Baby Names

They have got the absolute best names in Uganda. Babies are named after various things: after their fathers (same as us), after books in the Bible (same as some of us), after things describe their birth (For example, Monday or Storm), and babies are named after qualities their parents wish them to have.

Given: I met Given at New Times primary school when I was giving clothes to young ones who needed them. He received a pair of velcro sandals, a pair of dinosaur shorts, and a soccer ball T-shirt. Terrified of me the whole time, Given's mother explained to me that he was Given to her by God.

Innocent: Innocent was born with a lame leg. He has a crutch which allows him to get around on his good leg and he carries his small right foot in front. In Uganda, families who live in poverty and are not educated sometimes still wholeheartedly believe in witchcraft and being cursed. If you give birth to a child with a physical difference or cognitive challenge, families believed they have been cursed and can even abandon the infant or kill the child. This little boy was named Innocent to show that he is not at all cursed, that he is an adorable, exuberant, bright and innocent little guy.

Rejoice: Basically the cutest, sweetest, most fantastic name ever in existence.

Director: This little guy received his name because as a young toddler he was often found wandering the school grounds for food. He mingled with the high school boys and made new friends. They gave him his nickname as a joke because he was always patrolling school grounds.

Here are some of the other fantastic monikers I heard:

Active
Surprise
Compromise
Blessing
Peace
Hope
Faith
Gift
Given
Pearl
Monday
Friday
Storm
Night
Bright
Sight
Clever
Sacred
Shepherd
Truth
Treasure
Daughter
Kato (older twin)
Kakulu (younger twin)
Kiiza (born after twins)
Rejoice
Happy
Bonita
Jerusalem
Director
Doctor
Innocent

The children also all have Rukiga names. For example, I would introduce myself as Naakunda Tiffanie. Naakunda means "She has loved us."

Ariho = God lives
Ariyo = God exists
Muriisa = Shepherd
Tumwijukye = He is remembered
Ashaba = Lets pray
Tushabe = Come and we pray
Mutungi = God's Riches
Mapenzi = Abundance of love
Najuna = God saves
Omugiisha = Blessing

You can tell that (most) of the Rukiga names are about Christianity, although there are many that mean tall, old, dark, youngest, right-handed, born third, intelligent, rich, etc. Funny how my parents gave me a great middle name, as if I were African. Tiffanie Grace goes right along with tradition.

If I ever had a baby I'd totally consider using one of these names. I think Given is awesome and can totally grow on Americans. It's practically any boy's G name---Gavin, Graham, etc. Not too crazy and still completely unique. Rejoice because OMG so cute, I can't even. I want to have a million daughters named Rejoice. And Mapenzi because it is very sweet. It means that you have so much love it can't be counted in Swahili.