Mongolian Name - Historical Evolution

Historical Evolution

Mongolian names traditionally have an important symbolic character — a name with auspicious connotations being thought to bring good fortune to its bearer. The naming of children was usually done by the parents or a respected elder of the family or religious figures. For example, it is said that the prominent Shaman, Teb-tengeri, saw in the stars a great future for the child and bestowed on Tolui's eldest son the name Möngke (meaning "eternal" in the Mongolian language).

Nowadays most parents give Mongolian names to their children, often consisting of two nouns or adjectives (in Mongolian grammar, it is considered a single word), representing qualities such as solidity and strength for boys or beauty in the case of girls.

Generally, the Mongols (unlike their southern neighbours, the Chinese) have only one personal name, which remains the same throughout their lives. While clan organization remained important among the Mongols into the 17th century, clan names were not linked with the personal name in a family name system. Clan name is still important among the Buryats and to a lesser extent among Kalmyks today. While the personal name of the living ruler was not originally tabooed, as in China, the names of deceased rulers were tabooed for several generations. In the past this prohibition was even stronger. In Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, the Mongols also use clan names.