Ruchira states that Indian naming traditions combine cultural significance, divine references, and quirky nicknames to showcase a diverse array of societal values, exclusively for Different Truths.

When it comes to the issue of naming newborns, Indian society displays quirks, angularities, and eccentricities like no other. They attach too much importance to the nomenclature of their progeny. Yes, a name is a virtual identity card of the kid and later the adult individual; it also reflects upon his family lineage. That’s why several families insist on middle names like Kumar, Chandra, Dev, or Ranjan which all the male children must bear lifelong.

However, it is the realm of pet names or nicknames that grabs your attention. Until a few decades ago, devout, religious-minded parents would overzealously name their little ones after the deities in the Hindu pantheon. Mamata, a friend of mine, was nicknamed Gopal, and her junior sisters Narayan and Gobindo, respectively.

Divine Names

The underlying logic is that calling the children many times during each day would be tantamount to uttering the divine names. In this manner, punya would accrue into their accounts. Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, Taara (maa Kaali), Kamala (Lakshmi), Ràghu (Rama), Kanhaiya/ Kanai/Krishan (Keshto), Krishna were a dime a dozen.  Often, they doubled up as official names.

While still on the topic, I admit that I quite like naming females after, flowers, which symbolise grace and beauty. Take a pick from Juhi, Bakul, Champa, Madhumalati, Aparajita, Madhabi, Keya (frangipani), Ketaki, Shiuli, Mallika, and more

Blame the Bongs for coining the term daak (pet) naam for nicknames. This would naturally confuse any non-native speaker of Bangla; who might mistake it for the ‘quacking’ bird (remember the scene after Gogol’s birth in Mira Nair’s film The Namesake)?

Dark Names

There was yet another (now defunct) trend: In earlier times parents would assign dark and negative names to their newborns to ward off the evil eye. In that era when fatal diseases and infant mortality rates were high, the guardians believed Yama, the formidable god of death, would find such names disgusting and spare the victims-to-be. The kids sported nicknames such as Pocha (putrid), Khendi/Boonchi (snub-nosed), Haba, Habul, Kyabla, Bhonda (idiots, dumbos), Bhutoo (eerie), Poonti (tiny), Haabi-jaabi(junk) Budo/Budi (senile), Potol (spindle gourd), Patka (lean, cracker-like), Fata/Futo (cracked, chipped).

That reminds me of an old family friend of ours who would fondly call me Bagha since I reportedly possessed a shirt with leopard spots. Now, his daughter still calls me Bagha di.

Certain names have become stereotypical and have been popular for a long time. You will find Raju, Ramu, and Chhotu toiling in garages, dhabas, and tea stalls, or running errands for corpulent Laalajis, who own and run kirana (grocery) stores.

Irrespective of the vernaculars, most doting Indian mothers call their beloved sons Raja Beta, Babu Shona (boys as precious as gold). Daughters in their turn are hailed as Rani Beti, Moni (gems)…

Common Bong Nicknames

To this list, Bongs contribute Khoka and Mowna.  In certain cases, Khoka and Mowna almost become titles, and the actual names are forgotten. Don’t be surprised if you stumble upon several of them in a single family. Thus, Boro Khoka/Mowna would be the oldest boy, Mejo would be the second/middle one, and Chhoto would be the youngest.

In joint families with loads of children, the nicknames (or even proper names) had to (preferably) match or follow a pattern, to exhibit cohesiveness and internal harmony. Accordingly, a series of boys (siblings or first cousins) would be named Montu, Shontu, Pintu and/or Jhantu (smart Alec).

I was the first girl of our generation and christened Maaulii. Three others who followed later were Milly, Molly, and Jolly in that order. Had there been more, they would likely have been labelled as Lily, Shelly, Dolly, Polly. Among our distant relatives, we have had brothers, Nepal and Bhopal, not forgetting a bunch of sisters, Lily, Bijuli, Dipali, and Nepali (for lack of anything better).

Outlandish Names

In contemporary modern society, the Yuppie and Puppy brigades prefer Western and outlandish names, e.g., Bonny, Rose, Bobby, Prince, Lucky Ruble, Bubble, Puzzle, Sunny, Joy, Love, Honey, Cookie, Baby, Shiny, Lovely, Daisy, Goldie,  Dimple, Simple (why not Pimple as well, I secretly wonder) Monica, Beauty, Tanya, Natasha Nikhita…and what have you!

The Sikhs (without malice towards anyone) dish up weird names for their children. Who hasn’t heard of Angrez Singh, Disco Singh, Skylab Singh (to commemorate the crash of a Skylab many moons ago) or Kalkatta Singh (born or lived in Kolkata)? People must be familiar with Jarnail Singh and Karnail Singh (tweaked versions of General and Colonel).

All said and done, the act of ‘naming’ does involve a good deal of creativity, fertile, active imagination, emotions, and ethos. And therefore these deserve appreciation!

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Ruchira Adhikari Ghosh

Born in Guwahati and raised across Delhi and Punjab, Ruchira Adhikari Ghosh is an alumna of Sacred Heart Convent, Ludhiana. She holds a master’s degree in English literature from Punjab University, Chandigarh, and a postgraduate diploma in Journalism. With nearly 25 years of experience in print, web, and television media, she has carved a niche as a feature writer. Her writing focuses on women’s issues, food, travel, and literature, reflecting both versatility and depth.