Avoid Confusion with Ethiopian Names

[bic4643 0]

Understanding Ethiopian

Names and Naming

I've been married to my Ethiopian wife for 3 happy years. But it took me that long to understand her cultures naming custom. I suggest Americans like me should read this before filling out all the visa forms.

Traditionally, women in the US and other western nations change their family name when they marry. If an American woman remarries several times she might have to change her family name accordingly. But in Ethiopian custom women do not change their family name when they get married.

Ethiopians are very conservative people even though the custom of passing the family name from one generation to another is unknown in their culture. The Ethiopian custom of a family name is very different from the naming customs of the US and other western nations.

Ethiopians usually receive one name (rarely two or more) at birth. This personal name is attached to the biological father’s name (rarely other names other than the biological father’s name are also used) and, together, it becomes a “binomial,” a two-name system, used to describe a particular individual.

For example, Abebe Bikilla is the name of an individual whose father’s name is Bikilla.

Ethiopians usually do not have a middle name either. What appears as a middle name is usually a name appended to the given name at baptism. Occasionally, the paternal grandfather's name can be added if needed.

This cultural misunderstanding can cause some confusion between Ethiopians immigrants and Americans during the drafting or review of identification to be used in official US documents. Ethiopian immigrants will usually respond incorrectly when asked by American government officials their first, middle, and family names.

Also be aware the synonymous use of the terms (family name /last name) on Americans documents, or in conversation is confusing for Ethiopian nationals.

Ethiopians when asked their last name will usually respond, " You mean my father's or my grandfather's name?" Most Ethiopians who settle in the US use their fathers' name as their (last name/family name), although some use their grandfathers' name as their last or middle name.

To minimize the confusion during the drafting or review of identification to be used in official US documents, Ethiopian nationals with passports should simply be advised to use their passport names to indicate (family/last/ middle name).

[amykathleen2005 441]

I believe a similar naming system is used in parts of India. Very informative article.

[reeses16 8]

Great explanation! When we were filing out visa documentation we decided to use his father's name as a middle name and his grandfather's name as his last name to conform to the US 3 name system. His Ethiopian ID listed all 3 names, but if you asked him what his full name was he would only say his name + his father's name. It was weird to me at first, but my name was weird to him too; it just did not make since that my middle and last names were not the names of father, grandfather, or anyone at all from my family.

Before we got married, I brought up taking his name and he was total confused. What on earth would I do that? lol. I kept my name because I like it and it wasn't important to him. Although my grandma thought I was crazy to keep my name.

[bic4643 0]

Understanding Ethiopian

Names and Naming

I've been married to my Ethiopian wife for 3 happy years. But it took me that long to understand her cultures naming custom. I suggest Americans like me should read this before filling out all the visa forms.

Traditionally, women in the US and other western nations change their family name when they marry. If an American woman remarries several times she might have to change her family name accordingly. But in Ethiopian custom women do not change their family name when they get married.

Ethiopians are very conservative people even though the custom of passing the family name from one generation to another is unknown in their culture. The Ethiopian custom of a family name is very different from the naming customs of the US and other western nations.

Ethiopians usually receive one name (rarely two or more) at birth. This personal name is attached to the biological father’s name (rarely other names other than the biological father’s name are also used) and, together, it becomes a “binomial,” a two-name system, used to describe a particular individual.

For example, Abebe Bikilla is the name of an individual whose father’s name is Bikilla.

Ethiopians usually do not have a middle name either. What appears as a middle name is usually a name appended to the given name at baptism. Occasionally, the paternal grandfather's name can be added if needed.

This cultural misunderstanding can cause some confusion between Ethiopians immigrants and Americans during the drafting or review of identification to be used in official US documents. Ethiopian immigrants will usually respond incorrectly when asked by American government officials their first, middle, and family names.

Also be aware the synonymous use of the terms (family name /last name) on Americans documents, or in conversation is confusing for Ethiopian nationals.

Ethiopians when asked their last name will usually respond, " You mean my father's or my grandfather's name?" Most Ethiopians who settle in the US use their fathers' name as their (last name/family name), although some use their grandfathers' name as their last or middle name.

To minimize the confusion during the drafting or review of identification to be used in official US documents, Ethiopian nationals with passports should simply be advised to use their passport names to indicate (family/last/ middle name).