Ancient Pharaonic Names and Indications

Inpidual names had great significance in ancient Egypt. The names of people indicated either religious or worldly connotations. They also varied between simple and composite names.

Some of the ancient Egyptian names indicated good wishes for the new born, such as "Snap" (well being), "Mary" or "Mero" and "Hessi" which means loving and beloved and praised, "Nakhti" (strong), and "Ankh Tevi "will live long.

The child was named sometimes in a way indicating his rank among brothers and sisters, as "Nebsen" (their master), "Baser" or "Bahary" (the boss), and "Itzen" (their president).

Another group of names appeared to indicate physical characteristics such as black or red, based on skin color or hair. Or labels, which means small, or long, or beautiful face. The child was attributed to his hometown or place of birth, such as ‘Manfi’ (as from Manf) and Tibi (as from Tiba). Or attributed to a craft such as carpenter, soldier, Bedouin, or peasant.

Sometimes, names in ancient Egypt were derived from the circumstances of the child's birth or a phrase spelled by the mother during childbirth, such as "Imhotep," which means (the one comes in peace), and "Imsh," (came quickly). The baby was rarely called with an animal, plant names.

Religious inclinations prevailed over many names in ancient Egypt, derived from religiosity and a recognition of pine gifts.

There were names such as "Hessi Re" (praise of Re), "Pak en Amon" and "Ham Re" (ie Amun servant and servant of Ra), and expressions of discretion such as "Amenemhat" (Amun in the foreground). The man was named after Horus, or Seti, after the God Set. Or he was carrying God 's gift in his birth like "the Gd Ptah Aio Ef Ankh” (the one Ptah said he will live long).

Other names indicated mothers bids to push envy and evil eye from their children such as "Gar" (scorpion), "Bnu" (mouse), "Sennham" (locust), "Nerkhiso" (unknown), and "Borghv" (idiot)..

The ancient Egyptians did not always call their children by their full names, but rather abbreviated as the name of King Khufu, the Great Pyramid master, whose full name was "Khnum Khufoy." Names emerged to pamper, such as “Ebie”, “Pepe”, “T”, “Tete”, and “Shri”.

On the other hand, the names of the females were characterized by sweetness, pride and pampering such as "Nefert" (beautiful), "Nefro" (beauty), "Bennert" (sweet), and "Seshn" (Sawsan), "Jehst" (deer), "Nefertari" (their sweetest), and “Merrt” (beloved).

Beside being attributed to pine, the names of the girls were also abbreviated and mutated like the names of boys. The commoners had their own expressive expressions, indicating pampering, such as "Tamit" (cat), and "Obt" (little). Another names indicated mothers’ bids to drive away envy such as "Jammut Mots" (one met by her mother), and "Nrkhtosi" (unknown), and "Sta Art Paint" (Praying for God protection from envy).

Contributed by Yassmine ElSayed