The Turkmen Names
While observing the developments in Turkmenistan and reading about that country I have always wondered about the characteristic, often very long and difficult to pronounce Turkmen names. Recently, I have come across a very interesting article which helped me understand this phenomenon. I highly recommend it to everyone who reads Russian. It was published on the “Moya Turkmeniya” website. Unfortunately, its author’s name was not disclosed, just the name of the person who published the article (Merdan Atayev).
I would like to share here a few passages of the text which I found particularly interesting. Unlike in the Western cultural circle (or e.g. in Russia), the Turkmen names still mean something. European or American names, naturally, also have their meanings, but they are rarely taken into consideration when choosing a name for a child. What is important for us is whether the parents like the name, if it is popular or that one of our ancestors was called the same. The Turkmen names are strongly linked with their owners. Somebody born on a snowy day could be named Gariagdy, which means “snow has fallen”; a boy born on Friday was often called Annadurdy or Jumadurdy meaning „Friday has come”. The first boy in a family could be named Oguldurdy (“son has arrived”). A fair-haired girl was often called Akjemal (“the white beauty”) or if she was born in the springtime - Yazjemal (“the spring beauty”). New names (created by the parents) are constantly being given to children in Turkmenistan, so there probably exists nothing like an official name register that we have in many countries in Europe.
As noticed by the author of the text, in Turkmenistan a name functions as a kind of “identitiy card” of its owner.
There is a popular saying that warns: “Before starting a fight with somebody, first learn his name”. Because if he is called Chary, Biashim or Alty, it means that he is the fourth, fifth or sixth boy in his family. Not everyone would like to come into conflict with several brothers who might be eager to help one another.
Some old Turkmen names seem strange or even ugly at the first glance, e.g. Italmaz (“a dog won’t touch you”), Porsy (“stinky”) or Kurry (“a baby donkey”). But that does not mean that the parents did not love their children. Some superstitious parents would sometimes give such names to their kids in order to protect them from an “evil eye”, sickness or death. Ugly names were supposed to scare off bad luck.
A characteristic feature of the Turkmen names is their syncretism which reflects the turbulent history of the Turkmen people whose lands witnessed clashes of various civilizations. That’s why in Turkmenistan one can come across names of Turkic, Persian or Arabic origin. Thus, although Guzel, Zyba and Jemile sound completely different, they all mean the same (“beautiful”) but in different languages. There are also Russian names like Boris or Vladimir. The Soviet times have left behind several Marxes, Vladlens (from Vladimir Lenin), Komsomols or even Kanalgeldys (meaning “the canal has arrived” to honour the Karakum Canal built in the Soviet era).
Turkic names are most widespread, typical Muslim names are not as popular as e.g. in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan or Dagestan. This shows that Islam is not very deeply rooted in Turkmenistan. What’s interesting is that there are also names combining two words of a different origin, e.g. Salamguly (from the Arabic word “salam” meaning “peace” and the Turkic word “gul” which stands for a “servant”) or Jumagiul (from the Arabic word “juma”, i.e. “Friday” and the Persian word “giul” - “rose”).
Therefore, when meeting a Turkmen it is good to ask not only their name and its meaning, but also think about the meaning of one’s own name…
on January 12th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Hey,
Your article stinks. Why do you keep saying “arabic”, “persian”, etc???
These words exist in turkmen or uzbek language at least for a thousand years, is it so hard for you to say “turkmen word with arabic or persian origin”??? Look at english, how many loan-words do you have from greek, latin, french, and spanish??? Should we now call those words as “greek” or “french”??? Please, cut this crap. Thank you!
on January 13th, 2008 at 2:23 am
“This shows that Islam is not very deeply rooted in Turkmenistan.”
It does not mean that Islam is not rooted in Turkmenistan. Generally in all countries of central Asia except Kazakistan Islam is rooted in same level. Turkmens are deeply linked to their ancients, pre-Islam ancients. That is because of this.
A 100% turkmen family (father and mother turkmen) will never give a russian name like Boris or Vladimir to their children. They give russian names when either of parents is russian (Turkmen + Russian family).
“The first boy in a family could be named Oguldurdy (“son has arrived”).”
Oguldurdy is a female name.
“Turkish names are most widespread”
Not turkish names, but turkic names.
on January 13th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Do you think you know everything? I would laugh at that!
You know nothing! By the way, what is your academic background, maciula?
on January 13th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Hi guys,
Akmuhammmet, thanks for constructive criticism. You are right with “Turkish” and “Turkic”. As you can see I have already corrected my mistake. The problem is that in my language there is no difference between the two terms, so I made a mistake when translating it from Russian. As far as the name Oguldurdy is concerned, I have taken this information from the article I have quoted.
But I do not agree with you that Islam in Turkmenistan is as strong as in e.g. Uzbekistan or Tajikistan. During my last stay in Turkmenistan I saw the empty mosques and talked to many people - young and old - who completely don’t care about religion.
Uzbek and Gurban - I cannot understand you aggression! I live in Europe and only observe the developments in Turkmenistan on the Internet and occasionally travel to the region. I sometimes make mistakes and thank you for correcting me, but please do it constructively and more politely.
Uzbek, please read what I have written carefully:
“That’s why in Turkmenistan one can come across names of Turkic, Persian or Arabic ORIGIN.”
Best wishes to all of you and have a nice week.
on January 14th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
“gul” isn’t Persian word, it exists in at least 10 or 20 languages and at least for 10 or more centuries. Just call it Turkmen, ok?
“Pars” is a small tribe/province of Iran they don’t account even 20% of Iranian population.
on January 14th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
“Juma” has been in the vocabulary of Turkmen, Uzbek, and other nations since the introduction of Islam back in 7th century, so there is no need to call that word “arabic”. Don’t you think a nation who have used it for over 700 years deserve to call that word as their own? If you don’t, then you are going to surrender 70% of “English” words to French, Latin, Spanish, and Greek.
You offered a conclusion that Islam isn’t deep-rooted in Turkmen culture and give an example of names with “arabic”. I don’t why you think over 7 century period as shallow. Were trying to tell a “good news” to fellow christian missionaries???
Nasty.
on January 14th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
“But I do not agree with you that Islam in Turkmenistan is as strong as in e.g. Uzbekistan or Tajikistan. ”
Yes, you may be right, but sentence :
“This shows that Islam is not very deeply rooted in Turkmenistan”
is a bit wrong. Because before USSR era we used names we use today. Before USSR turkmen people were very religious. In fact I tried to mean this. Thank you for the article.
on January 14th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Sorry, I quoted again same sentence. I am ciriticising the relation between Islam level and names. Because we still do many pre-islam traditions.
on January 23rd, 2008 at 10:00 am
I’m an iranian turkmen and I agree completely with maciula in this regard. Even in my country where religious thinking and education is very strong turkmens are the less religious ethnics in Iran. Naming of children among turkmens of here was once as the way maciula has said but not any more. In recent two decades islamic names were popular among turkmens but recently they are shifting to originally turkic names but simple and one word names as yashar, erkin, sona, gozel.
on January 27th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Oh….we’ve got the “iranian turkman” now. so handy-dandy.
on February 7th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Thankyou to all for the help on Turkmen first names, I am currently writing a book of which part is based in Turkmenistan. However can anyone give any guidance to how surnames are formed and examples of them. Thanks for all your help.
on March 15th, 2008 at 5:01 am
I honestly dont get why people are upset about this report. Most of you are overreacting. If u disagree with her then provide constructive critisim instead of attacking her. She is willing to correct herself wherever she made a mistake.
John,
In Turkmenistan, females add OVA to end of their grandfather’s(from dad’s side) name and males add an OV. Sometimes they add the ending to their father’s name. For instance, my last name is Kerimova because my grandfather’s name was Kerim and since I am a female i added an OVA. My brother’s surname is Kerimov because he is a guy. I hope this is clear enough. If not you can email me at Zolotok@aol.com and i can explain further. Good luck with your book!
on March 16th, 2008 at 3:42 am
hello to everyone.. i’m curently have to be lil bit disaree with our guys..adn appearently i was born in autumn ..but still my parents named me after yazjemal cuz’ day i was born felt like spring.. so Akmuhammet, uzbek i really want you to understand that religion is not as stong as in iran or any other islamic counteis and it’s cuz’ is as we all know Soviet Times …
maicula,by the way i respect that u gave a try to learn about my country… and you said u been to some regions …where did you mean exactly …becouse i think it would help you more to understand about given some part russian names.. Balkan one of the regions of Turkmenistan where i’m from we have more russian influens than other parts of my country.. becouse this region by the Caspian Sea as you might know Turkmenistan covered by 80% desert so russian had to came thru Caspi to capture it in 1881…Also this known in history as “times of Bolshaviki”
comign back to the topic part russian names.. in truth there is none half russian first name , possibilities are if one of the parents are non-turkmen usualy mom i know it sounds weired but this is the truth…
Another case that u might herd boy has russian name even if both parents are turkmen , ex: buy named “Durdy”-commen turkmen name .. with turkmen background(parents) but friends call him “Dima” -commen russian name came from “Dmitriy” guy can get this name when he hang around with russian speaking kidds and russian language made big insparation on his family..i’m saying that becouse there is traditional turkmen families who speaks russian as their fist language.And it’s not hard to understand , once again coused by the Soviet times.
on March 16th, 2008 at 4:11 am
John ,
i really respect your interests about my country..and will be happy to tell you about last names appirently Maya also told you about last names but i have to mention about traditional turkmen last names was given after their grandfathers and were usualy spelled as , ex: “if grandfather’s name is “Atamyrat” his grandson would get last name as “Atamyrat ogly” in translation of “son of Atamyrat” or a grandoughter “Atamyrat gyzy” translated as “doughter of Atamyrat” but later after Turkmenistan was for so many years under russian influence (Soviet times) we got changed(some what lost) out tradition in this case about last names ..i ment we still got to keep out fathers name but without adds as “olgy-son”or “gyzy-doughter” they added endings like for males”ov” for females”ova” which is still in our last names
so, i hope i made even if a lil bit clear and been a help for you , and i’m realy interested what do u think about my country..if u think i could a answer some more of your questions will be happy to help and explain …u can find me here o’ll b echeking back or e-mail me at yazjemaln@yahoo.com
friendly, Yazjemal Nuriyeva
on March 17th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Dear Yazjemal,
Thank you very, very much for your comments! It is very nice and encouraging when someone appreciates you and your work. I am not a Turkmen, but I try to learn about your country as much as possible. Sometimes I make unintentional mistakes and I would like Turkmen people to correct me, not only to harshly criticize. Another problem is that people sometimes do not understand that when I criticize government it doesn’t mean that I am “anti-Turkmen”.
What you have written about names is extremely interesting. As I understood before Soviet times people always succeeded their surnames after grandfather’s first names. But know this tradition is not alive any more and you always succeed your name after your father. So, your surname is Nuriyeva not because your grandfather’s name was Nuri, but because your fathers surname was Nuriyev. Is it correct?
You asked about my travel to Turkmenistan. I was in Ahal, Mary and Balkan regions.
Anyway, I will send an email to you.
Best wishes,
maciula