The names worn by the peoples of the North Caucasus are considered homogeneous. They are formed on the basis of the same principles for all mountain peoples and have much in common. At the same time, each Caucasian nation has its own traditions of naming. In our article, we consider the origin and significance of Ossetian names: female and male. Here we’ll tell you which of them are the most popular and modern for boys and girls of Ossetia.
The origin of Ossetian names
All the names of the Ossetian people can be divided into three large groups. Their formation was influenced by various factors, such as religion or capture by other peoples.
The first group includes primordial or national names associated with the heroes and characters of the Nart epic. In the legends about the adventures of the Narts, the heroes-heroes possess unprecedented strength and courage. Famous sledges from legends were called: Atsamaz, Soslan, Akhsar, Akhsartag, Ouarhag and others. Therefore, it is no coincidence that parents give their children just such Ossetian names: male or female.
The second group includes names whose appearance is associated with the development of Christianity. Moreover, during their formation two forms were formed at once: Russian and Georgian. These are the names: Michal, Dimitar, Vano, Vaso, Elijah and others. Most of them remain popular at present.
The third group includes names that are formed under the influence of the Muslim religion. Most of them were of Arab origin (Murat, Alikhan, Amina, Muslim) and Turkic (Dengiz, Uzbek, Abay). Many Ossetian names came from Iranian peoples, which are considered the ancestors of Ossetians (Alan, Alana, Roksolan, Roksolana, Sarmatia).
List of Ossetian names of the Nart epic
All the names of the Nart epic are associated with interesting legends and tales. These are names such as:
- Allar.
- Atsamaz.
- Agunda.
- Arshaemoeg.
- Zante.
- Kuiji.
- Ahsar.
- Ahsartagh.
- Ahsarbek.
- Warhag.
- Wary.
- Exiled.
- Saynagon.
- Fyron.
- other.
In total, there are over 50 original Ossetian names. Almost every one of them was worn by some outstanding hero of the Nart epic. So, for example, Ahsartag (Ahsar) is a name very popular among Ossetians. Akhsartag was a valiant warrior and ancestor of one of the famous Ossetian clans. The next hero of the epic - Warhag - wore a sled, the father of the twin brothers Ahsar and Ahsartag. Translated from Old Ossetian, the name means "wolf".
Many Ossetian names are associated with the totemic beliefs of the people: Arshaemog came from the word "arsha" - "bear", Uari means "falcon", Fyron - "ram", Kuyji - "dog" and others. Female names are mainly derived from the names of precious stones and metals: Zarina (Zalina) means "gold", Ferdyg from the Ossetian language is translated as "bead" and others.
Christian names and their meaning
Russian and Georgian missionaries who spread Christianity among Ossetian peoples brought Christian and biblical traditions of naming to this territory, having ancient Greek, Hebrew and Latin origin. Today they are one of the most common among the population of North and South Ossetia.
Ossetian male names include: Aleg (light, sacred), Athanas (immortal), Bogdan (given by God), Ivan (God's grace), Cyril (lord), Sergi (high, venerable), Raman (Roman) and others.
Ossetian female names are formed by changing Russian endings: Aza (strong, strong), Annae (mercy, grace), Katya (pure, immaculate), Irae (peace, tranquility), Marine (sea), etc. They are also popular in Ossetia, as well as native or national.
Names of Turkic-Arabian origin
Names of Turkic-Arab origin deeply entered the Ossetian language and are already considered traditional for this people. The male names of this group include Aydar, Aslan, Babai, Basa, Bebe, Gurgen, Dashka, Dzagur, Kermen, Murat, Muslim, Khan, Genghis, Batyr, Dengiz, Elbai, Tambi, Tamerlan, Uzbek, Iman, Hassan and others.
Female Ossetian names are also transferred to the Ossetian language by Islam. These include: Bibi, Alimat, Amina, Jamila, Zeida, Leila, Mecca, Muslimat, Nissa, Shahidat, Tahira, Fatima and others.
Popular Ossetian male names
The names that are most often called the newborn Ossetians today have a different origin. Parent choice is more influenced by family traditions, religion, and personal preferences.
Such Ossetian names for boys are popular today:
- Aslan is a lion.
- Alan is the most significant.
- Soslan is a hero, a hero of the Nart epic.
- Azamat is the great.
- Atsamaz is a character of the Nart epic, singer and musician.
- Rustam is a giant, a giant, a hero of a Persian folk epos.
- Murat is welcome.
- Timar is iron.
- Tamerlan is an iron lion.
- Zaur - master, chief.
- Islam is good, healthy, right.
- Kazbek is a judge, fair.
The list contains exactly those names that, according to statistics, most often call newborn children in Ossetia. But recently, parents began to pay attention to the primordial and national, who wore ancient sledges.
Modern female Ossetian names
Many female names among Ossetian peoples are associated with the names of precious stones or emphasize certain character traits of its owner.
Popular Ossetian names (female):
- Zarina is gold.
- Sati is real, sensual.
- Alana is divine, noble. This is the female form from the male Alan, formed by adding the ending -a.
- Zarema is rich.
- Madina - "big city" is translated from Arabic. Derived from the name of the city of Medina.
- Zemfira is rebellious.
- Tamara - "came from the male Tamar and means" date palm. "
The beautiful names of the Ossetian people are not only those children who were born on the territory of these republics. In all of Russia, you can increasingly meet children whose names are Timur, Tamerlan, Rustam, Sati, Alan, Zarina, etc.