Tuvan language belongs to the Turkic language group. In addition, Mongolian elements are represented in the Tuvan language . This pattern is reflected in their own names. They have long been important for Tuvans.
Name Origin History
Modern Tuvan names were borrowed from the Mongols, Russian, Turkic peoples.
More recently, the child was not named immediately, but months, and sometimes years after his birth. Back in the 19th century, the boy received his "masculine" name at the age of about 10 years or more. Prior to that, he was called simply “son”, “little boy”, “baby” and so on.
This tradition originates from the traditions and epic tales of Tuvans, where it is explained that the naming occurs only when a young man receives a horse and becomes a man. So, for example, one of the heroes of epic legends Khan-Buddai received a name when he began to go hunting and was able to tame his horse, and the hero of epic legends Mege Sagaan-Tolay - only before the trip for his bride.
Many Tuvan names are associated with the appearance of the child, his temperament or character. For example, Biche-ool is translated as “little boy”, Kara-kys - “black girl”, Uzun – ool - “long boy” and so on.
Often, the method of naming reflects the strong desire of the parents to see one or another feature in the kid, for example, Maadyr is translated as “hero”, Mergen - “wise”.
There are names among the people that were given by the name of a certain subject: Despizhek - “trough”.
Girls were often named after beautiful birds, plants, animals, for example, Saylykmaa - “titmouse”, Choduraa - “bird cherry”. The most common Tuvan female name is Chechek - “flower”.
Sometimes children were named after the locality where the family lived, for example, Khemchik-ool (a river that flows into the Yenisei).
Even at the beginning of the 20th century, if children died in the family, then the child was given some kind of “scary”, “bad” name in order to scare away the evil spirit. Along with a bad nickname, he was given the mundane "present", but he was not uttered until the child grew up and got stronger. Currently, this custom has disappeared, but among people of the older generation you can often find people with such names and the names that arose on their basis.
Way of education
All Tuvan names by origin are divided into three groups:
- The first group is traditionally national names: Mergen - “wise”, Anai “kid”, Chechen - “graceful”, Belek - “gift”, Chechek - “flower”, Maadyr - “hero”.
Many names are two-syllable, they consist of several components, for example, Belek-Bayyr - “gift and holiday”, Aldyn-Kherel - “golden ray”.
The most common component of Tuvan names for boys is the word “ool”, which translates as “boy”, “guy”. For example, Aldyn-ool is a “golden boy”.
- The second group includes those that are associated with Buddhism, they were modified according to phonetic laws. Often, Tuvans named children in honor of Buddhist deities, Dolchan, Dolgar, Shogzhal.
Children were also named in honor of the sacred Buddhist books, for example, Manzyrykchy.
- The third group includes Russian or borrowed from other European languages.
It should be noted that the names of Tuvans are used more often than surnames. A person is known by his personal nickname, in addition, until 1947, the names of the people were the old names of the tribes.
The formation of surnames and patronymics
In 1947, Tuvans were allowed to take Russian names and surnames, since the tribal names that served as surnames were quantitatively limited.
As a result of this process, national Tuvan names became surnames, and Russian borrowed names. For example, Kuskeldey Tamara, Davaa Alexander. This is especially true for the younger and middle generation.
Tuvan surnames lack specific endings that are characteristic of Russians.
Patronymics are formed in the following ways:
- Suffixes are added to the father's name: -evich, -ovich for men; -evna, -ovna for women. For example, Kyzyl-oolovna, Kyzyl-oolovich.
- The name of the father is put in third place without a suffix. For example, Tanova Sofia Sedip, Mongush Alexander Kyzyl-ool.
Fancy man
According to popular tradition, parents called the child strange to protect him from danger. He picked up an unusual or ugly nickname. For example, Kodur-ool means "lichen." Often the boy was called a woman's name, and the girl was called a man's. Sometimes the children were even given a nickname. It was believed that such methods of admonition drove evil spirits away from the child.
List of beautiful Tuvan names:
- Islan - the nightingale
- Ayhaan - "moon khan"
- Aldynherel - the "golden ray",
- Baazan - “born on Friday”,
- Baylak - “wealth”,
- Belek - "educated",
- Burbu - “born on Thursday”,
- Maadyr is a “hero”
- Mengiot - “mountain glacier”,
- Mergen - “marksman”,
- Chechen - “elegant”,
- Chimit is "immortal."
For women
For Tuvans, male names are easily turned into female names, replacing the element “ool” with “kys”, which means “girl”, “girl”, or “Urugu” - “daughter”, “child”. For example, Aldyn-kys “golden girl”, Ak-Urug “white child”.
One of the characteristic indicators of Tuvan names for girls is the component “maa”, it is a Tibetan word that means “mother”. For example, Saylykmaa - “titmouse”, Chechekmaa - “flower”.
List of popular Tuvan female names:
- Azunda - meaning unknown
- Aisuu - “moon water”,
- Anai - "kid",
- Karakys is a “black girl”,
- Olcha - “luck”
- Saar - “milkmaid”,
- Saylykmaa - “titmouse”,
- Sildysmaa - the "star",
- Heralmaa - “ray”,
- Herel - “ray”,
- Chechekmaa - “flower”,
- Schanne is a "peony",
- Shuru is “beautiful.”
Instead of a conclusion
Recently, Tuvans, along with their national names, use borrowed from the Russian language to name children.
Modern male names are mainly Tuvan (of Turkic origin), as well as Mongolian, Russian, European, Tibetan.
It’s easy to recognize men’s by the end - ool, women in –kys, -maa, -rug.
For Tuvans, the name has always been of great importance, since they believed in a mystical, magical and spiritual connection between the object and the word. Therefore, children were called words meaning positive qualities of character. Also popular are names formed from the name of the locality in which the baby is born.
After the spread of Lamaism (16th century), Tuvans actively began to use Tibetan and Mongolian words and concepts to name children. Buddhist names appeared - in honor of deities, philosophical terms, sacred books.
Often the name was picked up by a llama and whispered in the right ear of a male child.