Naming traditions
Perhaps you are sponsoring two siblings whose names are Jeremiah Gitonga and Peter Mwirigi. Although they have different last names, this does not mean they have different fathers. Meru naming traditions simply work differently than ours.
In the part of Meru where most of the sponsored kids come from, the
firstborn son is named for his father’s father, and the firstborn
daughter is named for her father’s mother. In most cases the child is given a name that reflects
the character of her paternal grandfather or grandmother, rather than the grandparent's actual name. Thus, a
boy might be called Mwenda, or "Loving", because his paternal grandfather was known to be loving. A girl may be called Kagwiria, because her paternal grandmother was a joyful person. A second boy or girl in the family would be named in the
same manner, but to reflect the character of the maternal grandparent. These names are in the mother tongue of Kimeru and are the names the children go by in the family, in the village and at school.
When a child is baptized, he or she is given an English/Christian name. Mwenda may now be Josiah Mwenda. Kagwiria may be Hannah Kagwiria. When a woman marries she may acquire a third name, her husband’s given birth name. Using the above example, the woman may also be known as Mrs. Mwenda. This tradition has been increasing due to Western influence.
For
more about names, please read the "The Name Game" on our blog.