Negative meaning personal names in Runyambo: cultural beliefs and social impact

Abstract

Personal names play a pivotal role in introducing a person. People are identified by their names than any other trait. This paper discusses the names with negative meanings in Runyambo. The paper employed the causal theory of names and a total of 9 informants from Ruzinga and Rushe villages of Karagwe district were consulted and data were collected from WhatsApp groups and through interviews and focus group discussion. Research permit (2025/01) was obtained from the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Community Engagement. Verbal informed consent was obtained from the informants because of their inability to read and understand the Kiswahili consent forms. It was found that names with negative meanings are given as a result of different experiences by the parents, including their relationship with family members and neighbors, infertility, deaths and sorrows, and physical appearance of the children. The names were found to influence the lives of the bearer in different ways. It is concluded that, names are given depending on the feelings and wish of the name giver. The children born under similar circumstances, may be given different names as the giver wishes. Names are also not predictable as the name giver may create a new name as they wish.

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