History of Kfarsghab - Female Naming Tradition in the 19 Century |
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In Bcharri, more than half of the women are called either Mariam or Hannah.
Perhaps, it did not matter what was the first name of a woman, reference
to the father or husband could have been enough differentiation (3). We
see less concentration in Kfarsghab. Probably, it could be explained by
socio-economic factors like a clearer "clan" society in Bcharri
than in Kfarsghab. Mixity and cooperation between "clans" were
less needed in Bcharri than in Kfarsghab for survival. What we can also observe is a lesser frequency of Arabic and Biblical names in Bcharri. Was it the presence of missionary schools inside Bcharri behind it (see the higher frequency for Teresia and Catherina in Bcharri and Soosane and Hasna in Kfarsghab) ? If globally the naming traditions have some similarities between Bcharri and Kfarsghab, the socio-economic context could have induced the observed differences. Among other factors, there could be mixity between clans, social cooperation, genders relationships ( place of the woman in society ), ... On another level (with no direct relation to our subject), what is striking in Kfarsghab is the relative independence of women in the last quarter of the 19th Century, where we see Kfarsghabi women migrating on their own to USA and Australia. "Middle-Class bourgeois" inhibitions that appeared in the 1920's in the Lebanese society will stop the movement of those pioneer women (4). |
- Quality, Arabic and Animal
names : those names are of Arabic origin. If Sa3da, 7ababa and
7asnah appear probably at the end of the 18 Century, the other Arabic
names came later in the period 1810-1820. Some examples : Sa3da was the firstname of the elder daughter of the Emir Bachir II (1789-1840) (nicknamed for the occasion Abi Sa3da or father of Sa3da). 7asnah was the firstname of the wife of Sheikh Antonios Elias and Zeinah that of the wife of Sheikh Youssef Elias, both men being successively Sheiks of Kfarsghab between the end of the 18 Century and the beginning of the 19 Century. The Shihabis princes, of Arab tradition, ruled Lebanon from the end of the 17 Century. Their rule could be behind this increase in using Arabic names. It could have started in the higher classes (Sheikhs and Clergy) naming their children after their Shihabi allies from 1760. The tradition radiated afterwards to the lower classes from the beginning of the 19 Century. |
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- Biblical names : with exception of 7awwa (Eva), all other biblical names seem of a later adoption (after 1820).
- Western names : Teresia and Brigita appeared early at the end of the 18 Century. All other names of Western Origin appeared probably after 1830.
- Others : if Barabane and Assa are of older usage, the others appeared later in the 19 Century (after 1830). Their origins are mostly Persian and Turkish (maybe some Aramean / Phoenician).
These were some quick comments for any interested reader. By studying the naming tradition in Kfarsghab, we could be able to understand part of our today's traditions. You will find in the next table a complete list of the firstnames. Please, do not hesitate to correct or to add any information to this article by [contacting me]. I would be grateful.
First Name | # of women | order of appearnce | Origin | Comment | % |
Mariam | 22 | 3 | Christian | 9% | |
Martha | 21 | 2 | Christian | 8% | |
Barbara | 12 | 11 | Christian | 5% | |
Soossane | 12 | 25 | Flower | 5% | |
7awwa | 11 | 4 | Biblical | 4% | |
7annah | 10 | 1 | Christian | 4% | |
7asnah | 9 | 14 | Quality | Pretty | 4% |
Marina | 9 | 10 | Christian | 4% | |
Teresia | 8 | 13 | Western | 3% | |
Wardeh | 8 | 20 | Flower | 3% | |
Badwiyeh | 7 | 7 | Place | Bedouin | 3% |
Ghaliah | 6 | 22 | Quality | Dear | 2% |
Doorah | 5 | 45 | Biblical | 2% | |
Mantoorah | 5 | 9 | Flower | 2% | |
Sa3da | 5 | 6 | Quality | Lucky | 2% |
7ababah | 4 | 5 | Quality | Lovely | 2% |
Agatha | 3 | 15 | Western | 1% | |
Assa | 3 | 17 | Others | 1% | |
Catherina | 3 | 18 | Christian | 1% | |
Dina | 3 | 55 | Biblical | 1% | |
Foutina | 3 | 50 | Western | 1% | |
Franjieh | 3 | 42 | Place | French | 1% |
Marroune | 3 | 51 | Christian | 1% | |
Na3amah | 3 | 56 | Quality | Soft | 1% |
Pholomina | 3 | 59 | Western | 1% | |
Tadoorah | 3 | 21 | Biblical | 1% | |
3adba | 2 | 54 | Quality | Pure | 1% |
3adla | 2 | 74 | Arabic | 1% | |
Clara | 2 | 33 | Western | 1% | |
Domnina | 2 | 32 | Western | 1% | |
Halloone | 2 | 68 | Others | 1% | |
Hilaneh | 2 | 60 | Christian | Helen | 1% |
Qooti | 2 | 23 | Others | 1% | |
Ra7eel | 2 | 34 | Biblical | Rachel | 1% |
Sarah | 2 | 19 | Biblical | 1% | |
Saydah | 2 | 65 | Quality | Lady | 1% |
Sha3shoo3ah | 2 | 31 | Quality | Brilliant | 1% |
Yasmine | 2 | 8 | Flower | 1% | |
Yoolina | 2 | 28 | Western | 1% | |
Youssefiah | 2 | 37 | Christian | Josepha | 1% |
Zaynah | 2 | 27 | Quality | Good | 1% |
3atared | 1 | 72 | Quality | 0% | |
7inta | 1 | 67 | Others | 0% | |
Alsaghirah | 1 | 75 | Quality | Small | 0% |
Alsitia | 1 | 35 | Western | 0% | |
Aminah | 1 | 77 | Quality | Loyal | 0% |
Anastasia | 1 | 76 | Western | 0% | |
Angelina | 1 | 52 | Western | 0% | |
Badi3ah | 1 | 40 | Quality | Wonderful | 0% |
Badrah | 1 | 71 | Quality | 0% | |
Barabane | 1 | 16 | Others | 0% | |
Brigita | 1 | 12 | Western | 0% | |
Deebah | 1 | 49 | Animal | She-wolf | 0% |
Elisabeth | 1 | 57 | Christian | 0% | |
Esther | 1 | 26 | Biblical | 0% | |
Faridah | 1 | 80 | Quality | Unique | 0% |
Frosina | 1 | 39 | Western | 0% | |
Kalita | 1 | 63 | Western | 0% | |
Kamilah | 1 | 36 | Quality | Perfect | 0% |
Kattoor | 1 | 81 | Biblical | 0% | |
Khatoon | 1 | 62 | Others | 0% | |
Khawlah | 1 | 58 | Arabic | 0% | |
Khouriyeh | 1 | 53 | Quality | 0% | |
Layla | 1 | 61 | Arabic | 0% | |
Looliah | 1 | 82 | Quality | Pearl | 0% |
Lucia | 1 | 38 | Western | 0% | |
Ma7rousah | 1 | 70 | Quality | 0% | |
Madlena | 1 | 69 | Western | 0% | |
Malkah | 1 | 78 | Quality | 0% | |
Mataleen | 1 | 83 | Western | 0% | |
Na3isah | 1 | 47 | Quality | Sleepy | 0% |
Naddah | 1 | 43 | Quality | Soft | 0% |
Nakhleh | 1 | 24 | Flower | 0% | |
Nassimah | 1 | 46 | Quality | Swift | 0% |
Qnou3 | 1 | 48 | Quality | 0% | |
Rahjah | 1 | 29 | Quality | Joy | 0% |
Regina | 1 | 64 | Western | 0% | |
Shmooni | 1 | 41 | Christian | 0% | |
Sultanah | 1 | 66 | Quality | 0% | |
Tajar | 1 | 44 | Others | 0% | |
Watfa | 1 | 73 | Arabic | 0% | |
Zarifah | 1 | 30 | Quality | Funny | 0% |
Zumurrud | 1 | 79 | Arabic | 0% | |
Total | 256 |