meaning-wambui-f37.html
That zebra is not simply "wambui", but indeed "wambui micore" can be seen on pages like the following one:
http://hubpages.com/education/The-Kikuyu-Language
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikuyu_(Ethnie)
Interestingly that page gives a meaning of "female singer" for "Wambui", and not "zebra".
Edit: Just found this:
"This name translated literally means 'of stripes' that is why the zebra in Kikuyu is called wambui micore (pronounced mishoore). So, it is thought that the name Wambui is derived from some name-link association with the zebra."
http://www.babynology.com/meaning-wambui-f37.html
That zebra is not simply "wambui", but indeed "wambui micore" can be seen on pages like the following one:
http://hubpages.com/education/The-Kikuyu-Language
This message was edited 3/19/2016, 9:55 AM
1
Thank you so much for your response!
That is very interesting about Wangari and Wambui. I was told by a Kikuyu speaker that Wambui meant "zebra" as a shortening of wambui micore, so I am very interested to know that the literal meaning is "of stripes".
That is very interesting about Wangari and Wambui. I was told by a Kikuyu speaker that Wambui meant "zebra" as a shortening of wambui micore, so I am very interested to know that the literal meaning is "of stripes".
1