Where Does Your Name Come From?

Where Does Your Name Come From?

            Naming customs are different around the world. For example, not everyone has the same number of names. In some countries, such as Indonesia, many people have just one name. In most cultures, however, people have at least two names: a family name and a given name. Your given name is the name you receive when you are born. Your family name is the name you share with other people in your family.

Where Does Your Name Come From?

            In the United States, the family name is called the last name, and the given name is often called the first name. However, the order of the two names is not the same everywhere. For example, in many Asian countries, the family name is the first and the given name is second. When two people from different cultures meet, sometimes they use the incorrect name. This can cause embarrassment. 

Where Does Your Name Come From?

         Family names can show something about a family's early history. The origin of many English family names is a place, like London, or a job, such as Farmer or Shoemaker. A long time ago, these families probably worked as farmers or as shoemakers. Swedish and Danish family names often mean son of ____. For example, Johansson means son of Johan. In South Korea, there are only about 250 family names. These names go back hundreds of years to very old clans, or large group of families. About half of all Koreans have one of the three most common family names - Kim, Park, or Lee. This can cause a problem, because many Koreans believe you should not marry a person with the same last name. This means Koreans must be very careful whom they fall in love with!

Where Does Your Name Come From?

            There is generally no choice about a family name, but there is much more choice about given names.  Parents choose their child's name for many different reasons. They may select a name that sounds beautiful or means something special. These names may have meanings like peaceful or happiness. In some cultures, there may be a connection between children's names and when or how they were born. For example, a Yoruba child in Nigeria might have a name like Sunday or Born on a Sunny Day. In some countries, parents may pay money to a professional baby namer to help them find a good name. They want to find a name that will be lucky for their child.

Where Does Your Name Come From?

         It is also common to give a child a name that is the same as the name of a parent or grandparent. Another common choice is the name of a famous religious person. For example, many Mexicans choose names such as Jesus or Maria. Many Egyptians have the name of the Muslim leader, Muhammed. Parents may choose the name of a singer or actor. Sometimes names become popular for a short time. For example, some parents in the United States and Kenya chose the name Barack after Barack Obama became the president of the United States. Other parents want a name that is unusual or unique. In China, many people have the same family name, so some parents invent new given names. They want their children to be a little different from other children.

Where Does Your Name Come From?

      There are many different naming customs, and parents all over the world choose their children's names very carefully. Your name may tell something about your history and culture, or it may be unique. It may honor a family member or a famous person. It may have a special meaning. Do you know why your parents chose your name?