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European Journal of Social Sciences - Volume 2, Number 1 (2006)
The Child Naming Game amongst the Xhosas
Nombulelo I. Monoana
University of Transkei
Faculty of Education
monoana@yahoo.com
Abstract
This paper reports on the findings of a study that looked at the various reasons Xhosa
Speakers have to give certain names to their children at birth. The findings of the study
indicate that child naming, generally speaking, is considered a very important activity. The
naming of persons is often intimately linked to the culture of people. Another important
finding is that Xhosa first names are usually semantically transparent. However, particular
naming conventions are also apparent. The reasons include wishes and prayers that the
parents have for their children in the future and also the feelings parents had prior to child
birth as well as during the birth of the child.
Deluzian, H.E (1996) reminds us that at one time anthropologists thought that some groups of people
were so “primitive” and unorganised that they did not use names. However, we now know that the
anthrops were mistaken and that the idea came about because research fieldworkers were not able to
get inside the minds of the people well enough to understand the customs and taboos that required that
the names be kept secret from strangers. The truth is that names are a part of every culture and that they
are of enormous importance both to the people who receive names as well as the society that gives the
name/s. This is true for Xhosas as well.
Among the Xhosas naming, generally speaking, is considered an important activity. The
naming of persons is often intimately linked to the culture of the Xhosas. Among the Xhosas, names
are not only given to the children but also to bride when the sons get married. Perhaps, this is due to
the fact that the brides are regarded as new children to the family when they come. This article,
however, is about child naming amongst the Xhosas.
There is a great deal of differences in from one culture to another in how names are given.
Amongst most people names are determined according to very definite and specific rules. Generally, in
cultures with a keen sense of ancestry children get their names from the totems and family trees of their
parents. In some cultures, names are taken from events that happen during the pregnancy of the mother,
or shortly before or after the birth of a child and in others names are derived through magic and
incantation.
In the process of giving names it becomes important for the givers to bear in mind that without
a name, as far as the society is concerned, one would be nobody. Hathurani, M.A.M (2001) reminds us
that it is the infant’s vested right to be honoured with a good name. This then indicates that when
choosing a name for the child, that should be done with the intention that the child will be blessed with
the barakah of that name. When a name is attached to a person certain specific forms of intelligence
are stimulated. It is conscious forces that are combined to create a complete person one can identify.
Without a name, one has no connection to one’s true identity. In a similar vein, Neethling, S.J. (1994)
contends that it is a common practice for parents to embody in the name the expectations they might
have for that child in the future. As the child grows up, the name serves as an inspiration to him.
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