The Tuvan language belongs to the Turkic language group. In addition, Mongolian elements are represented in the Tuvan language. This pattern is also reflected in proper names. They have long been important for the Tuvans.
History of origin of names
Modern Tuvan names were borrowed from the Mongols, Russians, Turkic peoples.
More recently, a child was not named immediately, but months, and sometimes years after his birth. Back in the 19th century, the boy received his "male" name at the age of about 10 years or more. Before that, he was simply called "son", "little boy", "baby" and so on.
This tradition originates from the legends and epic tales of the Tuvans, where it is explained that the naming occurs only when a young man gets a horse and becomes a man. So, for example, one of the heroes of epic tales, Khan-Buddai, received a name when he began to go hunting and was able to tame his horse, and the hero of epic tales, MegeSagaan-Toolai - just 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 way of naming reflects the strong desire of parents to see this or that feature in the baby, 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 area where the family lived, for example, Khemchik-ool (a river flowing 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 “terrible”, “bad” name to scare away the evil spirit. Along with a bad nickname, he was also given a worldly “real”, but it was not pronounced until the child grew up and got stronger. At present, this custom has disappeared, but among people of the older generation one can often meet people with such names and surnames that arose from them.
Method of education
All Tuvan names are divided into three groups by origin:
The first group is the original national names: Mergen - "wise", Anai "goat", Chechen - "graceful", Belek - "gift", Chechek - "flower",Maadyr - "hero"
Many names are two-syllable, 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 - "golden boy".
The second group includes those associated with Buddhism, they were modified according to phonetic laws. Tuvans often named children after Buddhist deities, Dolchan, Dolgar, Shogzhal
The children were also named after sacred Buddhist books, such as Manzyrykchy.
The third group includes Russian or borrowed from other European languages
It should be noted that Tuvans use names more often than surnames. A person is known by his personal nickname, in addition, until 1947, the surnames were the old names of the tribes.
Education of surnames and patronymics
In 1947, Tuvans were allowed to take Russian names and surnames, since tribal names that served as surnames were quantitatively limited.
As a result of this process, national Tuvan names became surnames, and Russian borrowed names became given names. For example, Tamara Kuskeldey, Alexander Davaa. This is especially true for the younger and middle generation.
Tuvan surnames lack certain endings that are typical for Russians.
Patronymic names are formedin the following ways:
- Suffixes are added to the father's name: -evich, -ovich for men; -evna, -ram for women. For example, Kyzyl-oolovna, Kyzyl-oolovich.
- Father's name is placed in third place without a suffix. For example, Tanova Sofia Sedip, Mongush Alexander Kyzyl-ool.
Fancy mens
According to the prevailing folk tradition, parents called the child strange to protect him from danger. He was given an unusual or ugly nickname. For example, Kodur-ool means "lichen". Often a boy was called a woman's name, and a girl was called a man's. Sometimes the children were even given a nickname. It was believed that such methods of naming drove away evil spirits from the child.
List of beautiful Tuvan names:
- Aylan - "nightingale",
- Aikhaan - “lunar khan”,
- Aldynkherel - "golden ray",
- Baazan - "born on Friday",
- Baylak - "prosperity",
- Belek - “educated”,
- Burbu - "born on Thursday",
- Maadyr - "hero",
- Mengiot - "mountain glacier",
- Mergen - "marksman",
- Chechen - “graceful”,
- Chimit - "immortal".
For women
Among Tuvans, male names are easily turned into female ones, replacing the element “ool” with “kys”, which means “girl”, “girl”, or “urug” - “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", this 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 - "goat",
- Karakys - "black girl",
- Olcha - "luck",
- Saarland - "milkmaid",
- Sailykmaa - “titmouse”,
- Syldysmaa - "star",
- Heralmaa - “beam”,
- Herel - "beam",
- Chechekmaa - “flower”,
- Chenne - "peony",
- Shuru - "beautiful".
Instead of a conclusion
Recently, Tuvans, along with national names for naming children, use borrowed from the Russian language.
Modern male names are predominantly Tuvan (of Turkic origin), as well as Mongolian, Russian, European, Tibetan.
Men's are easy to recognize by the end - ool, women's by -kys, -maa, -urug.
For Tuvans, naming has always been of great importance, as they believed in a mystical, magical and spiritual connection between an object and a word. Therefore, children were called words meaning positive qualities of character. Also popular are names derived from the name of the area in which the baby was born.
After the spread of Lamaism (16th century), Tuvans actively began to use Tibetan and Mongolian words and concepts for naming children. Buddhist names appeared - in honor of deities, philosophical terms, sacred books.
Often the lama chose the name of the child and whispered it in the right earmale child.
