Unique Tangkhul names: Literal and their actual meanings

In many tribal societies, names represent symbols, signs, nature of birth, social standing, place of birth, events of the time and many other things. Red Indians have very unique ways of naming their children. When some of these names are translated literally, they sound funny. However, there are deep underlying meanings even in names that sound really funny or silly. Red Indian names like, “Crow Mother Spirit, She plays all the time, All are at war, First to dance, etc,” are some names that come into my mind when thinking of funny names.

Tangkhuls, mainly before the advent of Christianity have a peculiar naming convention. Though the names have their special meanings, they sometime are really funny if you just take the literal or face meaning of the names. Some of the names I can recall are listed below along with their literal and actual meanings.

Chapthai: Nightlong weeper. A very unbearable child who cries day and night.
Pheikhui: Crooked Leg. Named if the child is born with a bend or crooked leg
Shangkai: Broken Clan. Child born at a time when the clan has some conflict within or without
Yarshi: Ugly one. Named if born ugly.
Ringshi: Unhappy. Poor family condition both financial and social standing.
Yangshi: Envy/Jealous. If people are jealous of the parents for some reason.
Yuishi: Envy/jealous. Same as Yangshi
Saphei: Animal leg. Named if the father is a great hunter.
Mikrei: Big Eyes. Named if the child has big eyes.
Miksha: Thick eyes. A child born with thick eyelids
Mikying: Blue Eyes. A child is given this name if he is born with blue eyes.
Maringthei: One who struggles to live. Child born to a couple who live from hand to mouth.
Maringmi: Not alive. If many children have died before the birth of the child
Maransa: Totem Erector. Son of rich parents who have erected totems to showcase their prosperity
Pairala. Shit water. If the parents have fields close to the village that is fed by the fertile waste water and sewage of the village. This is considered to be a good name.
Tatung. Dropped/lost. Orphaned child. Named so if the parents are dead or the child is abandoned
Thisan: Fed up of dead. If many children have died before the birth of this child
Shongfala. Roadside. If the child is born on the road.
Shongzanla. Roadside. Same as Shongfala
Horhai: Abandoned. Orphaned or abandoned child
Khanei: One who brings bad luck: Named if the child is an orphan
Mara: Orphan. Orphaned or abandoned
Luimashom: No cultivation. If the child is born at the time of draught
Luishomla: Cultivation. The child is born at the time of cultivation
Luishom: Cultivation (male). Same as Luishomla
Vachin: Maternal Hatred. A child born to parents who are not in good terms with the mother’s side
Manganaophan: Not able to bring up: Either of the parents died when the child was so young.
Ningchung: Split mind/thought. A child born to confused parents
Luimalei: No field. Children born to poor parents or a child who is the youngest who has no more/little property share
Yarho: One Son. The only son in the family
Luikai: Broken field. Child born at the time of flood that has resulted in the loss of property
Khungsha: Short neck. Children born with short neck
Ningtheng: Dried mind/thought. Child born at the time of extreme hardship.
Manaothei: Late Fruit. A child born to aged couple
Maungthei: One who can't come. If either of the parents are good in postponing things.
Mashangthei: One who can't manage being rich. Child whose parents are rich but not altruistic.
Ningmalum: Doubtful conscience: The child's parents have some fear about the future of the child. Example, a sickly child.
Maihung: Red face. For a child born with a red face.

The Funny Planet.
A little Indian boy asked his father, the big chief and witch doctor of the tribe, “Papa, why is it that we always have long names, while the white men have shorter names – Bill, Tex or Sam, for example?”

His father replied, “Look, son, our names represent a symbol, a sign, or a poem for our culture not like the white men, who live all together and repeat their names from generation to generation. Also, it is part of our makeup that in spite of everything, we survive.”

“For example, your sister’s name is Small Romantic Moon Over The Lake, because on the night she was born, there was a beautiful moon reflected in the lake. Then there’s your brother, Big White Horse of the Prairies, because he was born on a day that the big white horse who gallops over the prairies of the world appeared near our camp and is a symbol of our capacity to live and the life force of our people.”
“It’s very simple and easy to understand. Do you have any other questions, Little Broken Condom Made in China?”

Disclaimer: This blogpost is not a piece of mockery, but written and posted in good faith that it reminds us of the past.