Other Indians have always found our names to be funny and strange. Just like how we find their names to be funny and strange too. This is a natural phenomenon that one must expect whenever there is a clash of culture.
In the midst of all these, some of my non-Mizo friends would come up to me and ask “Dude, how come he has an English name while you don’t? Is he not a pure Mizo?” or something to that effect.
Lolz. I don’t blame them for asking such a ridiculous question. After all, just when they were getting used to meeting my Mizo friends with Mizo names, they suddenly met my other Mizo friends with names like “David” and “Stephen”. So once again I had to tell them that there are many Mizos with English names too.
Which led me to wonder, when did we Mizos first started adopting English names? And how come nearly all of us don’t have those Mizo names our Ancestors used to have? Is this our way of showing we are “progressing”? The Welsh Missionaries were even given Mizo names when they first came to Mizoram. Now the tables have turned completely. My friend Mary told me she had an English name to show that she’s a Christian. I mean, do we need to advertise our religion like that? Do you want to be stereotyped the moment people read or hear your name?
I once asked my friend Jenny for the story behind her English name. She told me that she had absolutely no clue why she was named Jenny and the only thing she knew was that it stood for Jennifer. So I asked her if her parents were big fans of J-Lo and she smacked me on my head. Moving on to my other friend Lucy, I asked her that since Jenny was derived from Jennifer, was Lucy derived from Lucifer? Another whack on my head!
Anyway, sometimes I used to wonder why some of us have English names. Is it because we consider English sounding names to be more sophisticated? Could this be just another case of Colonial hangover? Another clear cut case of our strange fascination over white skinned people?
One thing I know for sure is that, all the Mizo Catholics I have met so far all have English names. Names like Stephen, Francis, Paul, Mary, Margaret and Theresa. They were all named after their Saints or somebody important in the Bible. Well I can understand that, but what about the other Mizos?
Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to spark off a debate here. I am just curious to know why some of us would want to name our children with an English sounding name. Is having a Mizo name that embarrassing? I for one would never give an English name to my children. Don’t mistake this for an ethnocentric or xenophobic remark. I just don’t see any reason why I should give a foreign sounding name to my own flesh and blood, unless ofcourse I was forced at gun-point to do so.
And if you look at this as just another Pro-Mizo article, let me tell you that atleast 90% of my closest Mizo friends have English names. My article is not directed at those Mizos having English names but rather focused at WHY we are so fascinated on giving English names to our Children.
And speaking of naming your children, here is a small advice. NEVER include the words “fak” and “dik” in your children’s name. Like, Lalfakawma or Lalrindika. Face it, we are living in a Global Village where everybody’s mixing with everybody. And if your son or daughter has the words “fak” or “dik” in their names, trust me, they are going to be the butt of all jokes from their non-Mizo friends. In Mizoram, it’s ok to be called “Faka”, but definitely not outside Mizoram!!! Especially if you are sweetly named “Mafaka”!!! That would be sheer character assassination outside Mizoram!
Coming back to this topic, many of my friends tell me that they were named after Bible characters. Names like David, Amos, Jerusha, Solomon, Benjamin, Abigail, John, Isaac, Esther, Sarah, Michael, Samuel and Emmanuel. But what about those names like Jimmy, Gnat, Tracy, Stacy, Aldrin, Andy, Jerry, Charles, Samantha, Betty, Sandra and Brad???? Pray do tell me where in the passages of The Bible did you ever come across such names?
If The Holy Bible was such a big criteria for naming our children, then please let me know if you’ve heard of any Mizos with names such as Nebuchanazzer, Goliath or Herod. Some of you might say those guys were the bad guys. Ok fine, then what about names like Corinth, Theophilus, Uriah and Casiphia. Any of you know any Mizos with those names?
And if the names need not be related to The Bible, then why not have other foreign “first names” like Nkuru, Ntini, Mutombo, Okacha, Thierry, Gilberto, Kolo, Cesc, Júlio, Abou, Gaël, Agathangelos, Carlos, Antonio, Pièdro, Francois, Louis, Blancheflour, Milosevic, Abramovich, Nemanja, Lijuan, Huang, Xiaofang, Sung, Xiang etc? Why are most of the names (other than a very few exceptions) copied only from the US and the UK? Is this because we hold the West in extremely high regards or is this some kind of a Racist attitude that we have towards the African Countries, Latino Countries, Scandinavian Countries, South-east and Far-east Asian Countries etc?
Anyway, this post is all about exploring this issue on why we sometimes name our children with English names and is definitely not targeted at those Mizos with English names.
If you have comments such as “I have the full rights to name my son with any name that I want and you got no rights to tell me how to name my son”, then please keep such comments to yourself. There are some of us who like to have an open minded discussion and move forward. Obstinate comments will only hinder our progress. Let’s discuss this “Mizos with foreign names” topic on grounds like whether it is because of globalization? Is it because of a case of identity? Is it because we want to be a part of both the “new World” and the “old World”? Is it because people will find it much easier to pronounce? Is it because of Christianity? Is it because it is considered stylish and chic? Is it because of the Snob effect? (Snob Effect = Economics term for a condition when a consumer wishes to own an exclusive or unique good).
Ps. I ain’t attacking anybody here. Don’t mistake this article as a propaganda against Mizos with non-Mizo names. LoLz!!! It’s just that I have seen many Mizos make xenophobic Pro-Mizo statements with a hint towards some kinda Mizo supremacy ideology, and most of them do not support the idea of welcoming any “outsiders” into our Community. Yet, when it comes to adopting “foreign” names (or listening to “foreign” songs, watching “foreign” movies, wearing “foreign” clothes etc. for that matter) these same people happily don’t mind all that. I find this a bit ironic. I am writing an article on racism and I really hope you guys can fill me in on this behavior inconsistency etc… and help me understand this whole issue better. Thanx.
Peace out.
– Balu-Pa. LoLz!!! Bleh… Sandman! 
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September 28th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Nia tiro rachael ….
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September 28th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
sap hming pho nei i la a mizo le vek thoi
same difference
alex =lal alex
zack = jack
mary = lal marr
janie = zenie
peter = Pe – terrr
john = zonnn etc etc
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September 28th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
jack hi sap hming a ni tawh nange =)
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September 28th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
ni thoi e ….
jack = jack
zack also = jack someitmes
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September 28th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
Ngaihsan zawngte hming fate hmingah kan thiat/zep ve dawna nih chuan dan angah neiin han ti ta vek mai ila buai thlak awm reuh !!!!!!. Mizo ho hming chu a chichawm awm.
A sim sim in awmze hriat loh kan hmingah han zeh tel dawn chuleh!!!!!!
Paul, Thomas, Peter, Joseph, Johny awmzia hria mi a. Japan PM thar hming i hria em?. A ngaihsanawm viau ang. Shinzo Abe mawle, saphming aduh lo.
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September 29th, 2006 at 12:12 am
Inthu khel hi ho ka ti top; Mivansang ah bu an chhep toh a,khawvel chhe tur hi engtin nge kan tih ang tih lam ah buai chi ani zawk lo maw! Ho mai mai e mai,Zokhawsanga lengte motor poh thlen phal lohna te buaipui tham lek ani;Ka hming hi analh bawka asei tha khawp mai,Phuahchhan pawh hriat ngailo awmsa reng…………LOLZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz
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September 29th, 2006 at 12:24 am
Nahaia wrote:
Ngaihsanawm tak khan han awm la, miin i hming chawiin an fate hming an phuah sup sup mai ang. Pu HT Sangliana hming chawi hi Mizo ni lo, Bangalore velah hian an awm sup tawh a nia. Heng an fate hminga Pu Sangliana hming chawite hi kan dem em aw?
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September 29th, 2006 at 9:36 am
Nahai – Mihring duhzong leh ngaihsang zong a in ang vek hleinem…. Chu lam pang ah chuan buaithlak love
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September 29th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Mizo trawng trawng engzat nge i thiam ooooooooooooo.Lushei trawng bak i hreawm si lo a,Mizo trawng ah khian trawng chihrang engzat nge awm?Thiam vek tum phot la chuan i thil vei chu hrilh fiah in,I awm ang…I vei zawng hi aho emai…awmzenei lo pon lo in phuah se an duh a phuah ve ani mai ani,Lovei vak tawhsuh,Lushei trawng aletling zawng pawh i hre awm silo ,
Zoram hruaitu te mirethei chanai ei trun trun ho hi engtin nge,kan tih reh ang tih kawng rawn phorh zawk teh,khel ho emai…
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September 29th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
mixo trong thiam vek chu eng nge a awmxia? a chung a mi khi i siat thiam loh vel vang ni xok lo mo? mixo trong in lo xiak ru ti mai la…lolx eng xat nge i thiam nang in? mizo in tawng engxat nge kan neih? keichu mizo ka nia trong poh pakhat chauh ka nei..:)
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September 29th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
(Zadengthuama chhakchhuak) tih hming pu awm reng poh I nihkha… I mol deuh tlatzzz. I comment ve duh chuan he Subject ah hian comment ve maila. I rilru a I vei nazawng kha ron soi kher suh… A tul hun chuan soi hun a la om mai don lom Matreeeeee
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October 20th, 2006 at 10:35 am
zawlbuk ho hi ka ngaisang teh chiam lo kei chu
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October 20th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
funny
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October 22nd, 2006 at 11:43 pm
chemkalruta chhakchhuak wrote:
next life ah chuan oo phuah nalh tawh viau ang…
va Christian lo veeee lolz, Christian te chuan next life kan nei ve mi Vanram nih loh chuan Meidil ah kan kal dawn ni lom ni hehe
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October 22nd, 2006 at 11:59 pm
mimi wrote:
zangzual tih vela an koh che chuan ala zia in ka hria, school kan kal lai kan hostel a ka thianpa kha Zosangliana ania Zozangliana tihin an ko ta thin a, Zangzual tih ai chuan a dek ril deuh zawk in ka ring , nangmah chauh i ni lo ania vai ho hian ka hmin pawh hi lam har an ti thrin khawp mai sawi kher lo ta ila :lol:
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October 23rd, 2006 at 5:44 pm
ni tak reng a!keimah ang hian Zo tak hming pu theuh i la tha tur nia!lolz,sap hming an vuah hi chu in lak Ch k nan maw le kan hmangni!
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October 23rd, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Kan belh ve lok
Dave – lalde
Jerry – lalzerry
Japan zongtah – zapan zongtah
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October 23rd, 2006 at 6:37 pm
hei poh….
dorothy – thi-i
robert – baat-a
joseph – sep-a
esther – es-i
julie – lal-ju
jenny – zenny
albert – al-baat
jimmy – zimmi
awi a tam lutuk….da list goes on and on….
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October 29th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
Sap hming hi in lak changkan nan an hmang vek kher lo, changkan phahna pawh a awm bok leu. Hming hi chhan neia phuah vek a ni zawk. Heta comments hi ka chhiar veka, hnam dang Japan, Korea, China ten sap hming an inphuah velo tih pawh hi dawt vek, heng hnam zinga ka zirpui then khat pawh sap hming an inphuah vek, rinthua thu sawi ching ho hi vuak hrep tlak an ni. Sap hming an inphuah chhan erawh a in ang vek kher lo.
Kan hming sak chhan hi a pawimawh a, chutih rualin hming tha leh hming nalh deuh te pawh ngaituah a tha. Entirnan, Pa pakhat chuan an kawmthlanga Fartuah kung a fanu hmingah phuah a duh a, tichuan ‘Kawmtuahi” a ti ta a ni awm e..he he.
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November 2nd, 2006 at 10:44 am
japan zongtah tih berk kher khi chu ka oih toh lo mizo hming ah chuan (as a persons name)
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November 2nd, 2006 at 11:10 am
No one can best the khasis and the Garos when it comes to names. trust me ive liven in shillong for over 10 years and i have the strangest names as friends and neighbors. lemme share the few.
i had a neighbor who unfortunately died a few years ago named teapot. we affectionally call him bah Teapot. he has a son named Pollenstar (i wonder where that came from)
a classmate named colorful wallang. independence (female names). witty, solace, nevermore (cong more) highlight. etc
garo names hitler, reporter. jughead archie (garo/ khasi). and my personal favourite a driver names his kids as first gear, gear, 3 gear and 4 gear…damn they’re good. and i once herd of a guy whos name was ironically ” what is your name?” with the ‘?’ mark as a part of the name. hahahaha. and i kno a bhutaneese girl names “ZANGMO” i dont think any decent self respecting mizo man would marry someone with that name. ..imagine this in the church ..”i pronounce you Sangkima and ZANGMO husband and wife”.. it would be terrible verbally abusing ur wife everytime you affectionally call her name. imqnging making love to her in the heat of the moment it would be like making love to a man hahahahahahahaha zang mooooooooooooooooo. so in conclusion dont even stres about bein called zerry or pe terra or what ever coz ur lucky it still sounds like a name.
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November 2nd, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Saint hming hian awmzia a nei asin cathiloc ho rindan ah chuan..chuvang chuan saint hming hi an dah kher thin sap pawh nise catholic an nih chuan mithianghlim tu emaw ber hming an tawm thin…vana tanga an mahni lo vengtu tur atan..vengtu angel leh mithianghlim te nen..i rin chuan i ngaih a tha ve duh khop ang chu!
rinna chu rinna ani tih bak sawi rih lo ang!
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November 2nd, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Sjogren
I dik lubux tlat..
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November 4th, 2006 at 5:57 am
Hming hi engmah a nilo, phuah chhan a zir a ni ber mai. Kan thianpa pakhat pawh khan Steve Vai hi alo ngaisang khawpa a hming ah Little Vai a in ti ve tho alawm.
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November 4th, 2006 at 6:33 am
Engmah chu a nia lawm. Chiangkuanglova tih hi i fa ten hmingah pu dawn se i duh ka ring lo.
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November 9th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
4
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November 12th, 2006 at 11:56 pm
nia,hming vang hian mihring reng reng hi kan nelzawngte awm theiin kei chuan ka ring ringawta, hming mawilo deuh kan put chuan mi te pawn min nuihzat thei tih hi hriat a van tha tak em thian te u.Hming hian a zir chuan midang te pawh hian min hria hma ve thei tho mai bawk.
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November 19th, 2006 at 11:23 am
ho e
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December 2nd, 2006 at 12:18 pm
Kei chu Mizorama cheng Mizo ka nilo,mahse kan hming chu i hmuh angin Mizo hming diktaka ni.Ka Mizo hmingvangin ka awmna rama hnamdang tan chuan a nuihzat thlaka,mahse kei chuan pawi ka ti lo.Ka Mizo hming hi chu engtikah mah ka zahpui dawn lo.
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December 6th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
Hi
Just asking if this is the same MIMI who was in Pune
ed
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December 6th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
Just wanted to say PPL from Mizo are very loving and carring i had a few friends wan i was in pune and i had a ball of a time with them
and yes the names are funy but they are kool few friends were Novi/Tuna/Tovi and not for getting DJ Snoop who wanted to be a Mizo hahaha and santosh
anyway big up to the Mizo’s 
ed
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January 23rd, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Actually i am not an active serfer, but this this site is really great, i will spread it through my friends.
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January 26th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
SANDMAN tih hi khoilam Hming nge???????????
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January 26th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
@Homer… Bible a a inziah angin Mihring chu vaivut atranga siam kan nia.. chu mi siatreng nan chuan Sandman tih hming a lo in vuah ta ani e.
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January 26th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Goldmember chuh SANDMAN a PR/ Kid No. 1 i ni mo… lo chhang sak dan ah
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January 26th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
tak tak maw??
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January 26th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
@HOmer kid no1 ni lo e. kid no 2 ka ni thrin a mahse nang hian sandman a chanchin i ngaihven em avang hian kid no 2 ah a promote mai thei che ni.
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January 26th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
@Golmember… Ngaihven lam ni hlei ne, a thil post ah ka lo reply ve mai lom… i post ve hunah ka lo reply ve don nia….
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January 26th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
vawiin i comment hmasa ber 2 hi sandman a chungchang a nia ingaihven a ang emma.. mahse a lo nih chu loh chuan a thra e! engvak a ni lo e.. hehe! peace..
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January 26th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
@Goldmember… e khai! chutiang in lo ngai reng2 mah ta che….. Tunge in nih poh ka hre hlei nem… a post ka reply ringot alom
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January 26th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
@pu Homer.. nia ka thiamloh a ni e! kan ron chhang por nghal deuh che a mahse misual.com ah hian personal attacks tih vel hi chu tih lo hram kan tia! (abt the IIM comment ie.) delhi chu a nawm zek ka beisei.
i movie poh a ron chhuah trep tawh kha. kan nghakhlel khawp mai.
Homer the cartoon not the philosopher.
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January 26th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
@Goldmember huat thu loh a chuan a nuih za thlak em a lom, ka ngaihdan ka soi a ni ve mai a, in ngaihdan te a lo nih loh chuan ka tih palh anih…. personal turin tunge a nih poh ka hre hlei nem. Nia ka cartoon poh en chak toh khp mai.
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March 23rd, 2007 at 11:16 am
ka hming hi DAVID a nia. ka college luh tirh hian “tunge i hming” min tih hian David ka tia, an lam thiam vak lo DA hi asangin an lama vid tih hi a sei in an thluk. a tirah phei chuan ka haw angreng. Mahse ka hming pum (surname) phei chu lam thiam lo tak an ni. saphming ka lo nei hi ka lawm angreng zawk. ka mizo hming hian min ko ta thin se chuan in sual hial pawh angai mai thei ani. lolz
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