What’s in a Name ?

Yes, there is “something” in a name. If not, why would Bombay be changed to Mumbai ? why would Bangalore be changed to Bengaluru , or Calcutta to Kolkata?       

Over a cup of tea break in a conference recently , after the usual introductions and the .. “hi”..”hello” a lady asked my name and what is the meaning, if any  . Uh ! Umm , I could not explain the direct meaning and why I was named so. It makes her all the more interested. 

Besides the ice breaking, often I had encountered odd moments where I cannot explain 'in short' related to my name, naming and its meaning, as many would often asked casually. But I would say as far as my name is concern ( and i believe many others too ) names are beyond casual conversations.  Here goes the story.

My full name is Ningngaihlun , my pen name is Ninglun. I was named by my maternal grandmother, whose name ends with Ning ( Nem-Za-Ning – Ning-Ngaih-Lun) And if I “ever” have a privileged of having a granddaughter or a niece to name it would begin with Lun. Who gives names to whom / which child is all together another story, another form of traditional , cultural practice.

Three word syllables, normally names in the Chin-Kuki-Zo society were link to preserve the family line. Sort of the Godmother / God Father practices in some societies, the person who names the child and vice versa has closeness. It also often said that the two have some similarities, in looks, behaviors and conduct or even in their thoughts .

Rather than the bearer of the name it has more to do with the person who gives the name . His/ her thoughts, feelings . What name and how she wants puts the syllables etc solely lies with the person who gives the name.  

I doubt, if my grandmother is still in this world would be happy ( she may even be offended ) to have used my pen name Ninglun as I believe she has a meaning for naming me Ningngaihlun. Of course, I owe her an explanation for shortening it.    

Surprisingly, Grandmother never told me the meaning of my name. She would dismissed the question whenever I asked her ( while she was alive) At times she would say “I called you Ngaihlun because you all (her children and grand children) live far away from me , so it is to mean that I missed  my children and my grandchildren”  . According to grandmother Ngaih ( beloved) Lun ( incessant  ) means that she is missing her beloved ones perpetually or incessantly.

Some how I doubted her , that she did not tell me what she meant by giving me that name,  but I did not inquire in depth. 

I vaguely remember one elderly, who knows my grandmother, once remarked to me “ so, your grandmother named you NNL" ? don’t quite understand what she meant, but she definitely meant something.

Most of the names in the Chin-Kuki-Zo societies are adjectives, with multi-meaning attached to it. In my case it would be these complex , multi-faced play of words, The word NING means Abundant, Over flowing, NGAIH – beloved, it can be also mean loud, LUN – Popular, happening.

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