Besides their own Kalmyk names, Kalmyks also use
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
and
Tibetan names, which came into their culture through
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
. Contemporary Kalmyks can also have Russian and other European names, due to the Kalmyks' orientation towards the Russian language, after they joined
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
.
[V.P. Darbakova: Kalmyks // Systems of personal names among the peoples of the world / Edited: Kryukov M.V., Dzharylgasinova R. Sh, Nikonov VA Reshetov A. M .. - M .: Science, 1989. - 194 p.]
Original Kalmyk ''individual names from a
semantic point of view'':
# The names of folk Kalmyk heroes - Sanal, Mergen, Tzayatr, Khontr, Mingian, Savr;
# Derived from place names - Elistina, Ytsl, Altzkhuta, Kolor;
# Words that describe colour or number - Tzatan (white), Notan (green), Ulan (red), Zurtan (six), Tavn (five);
# Words that describe positive personal traits: Söökhlö (beautiful - female), Duya (gracious - female), Bata (tough);
# Words that describe worldly goods - Bayn (wealth), Dzhirgan (happiness, life), Bayr (joy), Altn (gold).
Tibetan and
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
''individual names from a
semantic point of view'':
# Astronomical objects - Angarak (Mars), Bembö (Saturn), Adyan (Sun);
# Buddhist terms - Sants (enlightened), Buinta (goodness);
# Positive personal traits and properties - Dzhav (protection), Tzeren (long life).
Throughout history, ''Kalmyks were known for using
amulet-names'':
# Words denoting animal names - Chon (wolf), Elya (eagle), Nokha (dog), Ayuka (bear cub);
# Different plant names - Tzetzgö (flower);
# Among the names given to protect someone from "bad spirits", non-Kalmyk names with distinctive transcription were also used - Vazki (from Vasiliy), Mikula (from Nicolay), Yagur (from Yegor). Some contemporary Kalmyk surnames are derived from amulet-names: Nokhaev, Chonov, Chonaev.
Double names were also quite well spread among the Kalmyks (in the Yandyko-Mochazhny, Khosheytsky and Erketenevsky uluses) - Sanzh-Garya (in the Khosheutsky Kalmyk ulus Sants-Ara), Erdny-Khal, Tzeren-Dorts. Today, double names are reserved for patronymics. Another Kalmyk custom was that of the khadm (name taboo), required by a new wife. When entering her husband's family, she would create a new name, by distorting his parents' names, instead of Badm -Yadm, instead of Dorts - Yerts.
After the introduction of the Russian administration (in the 16th century), Kalmyks received family names, derived from that of the father, like - Erdnyev (from Erdny), Badmaev (from Badma), Kichikov (from Kichik). If a Kalmyk was called Nema, his surname would be Dordzhyev, from his father's name Dorts but Nema's children's surnames would be Nemaev. Gradually, the family name became hereditary and a patronymic was added, derived from the father's name.
See also
*
Mongolian name
Notes
External links
The Old Buddhists of Europe
{{Names in world cultures
Names by culture