Chuvash names - derived from the Christian religion and the influence of Islam

The formation of names in Chuvashia was greatly influenced by the presence of two religious cultures. Initially, when the republic was dominated by Islam, the Chuvash names were consonant with Islamic traditions. After the transition to Christianity, the situation changed radically, and people were checked against Orthodox books.

The influence of the popular mentality of different religions

V. K. Magnitsky for writing his book "Chuvash Pagan Names" conducted a grandiose study of their significance. He paid special attention to the study of male names. In this case it is clear that among them there are many derivatives, both from Russian and Tatar. That is quite explained by the territorial proximity of peoples.

The most common Russian name in Chuvashia was transformed at different times in Vanyuh, Vanyush, Vanyushka.

Of particular interest is the dictionary of NI Egorov, for the sake of which he conducted a series of studies of women's names. The main conclusion is that the main Chuvash names given to the girls were borrowed from the Tatar language.

Pagan beliefs

In ancient times, parents of newborn children often named them in honor of different animals. This was done in the case when the family survived the death of two or more children. It was believed that this way you can deceive fate and pull the child out of the paws of certain death.

Examples are such characteristic names of girls as Chakak, which means "forty", or Chekes, from Tatar - "swallow".

However, even now there are women who believe in this belief and call babies the names of birds or animals. A pagan sign is observed when a woman repeatedly repeats miscarriages. Then the unborn child is given an animal name to protect him from the dark forces.

Beautiful names of the Chuvash children

With the adoption of Christianity Chuvash names have undergone significant changes. Pagan names have practically disappeared, but still continue to be used.

Pre-Christian names are usually given to unbaptized children, babies from Muslim families, as well as to supporters of ancient rituals and traditions.

Even now they continue to use quite sonorous Chuvash names, male and female. Each of them has its own meaning:

• Sarpi is beautiful;
• Savatepi - loving;
• Ilempi is beauty;
• Salampi - friendly;
• Karsak is a hare;
• Ulput is the master;
• Pujan is rich;
• Илпек - abundance.

Current statistics

According to registrars, parents increasingly began to choose for their newborns the old Chuvash and beautiful Russian names. Boys are called:

• Kirill;
• Artem;
• Egor;
• Novel;
• Alexander;
• Maksim.

When a Chuvash woman's name is chosen, parents often choose Anastasia, Valeria, Anna, Sofya, Daria, Polina. More and more popular are quite unusual names, such as:

• Vlastilina;
• Dolphin;
• Madonna;
• Dzhenevyev;
• Milyausha;
• Khadija.

The latter name is directly related to Islam, after all, the first wife of the prophet was called, and Islam has firmly entered many areas of Chuvashia.

The names coming from the antiquity of Chuvashia lag far behind the Russian-speaking people. But still the adherents of traditions try not to depart from local beliefs and call their girls:

• Synerpy;
• Pinesley;
• Pinerpi;
• Salambi.

Statistics show that the names of church calendars and works of classical Russian literature are popular. So, for boys, the name was increasingly chosen:

• Gordey;
• Prokhor;
• Elisha;
• Sava;
• Demian;
• Ustin;
• Zahar;
• Saveliy;
• Matvey.

If literally fifty years ago in Chuvashia only names, coming from antiquity and connected with paganism, were quite common, now more and more parents are choosing ordinary Russians.

Famous names in Chuvashia

There are many people in the republic who prefer to honor the memory of their outstanding ancestors. If earlier the choice of name was based on rarity, sonority or popularity, now this issue in remote areas of Chuvashia is more serious.

Increasingly, the name of great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers is chosen for the child. Associate this trend with increasing interest in the origins of the family and attempts to preserve its foundations. In particular, quite often there are the following names:

• Damir;
• Luke;
• Gleb;
• Edward;
• Stepanida;
• Svyatoslav;
• Taisia.

But the most famous names in Chuvashia are Setner and Narspi, from the same name by Konstantin Ivanov "Narspi".

Afterword

The history of the Chuvash names has not been without outside influence. Their education was based on the native dialect, Russian, Persian and Arabic.

In times of ancestors and the spread of paganism, there was a curious custom. A week after the birth of the baby, he underwent the procedure of naming. This ceremony was conducted only by the oldest and wise priest.

Until then, the newly born child was given the name Yatsar, which in translation means "nameless." Select the next name, thereby decide the fate, only the person who conducted the rite could.