Ossetian names: origin and meaning. List of contemporary Ossetian names

The names worn by the peoples of the North Caucasus are considered homogeneous. They are formed on the basis of the same principles for all mountain peoples and have much in common. At the same time, each Caucasian nation has its own traditions of naming. In this article, let's look at the origin and significance of Ossetian names: women's and men's names. Here we will tell you which of them are the most popular and modern for boys and girls in Ossetia.

Origin of Ossetian names

All the names of the Ossetian people can be divided into three large groups. Their formation was influenced by various factors, such as religion or capture by other peoples.

The first group includes native or national names associated with heroes and characters of the Nart epic. In tales of the adventures of the sleds heroes-heroes possess unprecedented strength and courage. Famous sledges from the legends were called: Atsamaz, Soslan, Ahsar, Akhsartag, Oarkhag and others. Therefore, it is no coincidence that parents give their children exactly such Ossetian names: male or female.

The second group includes names whose appearance is associated with the development of Christianity. And with their formation, two forms were formed at once: Russian and Georgian. These are the names: Michal, Dimitar, Vano, Vaso, Elias and others. Most of them remain popular nowadays.

The third group includes names that were formed under the influence of the Muslim religion. Most of them were of Arab origin (Murat, Alikhan, Amina, Muslim) and Turkic (Dengiz, Uzbek, Abai). Many Ossetian names came from the Iranian peoples, who are considered to be the ancestors of the Ossetians (Alan, Alan, Roksolan, Roksolana, Sarmat).

List of Ossetian names of the Nart epic

All the names of the Nart epic are associated with interesting legends and legends. These are such names as:

• Allar.
• Atsamaz.
• Agunda.
• Arshamog.
• Zvante.
• Kuiji.
• Ahsar.
• Ahsartag.
• Ahsarbek.
• Oarkhag.
• Huari.
• Sent.
• Sinagon.
• Firon.
• and others.

In total, there are over 50 native Ossetian names. Almost every one of them was worn by some outstanding hero of the Nart epic. For example, Ahsartagh (Ahsar) is a name very popular among Ossetians. Akhsartag was a valiant warrior and ancestor of one of the famous Ossetian clans. The next hero of the epic - Oarkhag - wore a sled, the father of the twin brothers Ahsar and Ahsartag. In translation from the Old Ossetian name means "wolf".

Many Ossetian names are associated with the totemic beliefs of the people: Arshamogh came from the word "arsha" - "bear", Huari means "falcon," Fyron - "ram," Kuiji - "dog" and others. Female names mostly derive from the names of precious stones and metals: Zarina (Zalina) means "gold," Ferdig from the Ossetian language translates as "bead" and others.

Christian names and their meaning

Russian and Georgian missionaries who spread Christianity among the Ossetian peoples brought to this territory Christian and biblical traditions of the name of the noun, which have ancient Greek, Hebrew and Latin origins. Even today they are among the most widespread among the population of North and South Ossetia.

To the male Ossetian names belong: Aleg (light, sacred), Athanas (immortal), Bogdan (given by God), Ivan (God's grace), Cyril (master), Sergi (high, respectable), Raman (Roman) and others.

Ossetian women's names are formed by changing Russian endings: Aza (strong, strong), Anaia (mercy, grace), Katya (pure, undefiled), Ira (peace, quiet), Marine (sea), etc. They are also popular In Ossetia, as well as native or national.

Names of the Turkic-Arabic origin

The names of the Turkic-Arab origin deeply entered the Ossetian language and are already considered traditional for this people. The male names of this group include Aidar, Aslan, Babai, Basa, Bebe, Gurgen, Dashka, Dzagur, Kermen, Murat, Muslim, Khan, Chingiz, Batyr, Dengiz, Elbay, Tambi, Tamerlan, Uzbek, Iman, Hasan and others.

Female Ossetian names are also transferred to the Ossetian language by Islam. These include: Bibi, Alimat, Amina, Jamila, Zeid, Leila, Mecca, Muslim, Nissa, Shahidat, Taira, Fatima and others.

Popular Ossetian names for men

Names, which are more often called newborn Ossetians, have different origins. The choice of parents is more influenced by family traditions, religion and personal preferences.

Today such Ossetian names for boys are popular:

• Aslan - the lion.
• Alan is the most significant.
• Soslan is a hero, a hero of the Nart epic.
• Azamat is a great one.
• Atsamaz is a character of the Nart epic, a singer and musician.
• Rustam is a giant, a giant, a hero of the Persian folk epic.
• Murat is coveted.
• Timar is iron.
• Tamerlane is an iron lion.
• Zaur is the master, the chief.
• Islam is fine, healthy, right.
• Kazbek is a judge, fair.

The list includes exactly those names, which, according to statistics, are most often called newborn children in Ossetia. But recently, parents began to pay attention to the ancestral and national, who wore ancient sledges.

Modern female names are Ossetian

Many women's names among Ossetian peoples are associated with the names of precious stones or emphasize certain features of the nature of its owner.

Popular Ossetian names (female):

• Zarina is gold.
• Sati is real, sensual.
• Alana is divine, noble. This is a female form from the male Alan, formed by adding the ending -a.
• Zarema is rich.
• Madina - from the Arabic language is translated "big city". Happened from the name of the city of Medina.
• Zemfira is rebellious.
• Tamara - "came from the male Tamar and means" date palm ".

Beautiful names of the Ossetian people are called not only those children who were born on the territory of these republics. In all of Russia it is increasingly possible to meet children called Timur, Tamerlane, Rustam, Sati, Alan, Zarina, etc.