Indian Names

Erato

How did the custom start of Indians calling each other by their place in the family (eg. didi/elder sister, chacha/uncle, etc.) rather than by their name. I know that Indians rarely call an elder person by their actual name because it's seen as disrespectful, and traditionally wives don't even say their husbands names. But why is the name seen as disrespectful?

And further to this, most Indians have a birth name and nick name, so the birth name is rarely used. To put it bluntly, what's the point of having a birth name of it's rarely going to be used throughout your life??

Not mocking this custom, just trying to understand it and how it started.

Eve68

It was quite a number of years ago so I can't provide details on this but I remember as an anthropology major we learned that in some cultures (ex. some Native American ones) your given name has a certain power or magic and if people use it then it loses the magic so you get a nickname instead. Sometimes also (in your family) you get stuck with a term of endearment from childhood.

Nick-H

I think it varies widely according to area and community.

Isn't it some Bengalis who call their sons by nicknames given as babies, many of which are very embarrassing to adults, for the rest of their lives? I think we had a thread about this where some members admitted to their own family nicknames .

I asked my teacher's wife, once, why she called her husband by name: she said that it simply was not part of her tradition to do otherwise. On the other hand I've heard her call other people as 'mother of ---' or 'father of ---'. Which is kind-of useful if you know all your husband's students' names but not those of all their parents...

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PeakXV

Unlike in the western world, many given Indian names tend to be common nouns(active?) that evoke some sort of physical happening or great imagery. Names like Vijay, Deepak, Shanti, come immediately to mind ..... perhaps the nicknames & family designations take the edge, seriousness and/or slight superiority off it all a little bit!?

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wonderwomanusa

And further to this, most Indians have a birth name and nick name, so the birth name is rarely used. To put it bluntly, what's the point of having a birth name of it's rarely going to be used throughout your life??

That's pretty common in the West, as well. My cousin has been called "Buster" since he was an infant; it wasn't until his wedding that we all remembered his name is really "Arthur" -- nobody ever calls him that... except his mom, when she's angry and wants his attention!

kristinm

Didn't think it worth starting a new thread for just one question.. Could someone tell me what the origin of the surname Mehta might be.. is it always a Parsi name?

Thanks Gurus!

Munivar

^ I don't think it is a Parsi name. There are Mehta's I know who are not Parsi.

There is a derivative - Mehto - also..

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kristinm

The only reason I thought Parsi was that the conductor Zubin Mehta is coming here and an article said he was Parsi...

capt_mahajan

Besides Parsis, I have known Mehta's from Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan- and even one Sikh.

Gametotravel

Some Parsi names are derived from Gujrati names(surnames) as that was the place they landed first.They speak Gujrati too!

Also a verb become a noun when used in the right way in a sentence.

Mostly one can find Punjabis with outrageous pet names. No connection to their official name but more easier on the tongue and with lesser rules governing it's making! (also maybe easier to remember).

Also when talking about names from North or from South one cannot just generalise.

kristinm

I was wondering if it was like Singh or something maybe... thanks though

Gametotravel

Would you like some explanation on profix Singh?

kristinm

As far as I know it is a Sikh name - meaning lion? Denoting a warrior...?? I think it may also be a Rajput name as well - is that right.? Please tell me more or the correct info if I'm wrong!

Gametotravel

It is something like Kumar where anyone can use it. It does not show your family name, caste etc. When Sikhism came into being they wanted to come out the old rules governing names and hence Singh came into picture. And also like Kumar this is used by all states including South(specailly Christians).

Some Sikhs used Singh only as middle name with their surname continuing in the end(mostly the city bred sikhs).

As per rules old Surnames cannot be poached and even if done the person continues in the same caste level as before.

shashank.aggarwal

Sikhs use Singh for male and Kaur for females. I assume this because as a religion they didn't want to discriminate on bases of caste.

However Singh is a generic name and people across length and breadth of the country use it.

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