Sunday, July 13, 2008

Names we will NOT be giving to our son

We have a very inclusive baby name book. There is one particular set of Native American tribal names that are quite interesting. The definitions take the cake. What kills me is the specificity of them. You can't make this stuff up!

Hausu: like a bear yawning upon wakening
Leyati: shape of an abalone shell
Lise: salmon's head coming out of the water
Liwanu: growling bear
Lokni: raining through the roof
Luyu: head shaker
Metikla: reaching a hand underwater to catch a fish
Misu: rippling water
Molimo: bear going under shady trees
Momuso: yello jackets crowded in their nests for the winter
Mona: gathering jimsonweed seed
Muata: yellow jackets in their nests
Notaku: growling bear
Patakusa: ant biting a person
Sipatu: pulled out
Tiimu: caterpillar coming out of the ground
Tiktu: bird digging up potatoes
Tuketu: bear making dust as it runs
Tukuila: caterpillar crawling down a tree
Tumu: deer thinking about eating wild onions (that's right, not actually doing, THINKING)
Tupi: pulled up
Wilu: chicken hawk squawking
Wuyi: turkey vulture flying
Yelutci: bear walking silently
Yoskolo: breaking off pine cones
Yotimo: yellow jacket carrying food to its hive
Yutu: coyote out hunting

Then there's this name, which is Mwera in origin:
Tuwile: death is inevitable
Okay, so yes, it is, but honestly, what kind of way is it to start life out acknowledging death??? And somewhere I remember seeing one that meant something like, "brings death to entire village." Pretty interesting. Don't worry, little Campbell baby, we won't name you something like, "Dungbeetle!!"

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I can't stop chuckling at the absurdity of having a dad whose name means "pulled out". Because...you know...apparently not....



(Sorry.)