ESL Blogs

           Hello my friends!!

   Naming customs vary from one country to another. Having this huge diversification led me to ask this question: How did our ancestors around the world find their babies' names? Ethnic and religious customs and so many other factors can drive you to a strong, ethnically rooted, meaningful name. Is this not so? I have made some researches about naming customs in the world and I am going to cite about some countries

  Both in Russia and in the US, babies’ names are composed of three parts: a first name, middle name and a last name. A child is often is called using a pet name which is derived from the former one. For instance a baby named Mikhail is called ''Misha'' by his relatives. 

  Unlike many other European cultures, in Italy people like traditional names they simply choose their babies’ name from famous personalities.

   In Greece, the customs are quite different from Italy. And here, the gender of the baby determines which name will have. In the family you can notice that if the first-born was a boy, he is often named after his paternal grandfather. The same thing, if the baby was a female she usually named after her paternal grandmother. And other relatives would name the later-born children.

   Many things are taken into consideration when naming children in some African countries, like their own hopes or some important events. Therefore new born baby are given a complete name unless the first is once they are born and the latter at the celebrating day.

   A Malay names are usually like those of some Arabic-speaking countries which consist of a compound name, that is to say a first name followed by a patronymic name; which also appears in some African countries. Depending on the gender; like Bin a middle name for a boy as in ''Adnan Bin Daud'', which means ''Adnaa'' son of ''Daud''. The same thing for the girl using Bint as in ''Afrine Bint Daud’’ 
Which means ''Afrina'' daughter of ''Daud''.

   Historically, Arabic names were rooted on a chain of names that was especially used throughout Arabia and part of the Levant.

   I preferred to cite only a few countries, to show the most important differences. In addition, I want to get your feedback(s) and know more about your country.
   To make this blog informative and cultural, I would like to ask these questions which could assist you to present some part of your country’s traditions in naming customs:

     How do people in your country opt for their babies’ name? What is the system of naming children there?

  When I was born, my parents and elder siblings balloted on choosing my name. When my mom told me about the name that she had wished for me, I was surprised, and I didn’t like it because it was old-fashioned. Thank God my father’s choice won. By the way, Asmaa was the name of Abu Bakr Asedik’s daughter ‘’ Radiya Allah Anhoma’’ companion of the prophet Mohamed ‘’ peace be upon on him’’, my father named me on that basis. Asmaa means all names (in Arabic), and Sky (in Urdu).

  Appropriately, in my religion the father of the baby whispers in his/her ears and says the call of prayers to make the devil stay away from him/her. Then one member of the family slaughters a sheep as a delightful mark of his/her coming. People would meet on the seventh day after his/her birth to celebrate the arrival of the new baby.

  Here is my second question: How did your parents choose your name?
 

  The names that I like are: Mohamed, Ahmad, Ali and all names which come after Abdu El … (God names) such as Abdu El Wahab, names of angels like ''Gabriel'' and all prophets' name.

 Here is my third question: What are the names that you like ? What name do you wish you had, or are you satisfied with the name that you have?