ProWriters Hub(W2) : What is in a name, Local names, popular names and the act of naming by @chiomavia

Special greetings to all members of steemalive community. I welcome you all to my blog today. In today's article I would be writing about name and the act of naming. Every living thing on Earth has a name, a name by which they are identified. They name given to an individual is an identity. Through a person's name you would know his/her ethnicity and even family background.

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Name

A name is word or group of word given to a person, animal, place or thing for identification. A name signify identity. Name is a label given to a person. A person's name is used by others to address the person. Some examples of a person's name include Olivia, Precious, Byron, Kenneth , Annabel, Amarachi, Damilola etc.

Every name given to a person has a meaning. The meaning of a name most times reflect on the person bearing the name.

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Naming

Naming is the act of giving a name to someone or something. There are things that are considered before a name is given to a person. The situation surrounding the birth of the person, the physical look of the baby when he or she is born, and the time or season when the baby is born are considered before naming a child.

In Igbo land, every person has three names, the surname name, the first name and the middle name. The surname is the father's or grandfather's name, it is also known as the family name. It is a general name every member of the family bears. It signifies the identity of a person. When you are looking for a person in his /her hometown, the moment you mention the family name you will be directed to the family house immediately.

The first name and the second name are your official names. They are the names given during the naming ceremony. The first name is always an English name, while the second name is usually your native name. Though some persons first name and second name are English names or native names respectively.

During naming ceremony, family and friends come together to name a child, this usually takes place on the 7th day after the birth of a child. Before the day of the ceremony, the parents of the child must have agreed on the name to be given to their child. The chosen name is then pronounced on the naming ceremony day. Every family or friend present on the day of the naming, might decide to give the child a special name too.

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My name

Created by Pixel Lab.

My name is Olivia Chioma Nnawuihe. My first name, Olivia is a Latin word which means peace/Olive tree in English Language. My grandfather was the person that gave me my first name. He choose Olivia because of the peace I brought to my family during my birth.

My second name Chioma, is an Igbo word which means Good God. The name was given to me by my mother.
My surname is Nnawuihe, it is an Igbo word which means Father is something.

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HOW NAMES ARE FORMED IN MY HOME TOWN.

I'm from Nguru umuaro, Ngor Okpala, Imo state. In my hometown names are formed according to the circumstances surrounding the person's birth and how beautiful the child looked after birth.
Names like Obianuju "come in abundance", Akunna- "father's wealth", Ujuaku - "abundance of wealth", Obiageri- "she that comes must eat", Akajiaku-"beholder of wealth" are given to a children born in affluence.

Names like Nwanyinma- "Woman of beauty", Mmasinachi- "Beauty is from God", Ugomma- "Eagle of Beauty" are given to a child that look very beautiful.

Names like Chikwendu- "may God approve of life", Onwuasoanya- "Death fears no one", are given to a child if the parents have experience countless child death.

In the olden days, children are name after the four market days- Eke, Orie, Afor, Nkwo. Then we had names like Mgbeorie, Mgbeeke, Nkwoji etc

Popular male names in my community.

• Uchechukwu- The will of God.

• Ikechukwu - God's strength.

• Tochukwu -Praise God.

• Uzoma - Good Road.

• Chukwuebuka - God is great.

Popular female names in my community.

• Chioma - Good God.

• Anurika - Joy is the greatest.

• Ozioma - Good news.

• Ndidi - Patience.

• Chidimma - God is good.

Names I admire and names I do not like

There are names I so much love and would want to give to my children. These names are quite unique and they have great meaning. I love names like;
Chidiadi - There is God.
Zikora - show to the world,
Kosisochukwu - as it pleases the Lord,
Chizaram - God answered me.
Somtochukwu - let's praise the lord.
I love these names and I develop love for anyone that bears these names.

I don't like name like Mgbeeke(born on eke market) the name sounds weird and is mostly beared by uncultured girls.

The name I gave myself was Margaret. I choice Margaret as my confirmation name. Margaret is a Greek word meaning pearl.

I formed my steemit username from my two names Chioma and Olivia, that gave me chiomavia.

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Conclusion

Names are very symbolic. Your name is your identity. With just your name , people can determine where you come from. Names promote our culture.
Parents should give find out the true meaning of the name the intend giving their children because names has great effect on our destinies.

Thank you.