A New Ethio-Name Resource

I'm always looking for good resources and this one is pretty good. It list names, words, phrases in Amharic. It has the name spelled in Amharic with pronunciation.

In a couple of steps you should be able to find the meaning, pronunciation, and meaning of many names.

Here is the link but it is not exactly in alphabetical order. So here is my suggestion.

Alternative to the directions below that I just learned myself: Go directly to the dictionary, type the name into the second (Amharic character) search field. Using your keyboard it will change the typed characters to Amharic. You should be able to get the meaning that way.

1. Copy and paste the line below in Google (as a search not a URL)
   
   nlp.amharic.org/resources/lexical/word-lists
   
   
2. Add the child's name before or after the text.
   
   EXAMPLE: valarie nlp.amharic.org/resources/lexical/word-lists
   
   
3. Hit search. When the information comes up look at the block of text. Under it you will find the word "cache". Click on "cache".
   
   If you are not familiar with this function it will highlight the word(s) you are looking for. That way you can scroll the list quicker.
   
   
4. When you find the name you will see the Amharic letters, then the pronunciation, then the American spelling.
   
   
5. Highlight and copy the Amharic letters and go to the English / Amharic dictionary.
   
   
6. Paste the Amharic letters in the second search field. The one with the Amharic characters. Hit the search for that field. This will give you the meaning of the name.

It's really not complicated but I think it could be fun and help some people find names that aren't on other list. Happy Hunting!

Top 100 Ethio Names

This list comes form the Students of the World website.

Rank		First names		Rank	First names
1		helen		1	dawit
2		eden		2	solomon
3		tigist		3	mulugeta
4		Meron		4	DANIEL
5		RUTH		5	henok
6		meaza		6	yohannes
7		hiwot		7	yared
8		Selamawit		8	FITSUM
9		Selam		9	Mohammed
10		tsion		10	ashenafi
11		hanna		11	samson
12		tina		12	samuel
13		kalkidan		13	yonas
14		Mare		14	Addis
15		SARA		15	michael
16		kidist		16	Tesfaye
17		saba		17	eskinder
18		Nani		18	Getachew
19		lucy		19	kibrom
20		Mesi		20	Tewodros
21		genet		21	abiy
22		Tsedey		22	habtamu
23		mimi		23	biruk
24		mahlet		24	Eyob
25		meseret		25	bisrat
26		tadu		26	berhanu
27		Fana		27	Tilahun
28		sole		28	zelalem
29		Marta		29	Nebiyu
30		huda		30	elias
31		aden		31	behailu
32		soli		32	adane
33		Rode		33	TEDDY
34		Gelila		34	abubeker
35		SAMRAWIT		35	biniyam
36		Muna		36	tsegay
37		MELAT		37	Amanuel
38		Winta		38	Abrham
39		betty		39	ANTENEH
40		Bezawit		40	MESFIN
41		Firehiwot		41	million
42		leyikun		42	abebaw
43		kiya		43	sintayehu
44		HAYMANOT		44	micky
45		mekdes		45	Alemayehu
46		Mahelet		46	surafel
47		EYERUSALEM		47	ABEBE
48		abinet		48	abdu
49		meskerem		49	ermias
50		tseday		50	temesgen

An Ethiopian Naming Ceremony

Here are pictures leading up to an Ethiopian naming ceremony. This is a ceremony performed by the Boran people (Borana) of Ethiopia. They are apart of the Oromo tribe and found in southern Ethiopia between the towns of Moyale, Arero, and Tertelle.

• Take a look at the pictures.
• An article about naming.
• A personal letter on naming.

Ethiopian Names to Be or Not to Be?

I've known families that have made all of the choices below. Jump right in and take the poll, it should be interesting.

Feel free to link to the poll and to add your comments.

What are your thoughts on naming your child(ren)?

• I kept/will keep my child's Ethiopian name as is with no changes.
• I will keep my child's Ethiopian first name and choose a new middle name.
• I kept/will keep my child's Ethiopian name as a middle name and added an American name.
• I changed/will change my child's Ethiopian name to a Western form of the same name.
• I changed/will change my child's Ethiopian name to a Western name with the same meaning.
• I picked out/will pick out names before before getting my referral.
• I had a plan for naming the child but it changed once I saw or met the child.

Created on Jul 5, 2008

View Results

poll by twiigs.com

Finding Meaning in Ethiopian Names

A big thing for parents is names and naming. After referrals the first many of parents search the net for the meaning of their child's Ethiopian name. See the links to the four Ethiopian name sources I've listed on the right.

What I've learned is that names are as diverse as the people and have different origins that may be regional, religious, ancient, or contemporary.

Most of the names that we see on list seem to be the more common Amharic names. Still their other names that are Tigrayan or Oromiyan in origin. Here is a quote from the EthioMed website. If you've never check out the EthioMed site it's worth a look.

Traditionally, the father picks Oromo children's names but the mother has great influence in naming the daughter of the family. It must also be said that Oromo names have meanings as if to convey wishes of success, wisdom, and prosperity through generations. For instance, the most popular Oromo names are Ibsaa for males and Ibsituu for females, both meaning "light".

Some names are common Amharic phrases. Some names are Christian or church names; Hebrew, Jewish, Arabic, or maybe even Ge'ez. The origin of the name accounts, at least in part, to the difference in spelling. I'm not an expert on Ethiopian names of course but this is information that I've gathered over the many months of reading. I recommend reading this interesting article on Ethiopian naming.

If you can't find a name looking at one of the naming list try a Google search. But add a qualifier and instead of searching "Ethiopian name XXX", try searching "Tigrayan name XXX", "Ethiopic name XXX" or "Ethiopian Hebrew name XXX".

Check out the links on the right. There is an Ethiopian naming book you can order and here are few sites that I've found that have smaller list of names.

• Name List 1. Name List 2. Name List 3.

I haven't seen many of these names for Ethiopian children but here are list of Arabic male and female names.