What's In a Name?

These students from Tajikistan researched their names to learn about their own history and culture. You'll be surprised by what you can learn too!

Shoirabonu -- Chorbogh, Tajikistan My name was given to me by my dad, who wanted me to be simple and modest. Shoira means "poet". While my dad was in Afghanistan for two years, my mom sent him letters with poems that made my dad very happy. He especially liked the poems by Akhmad Zoir about "Bonu". My dad memorized this poem and then he decided my name would be "Shoirabonu". My dad wants me to become the most beautiful poet in the future.

Davlatbi -- Kulyab, Tajikistan In one of the places of Kulyab city, in a one-room apartment, there lived a husband and wife. They had five kids. The uncle of these kids was in prison. Later in this house a child was born. At the same time, their uncle came back from prison, and also the government gave this family a big apartment. Because with this child came happiness and luck to their lives, they gave him the name "Davlatbi", which means happiness and riches. Davlatbi is happy and rich and I will give these gifts to everyone.

Gleb -- Khujand, Tajikistan My name is Gleb. I was named after the detective from a Soviet movie called "The Rendezvous Point Cannot Be Changed" because my mom liked this name. I like my name because it is very unique. The meaning of my name means something different in each language. In old German my name means "protected by God," but in old Russian my name comes from the word for "pole". At school and at home everyone calls me Gleb and I like it - I would never agree to another name!

Amirjon -- Kulyab, Tajikistan The main part of my name, "amir", means king. We have a mausoleum in our city of the famous philosopher-scientist of the 16th century called Mir Said Ali Khamadani, we call him also Amirjon Khazrati. I was named by my parents after this great man. As we know from history, Mir Said Ali Khamadani was born in Khamadon city in Iran. He was educated by private teachers and his uncle Alouddavlya. When he was 12 years old he was a student of two famous scientists of the time--Sharofiddin Makhmud and Takiudin Ali Dusti. After long studies during 21 years, he went as a pilgrim to many countries of the East and he learned all the sciences of his time. For many years Mir Said Ali Khamadani lived in Kulyab because he loved this city very much. He asked to be buried here in this city. Now many people come to visit his mausoleum from all over the East. I'm really proud that I am named after this great person.

Takhmina -- Tursunzade, Tajikistan My name was given to me by my dad. It means "guess", and also Takhmina was the main character in the "Shakh-Nameh" poem by the famous Tajik poet Firdausi. In the Shakh-Nameh Takhmina had big blue eyes and she was very beautiful. When my dad saw my eyes he thought only about this name--Takhmina. With this name my dad wanted me to be the same beauty as Takhmina from Shakh-Nameh. I think this name is really for me!

Parvina -- Tursunzade, Tajikistan My name comes from two meanings. First, the name Parvina is very close to the boys' name Parviz, which means "flight". I was named this because right when I was born I fell from my mother's hands and she caught me. The second reason for my name is because when I was born there was a small star shining in the sky, and Parvina means "star".

Madina -- Tursunzade, Tajikistan There are many beautiful names in the world, but I think my name is the most beautiful one. My name Madina is connected with our religion--this name is sacred, because it is the name of the city Medina, where all the Muslims in the world come for the pilgrimage. My grandmother, who knows the ancient books very well, invented my name. People with this name must have a pure soul and know some religious history. Sometimes I feel that my soul is different than others--I'm more religious and I do believe in miracles and legends. I have noted this in myself among my friends. I think I am worthy of this name.