Somalia Naming Customs: Difference between revisions
m (Text replacement - "*[https://www.familysearch.org/en/surname '''FamilySearch's surname experience'''] - enter your last name to find its meaning and origin" to "*[https://www.familysearch.org/en/surname Surname experience] at FamilySearch - search by surname to learn its meaning and origin") |
(Created page with "{{Somalia-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb | link1=Somalia | link2= | link3= | link4= | link5=Personal Names }} __TOC__ {| |- |style="wi...") |
||
| (25 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ | {{Somalia-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb | ||
}}{{breadcrumb | |||
| link1=[[Somalia Genealogy|Somalia]] | | link1=[[Somalia Genealogy|Somalia]] | ||
| link2= | | link2= | ||
| link3= | | link3= | ||
| link4= | | link4= | ||
| link5=[[Somalia | | link5=[[Somalia Personal Names|Personal Names]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
__TOC__ | |||
{| | {| | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 21: | Line 15: | ||
|} | |} | ||
==Online Tools== | ==Online Tools== | ||
*[https://surnames.behindthename.com/names/usage/somali '''Behind the Name: Somalia Surnames'''] | |||
*[https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/somali '''Behind the Name: Somalia Given Names'''] | *[https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/somali '''Behind the Name: Somalia Given Names'''] | ||
== Surnames== | == Surnames== | ||
*The '''common order of names in Somali''': | *The '''common order of names in Somali''': | ||
:::::personal name + father’s personal name + paternal grandfather’s personal name | :::::personal name + father’s personal name + paternal grandfather’s personal name | ||
:::::Omar Elmi Dihoud (no family name) | :::::Omar Elmi Dihoud (no family name) | ||
*In order to identify any given Somali, | *In order to identify any given Somali, all three names must be used, although Somalis traditionally use only the first and second names to address someone. | ||
*'''Women do not traditionally change their names upon marrying'''; they keep their original names from their father and grandfather. | *'''Women do not traditionally change their names upon marrying'''; they keep their original names from their father and grandfather. | ||
*A typical Somali family may therefore be named as follows: | *A typical Somali family may therefore be named as follows: | ||
| Line 40: | Line 27: | ||
:::(son) Ali Omar Elmi | :::(son) Ali Omar Elmi | ||
:::(daughter) Roda Omar Elmi | :::(daughter) Roda Omar Elmi | ||
*In | *In Western societies, women may adopt their husband’s last name (that of his paternal grandfather) to adapt to local customs: | ||
:::e.g. the wife of Omar Elmi Dihoud may be known as Waris Abdi Dihoud. | :::e.g. the wife of Omar Elmi Dihoud may be known as Waris Abdi Dihoud. | ||
==Given Names== | ==Given Names== | ||
*There is a custom of | *There is a custom of naming first children Faduma in the case of girls and Muhammad for boys. | ||
*Male | *Male twins are traditionally named Hassan and Hussein. | ||
*The following naming practices should also be noted: | *The following naming practices should also be noted: | ||
:::a. Somalis commonly use | :::a. Somalis commonly use nicknames (‘naanays’), as many Somalis have similar names. As there no distinct family names, all names come from the same ‘pool’ of personal names. There are generally two types of nicknames: | ||
::::i. | ::::i. overt: those used to address the person so named, e.g. Raage (‘he who is delayed at birth’) and Gaal (‘foreigner–one who has lived abroad’); | ||
::::ii. | ::::ii. covert: those used in conversation about a person, but rarely face-toface, e.g. Laba sacle (‘man with only two cows’) and Wiil Waal (‘crazy boy’); | ||
:::b. Somali personal names are typically of | :::b. Somali personal names are typically of Cushitic or Arabic origin. The letter h is often exchanged for x in names, e.g. Mohammad / Maxammed. | ||
:::c. | :::c. common Somali Cushitic personal names include: | ||
::::i. male: Awaale, Waabberi, Arale / Caraale, Gutaale, Guleed; | ::::i. male: Awaale, Waabberi, Arale / Caraale, Gutaale, Guleed; | ||
:::d. | :::d. common Somali Arabic personal names include: | ||
::::i. male: Mohammad / Maxammed / Maxamud / Muxumed, Ahmed / Axmed, Hussein / Xusseen, Omar | ::::i. male: Mohammad / Maxammed / Maxamud / Muxumed, Ahmed / Axmed, Hussein / Xusseen, Omar; | ||
==For Further Reading== | ==For Further Reading== | ||
*[https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf '''A GUIDE TO NAMES AND NAMING PRACTICES, UK Names Guide'''] | *[https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf '''A GUIDE TO NAMES AND NAMING PRACTICES, UK Names Guide'''] | ||
| Line 63: | Line 48: | ||
[[Category:Somalia]] [[Category: | [[Category:Somalia]] [[Category:Personal Names]] | ||
Revision as of 13:19, 14 March 2021
| Somalia Wiki Topics | |
 | |
| Beginning Research | |
| Record Types | |
| Somalia Background | |
| Local Research Resources | |
|
|
Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names. |
Online Tools[edit | edit source]
Surnames[edit | edit source]
- The common order of names in Somali:
- personal name + father’s personal name + paternal grandfather’s personal name
- Omar Elmi Dihoud (no family name)
- In order to identify any given Somali, all three names must be used, although Somalis traditionally use only the first and second names to address someone.
- Women do not traditionally change their names upon marrying; they keep their original names from their father and grandfather.
- A typical Somali family may therefore be named as follows:
- (father) Omar Elmi Dihoud
- (son) Ali Omar Elmi
- (daughter) Roda Omar Elmi
- In Western societies, women may adopt their husband’s last name (that of his paternal grandfather) to adapt to local customs:
- e.g. the wife of Omar Elmi Dihoud may be known as Waris Abdi Dihoud.
Given Names[edit | edit source]
- There is a custom of naming first children Faduma in the case of girls and Muhammad for boys.
- Male twins are traditionally named Hassan and Hussein.
- The following naming practices should also be noted:
- a. Somalis commonly use nicknames (‘naanays’), as many Somalis have similar names. As there no distinct family names, all names come from the same ‘pool’ of personal names. There are generally two types of nicknames:
- i. overt: those used to address the person so named, e.g. Raage (‘he who is delayed at birth’) and Gaal (‘foreigner–one who has lived abroad’);
- ii. covert: those used in conversation about a person, but rarely face-toface, e.g. Laba sacle (‘man with only two cows’) and Wiil Waal (‘crazy boy’);
- b. Somali personal names are typically of Cushitic or Arabic origin. The letter h is often exchanged for x in names, e.g. Mohammad / Maxammed.
- c. common Somali Cushitic personal names include:
- i. male: Awaale, Waabberi, Arale / Caraale, Gutaale, Guleed;
- d. common Somali Arabic personal names include:
- i. male: Mohammad / Maxammed / Maxamud / Muxumed, Ahmed / Axmed, Hussein / Xusseen, Omar;
- a. Somalis commonly use nicknames (‘naanays’), as many Somalis have similar names. As there no distinct family names, all names come from the same ‘pool’ of personal names. There are generally two types of nicknames: