The male Abkhaz names were influenced not only byrich culture of a mountainous country, but also the impact of many nationalities who migrated to Abkhazia. The formation of names is associated with the Muslim faith and ethnic characteristics of the local population.
In Abkhazia, as nowhere, there are a huge number of names that are equally recognized and have their meaning. Such diversity was influenced by:
Historians, examining the male Abkhaz names, are surprised that, in the absence of national writing and the recognition of common religious values, the Abkhaz were able to carry through time all the ancient traditions.
Own ethnic features are strongtook root in the minds of the Abkhaz. The people of the country since ancient times respects traditions and believes in local traditions. On their basis, interesting Abkhaz names were created for the boy, who always carried a certain meaning, capable of influencing the fate of the child.
However, the organization of the society and its traditions, life was influenced by neighboring countries. To a greater extent, the formation of names was influenced by neighboring Turkey and the Christian religion that came to the country.
Particularly distinguished were noble families who wishedsomehow stand out and chose for their heirs the names of Greek and Roman famous people. Since the XIV century, the most widespread names such as Julian and Alexander.
Further, with the growing influence of Turkey, the usage includes Muslim variants, such as:
With the advent of official Christianity, Russian names are spreading primordially. Georgian traditions and the similarity of mentality also left their imprint on the name of babies.
All the changes that the male Abkhaz names have undergone are connected with global changes in the economic life of society, its cultural values and political conflicts.
Despite the influence of different nationalities and the interpenetration of cultures, the dominant among the names are indigenous. They always carried a different meaning in themselves.
Male Abkhaz names are more like nicknames,which distinguish some defining property or dignity. So, for example, red-haired babies, they called Hapsh, which means "red headed". The baby who appeared in the mountain village or to emphasize his strength could call Ahra, which means "cliff".
In the distant past were quite common totemic names, which were mostly called boys. Often in the village they ran:
Girls were also called this way, but bird names or names of celestial bodies were used as a basis.
Often the choice of a name for a baby was influenced by hisnationality. In connection with the migrations of mountain peoples, the country was constantly inhabited by various nationalities. Children who appeared in the family could have the following names:
Among the people of the mountains are very common legends andtraditions. On their basis, a lot of names were borrowed, which epitomized the heroes from the folk epic. Modern Abkhazians do not change traditions, and now the names of legendary heroes are very popular:
Girls do not lag behind the strong half of humanity and get the names of fairy beauties, which are saved by heroes from legends.
A centuries-old culture and a rich folk epiccontributed to the fact that they called babies beautiful and sonorous. Parents, choosing male Abkhaz names, attach importance to many aspects. Their education depends on several nuances. To determine the relationship of all children of the same family unites a single letter in the name.
Modern newborns of Abkhazia receive names that symbolize character traits, surrounding terrain, the names of fairy-tale creatures and gods.
Abkhazian male names, whose list is presented, are used by modern parents so far:
The legacy of the people gave rise to many beautifullegends, and modern still parents want to honor the memory of their ancestors. Given the deep respect for the elders of the youth of Abkhazia, parents are trying to carefully store memories of the past and call their boys beautiful, sonorous and bearing a semantic load, names. This is often a national culture.
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