What's in a name ?

Imagine you have a friend named Sadia or Sadman Sakib, and you call them by their names in the crowded New Market Avenue. Just pause and think how many people will respond to these names!

We are familiar with at least one Anika, Nusrat, Mehedi, Rafi, and Fatema Tuz Zohora as friends, relatives, or acquaintances. These names were widely used in Bangladesh from the early 2000s to the middle 2000s. You will run into an Arisha, Alia, Saif, or Mehjabin at every corner here. In his renowned play Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare once wrote, "What's in a Name?" A name portrays a person's first impression, which is akin to his identity for the rest of his life.

In a survey, 37 people were asked to depict Shukur Kha and Estaik Chowdhury. In most cases, Shukur Kha has been described as a man aged 60 or 70 from a remote area of Bangladesh with minimal educational background. In contrast, Estaik Chowdhury was imagined as a modern, young businessman from a well-off family. What makes the difference?

Actually, names decided their characters and socio-economic status in front of strangers who did not know them personally. Maybe that's why in Bengali Cinemas, we often notice Chowdhury Saheb doesn't want to marry off his one and only daughter Sohana to poor middle-class Raju; instead, he prefers his friend Khan's son Rocky who just landed in Bangladesh from London after completing his MBA. The male protagonist also has an elder brother, Sujon, who raised him dearly by selling Jhal Muri on the streets.

The point of talking about the names and their significance is to look at the changing patterns of the names of Bangladeshi children over time. In this age of globalisation, individuals are shifting from one nation to another for various reasons. There is a rising shift in traditional family arrangements, and we are witnessing a rapid transformation in Bangladeshi families. Names are periodically changed to reflect national symbols and culture. For example, landmarks, organisations, or public spaces may be renamed to honour historical figures, national heroes, or significant events. It is important to note that name changes can be influenced by various factors, including historical, cultural, political, and personal factors.

Uncommon baby names are surging

Who hasn't heard of Mughal Emperor Humayun, the father of the Great King Akbar? When Akbar was born in Umorkot, he was named Jalaluddin to honour his father, Nasir-al-din Humayun. The age-old practice of naming children after monarchs continue, constructing a tapestry of the noble lineage that spans generations and celebrates the throne's unchanging grandeur.

The everlasting custom of naming children after their parents' ancestors has persisted. "My father wanted me to take a name that has similarity in terms of pronunciation with his name Yousuf," said Imtiaz Hussain, a Chittagong University student. Tausif Tanzim, a Dhaka University student, shared, "When I was born, my grandfather named me after his name Tanzim. He wanted the legacy to continue."

Modern parents, however, vowed to choose something out-of-this-world when they have kids. In Bangladesh, if we look into the changing name patterns of the kids, Humayun, Jafor, Sujon, Akther, Khodeja, etc., for example, were top names from the '70s to '90s. This is because name standards were built on religious and ancestral links. From the 90s to the 20s, Apurbo, Ankan, Rifat, Mim, Puja, Tarek, and Jerin were parents' first choices for their children, thanks to the television channels and movies back then.

However, in 2023 names like Afnan, Arabi, Zayan, Sporsia, Nujaifa, etc., are quite popular. People even prefer to change the conventional names into slightly modern ones like Sumaiya has suddenly become Samaia, Ontora has become Antara, and Zahir becomes Zehir.

Socio-religious connotation

Name changes can be impacted by socio-religious factors as well. Because Muslims constitute the majority of the population in Bangladesh, Islamic influences may exist. Traditional Muslim names include the names of prominent historical individuals in Islam (such as Muhammad, Talha, Fatima, Omar, Osman, and others). Names were frequently used to emphasise religious devotion, such as any of Allah's 99 names followed by the term 'Abdul,' which means servant of.

Lineage was similarly ingrained in Arab naming customs, with names typically prefaced by terms like 'Bint-e-' (daughter of), 'Umm-e-' (mother of), 'Abu' (father of), or 'Ibn' (son of).

Many Muslim families in Bangladesh desired to maintain the tradition of naming their children after Arabic names, such as Hasib, Siam, Rubel, or Al-Amin.

However, the popularity of Arabic Muslim names with a contemporary twist is rising. As a result, names like Intesham, Zaiva, Saifee, and Sharar are becoming popular with modern moms or dads-to-be. Another interesting observation is that we used to have one- or two-name books, or in the case of Muslim children, Masque's Emam would choose the name for the newborns. Hindus always choose Panjikas or distinct deities or goddess names such as Krishna, Lakshmi, Gopal, and Radha for their children.

Unusual and one-of-a-kind names are becoming increasingly popular, reflecting newer cultural trends. Wealth may also be a factor. With increasing economic conditions, more distinctive naming practices emerge. Generally, rich families tend to experiment with their kids' names which may also portray their uniqueness and success.

Sheikh Firdous Karim, a businessman, remarked, "I prefer Fayaz to Firoz as it sounds more unique and modern which gives my kid special attention in the crowd." Not only the Bengali names but also the name of the indigenous people of Bangladesh have also gone through massive transformations. The names like Aung, Saymong, Pateng, and Thuisa are replaced by modern Christian names Gabriel, Johnny, David, Daniel, Peter, etc.

Impact of media and sports

This writer's mother used to watch the popular television series 'Ei to Jibon' and named her after the female protagonist, Saptaparna. Movie characters, prominent media figures, and politicians have inspired many people. Parents tend to name their offspring drawing inspiration from films, literature, or Sports.

Children born in the 1990s were given names such as Runa Laila, Alamgir, Babita, and even Saudi King Fahad, as well as Palestinian President Yasir Arafat, Saddam Hussain, and Muhammad Salman. Parents frequently name their children after movies, literature, or sports characters. Such naming practices are still prevalent; we may expect this tendency to continue. Many kids born in the early 2000s were named after cricketers like Hasim, Umor, Shoyeb, and Wasim Akram. Naming kids' Afridi 'was a popular trend among parents back then.

Modern patents continue to adopt names from media, fiction, or movie characters, and even cross-cultural names such as Sid, Ridy, Zayan, Jubely, and Uki are occupying top floors in their imaginations. This tendency has resulted in names such as Alia, Tasnia, Tahsan, Sakib, Afran, Opurbo, Towsif, and Porshi. "One of my father's favorite movies was Emiler Goyenda Bahini and I was named after Emil, the male protagonist," said Mufassir Rashid Emil, a fresh graduate from BRAC University.

Interestingly, the occasion also determines the names of newly born kids, such as Sadhin, Bijoy, Sahid, or Probir, for someone born on the 16th of December or the 26th of March. "One of my aunts was named Eiden because she was born on the eve of Eid," said Md. Imran from Old Dhaka. Children are also given names such as Roja, Puja, Baishakhi, or Fagun to remember special anniversaries or seasons.

Influence of global trends

Due to modernity, globalisation, and exposure to many cultures, people may pick names that correspond to contemporary trends or international naming norms. Besides, there was a surge in secular-liberal movements in Bangladesh which tends to bring back the widespread Bengali or Sanskrit names like Priyota, Joyita, Ayon, Hridita, Koushik, etc.

Social media heavily contribute to the changing patterns of names in Bangladesh. Uncommon names are most likely given possibly to sound modern and successful. Have we seen anyone recently name their children Abul, Murad, or Mafiz as they have been a matter of social media trolling? With the availability of social media, modern parents have been seen to experiment with names and seek meaningful ones for their children's bright future. Names are becoming increasingly widespread due to Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and other social media influences.

A nation's culture is like a floating river that continues to flow. Simultaneously, people's names are like society's mirrors, which carry profound cultural and historical implications as manifestations of traditions, values, and meanings. Therefore, the naming pattern will continue to change like the world keeps heading toward change.

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