Kazakh people traditional names

More information about Kazakhstan people in Kazakhstan.

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Kazakh people names overview

Kazakh set of names is very diverse and includes both traditional Kazakh or borrowed names (mostly from Arabic). Most Kazakh names have a word to word translation.

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Kazakh people Turkic names

Some Turkic names have a direct translation, such as Arman (dream), Meruert (Pearl), Sholpan (Venus (planet)), Lyazzat (Pleasure).

Other Turkic names are compositional - made up of two different root words (noun + noun or noun + adjective), and among them there are many poetic, sublime, for example, Aynur - “The Light of the Moon”, Aigul - “Moon Flower”, Nurgul - “Flower of Light”, Gulnur - “Light of Flower”, Gulzhan - “Soul Flower”, Aizhan - “Moonlight Soul”, Nurzhan -“Solar Soul”, Togzhan -“Pure Soul”.

Many Turkish compositional names are of the form that gives them a complex meaning, for example, the name Aytugan translates as “born at the beginning of the month”, Kudayberdy - “given by God”, Kutken - “The long-awaited”.

There is also the most interesting and unusual category of names, which are in fact names-wishes. For example, the name Amangeldi translates as “To live is back”, and the female name Kyztugmas transfer “does not give birth to girls”. There are also women’s names, in which the girl referred to as a boy: Ulbolsyn - “Let it be a boy” and Ulba- “boy”. These names-wishes could define a human life from the very start. This is purely Turkic nomadic tradition that originated from the rich oral culture of Kazakhs. There are also the names of Turkish and Arab origin, a direct translation of that is forgotten, such as Elmira, Zhamal.

Kazakh people names borrowed from Arabs

There is a tradition to give Arab form of names in honor of historical figures, such as Al-Iskander (Alexander the Great). The Arabic form of the names of the Quran Mariam (Virgin Mary), Isa (Jesus), Musa (Moses) and Hawa (Eve) is also very traditional. As for the rest of Arab names that were not owned by historical figures and biblical characters is traditionally given to women only.

Kazakh people assonance of the names

At the birth of several children of one sex, usually parents try to give names in one tune, that is going to rhyme (not necessarily accurate). For example, if the first daughter’s name was Aigul, the second can be called Aynur (consonance with the first syllable) or Nurgul (consonance with the second style). Sometimes, for the sake of harmony one can also provide non-traditional name, for example, if a daughter is called Gulmira and other Elmira, a third of the sake of harmony may be given a non-traditional name Elvira.

Kazakh people last names

Now there are two options for assigning the names of the child. The first - the child inherits the name of the father. Second - name the child on behalf of the paternal grandfather’s line. For example, the son of Bakhyt Aslanovich Mustafin called board may receive the full name of Dosken Bahytovich Mustafin or Dosken Bahytovich Aslanov, depending on the choice of parents.

The article was translated by Skakovskaya Snezhana.

Photos and pictures

Kazakhstan mother and child views

Kazakhstan mother and child view

Kazakhstan mother and child view

Author: Susan Hardman

Kazakhstan mother and child scenery

Kazakhstan mother and child scenery

Author: Susan Hardman


The questions of our visitors

Jessica asks: Is the name Asset a Kazakh male or female name?
Expert's answer:
The name you mentioned is spelled "Aset" and it is a male name. From Arabic the name means "warrior, brave as a lion".
khalisha asks: Why most Kazakhstan and Uzbekhistan people's name end with the word "-ov". For example AbultalipOV, LyubOV, BorisOV, KolganOV, KorepanOV. Why?
Expert's answer:
The suffix "-ov" has Russian origin (Petrov, Ivanov, Kuznetsov etc.) and because the countries mentioned were the part of Russian Empire and later USSR the last names with this suffix are widely spread.

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