Buryat names: from repressions to modern times

Virtually all Buryat names were borrowed from other languages: Tibetan and Sanskrit. But it happened quite a long time ago, more than three hundred years ago. That is why in modern times, most Buryats do not even suspect that some of their names do not have a folk story at all. They are perceived as their own. It should be noted that when using other languages in the compilation of names, their sound will be significantly different, since the peculiarities of the language take place.

Names of older generations

The people who were born before 1936 were called too difficult. That is, the first Buryat names were composed of several words. For example, "Garmazhal" means that a person is "protected by a star", or "Dashi-Dondog" - "creating happiness". In addition, the names of the older generation clearly show the influence of religious worldviews. Given that Tibetans and Buryats have the same religion, calling the child, first of all, attention was paid to how exactly he will be protected by higher forces. By the way, it was the same religion that caused the names of Tibetans to take root in Buryatia. You should pay attention to the grammatical traditions, because because of them there were no divisions into the male and female sex. Both the boy and the girl could be called alike.

Repression names

After 1936, when the time came in repression, the Buryat names suffered significant changes. Now they used their native language. Boys, as a rule, were called various adjectives. For example, "Zorigto", which means "brave". The girls were called so that their name sounded feminine gentle notes ("Sesegma" - "flower"). And also the color characteristics begin to be used, the child can have a name like "Ulaan Baatar" - "Red Bogatyr". However, even at this time the Tibetan traditions still do not leave the culture of the Buryats.

Double and "multi-colored" Buryat names

Later, already in 1946, there are double names. But they, too, are not of a truly Buryat character, since they are made using Tibetan and Sanskrit languages. For example, "Genin-Dorzho" is a "diamond friend". But at this time the most beautiful Buryat names appear. They can mean "ray", "joy", "hero" or, for example, "jewel". Thus, native names are distributed only in 1970.

Foreign fashion trends when naming children

A few decades ago there was a fashion for calling a kid foreign. That is why the Buryat names until 2000 differ in variety. They came from European and English. This trend caused the Buryats to forget about their own culture and to join others, including the Russian one.

Restoring the native culture and traditions

For a long time this state of affairs could not remain normal, and soon people began to return to their own traditions. That is why Buryat modern names are as close to the original culture. To date, the head of any family at the birth of the child appeals to the monks to help them with the name. They look at the stars and call the baby as they are told by cosmic lights.