Mizo names are personal names used by the Mizo people in, or originating from, Northeast India and Myanmar. In the Mizo traditional system, a given name is specifically gender-based and the whole name is single-worded (mononymic). As in many Asian traditions, the Mizo and related Tibeto-Burman names normally do not have surnames. However, unlike other Tibeto-Burman languages, the Mizo language adopted gender classification in the given name: a suffix with -a denotes a male and -i, a female. However, not all clans of the Mizo universally use the system and modernised names have multiple parts, including English or other foreign given names and surnames.
The British rule of the Mizo people and the ensuing mass Christianisation coupled with westernisation had huge influence on the Mizo naming system. Erstwhile not known names, including foreign names and surnames, became commonly adopted. The proper names in modern times are popularly a reflection of Christian worship; some of the common prefixes, Lal, Van and Vanlal, which were once restricted to regal names, are popular as allusion to God and Heaven. An impetus for the change into and popularisation of foreign names and western naming order consisting of first, middle name and surname, or at least two-part name is that Mizo traditional names, both spelling and pronunciation, are difficult for others, some countries prohibiting single-part names (like the Middle East countries) and some Indian official registry requiring surnames and other parts of the name. A modern convention of incorporating clan names as surnames in multi-part names is still not technically a surname system, since surnames are not used in the calling name.
Traditional name
Background Mizo language is originally part of the Sino-Tibetan and Tibeto-Burman languages with several common linguistic roots to Burmese language. Within the language subgroup Mizo shares names of people, objects, verbs and nature with other ethnic languages. Mizo language is further categorised under the central Kuki-chin group that includes Mizo (Duhlian), Bawm (Sunthla and Panghawi), Falam (Hallam, Ranglong, Darlong, Hauhulh, Simpi, Hualngo, Chorei), Thor (Tawr), Hmar, Hrangkhol, Biate (Biete), Hakha (Lai/Pawi, Mi-E, Zokhua), Pangkhua, Saihriem, Laizo/Tlaisun, Khualsim, Zanniat, Zahau, and Sim. People using the Mizo language are distributed in Pherzawl district of Manipur, parts of Cachar district and Karbi Anglong district of Assam, southern Tripura, and the entire Mizoram, in India; as wells as western regions of Myanmar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The people and their language emerged as a result of Zo or Zomi diaspora in the 19th century.
Mizo was purely an oral language until the people encountered the British in the late 19th century. In 1894, Welsh missionaries under Robert Arthington's Aborigines Mission, James Herbert Lorrain and Frederick William Savidge arrived in Aizawl, and their first work was creating the Mizo alphabet. Lorrain and Savidge, and later missionaries, established the written Mizo language and largely influenced creating personal names.
Structure
Traditional Mizo names are a single given name and strictly composed of one part (mononyms). A complete name is typically two to four syllables, but never monosyllabic. Mizo names are unisex but rely on suffix identification. Although written in one word, the name basically comprises two components: the main given name which identifies individuals and a terminal syllable which is a gender determinant. The gender suffix is either -a for males and -i for females; in spoken, a sounds as English short a (IPA ə), while i is English short e (IPA ɪ). The main name without the suffix can be common to both sexes, as a neutral gender.Examples:
"Khuma" and "Khara" were the first Mizo people to receive Christian baptism in 1899. The suffixes -a indicate they were males. "Ropuiliani" was the chieftain of Denlung and surrounding chiefdoms during the Chin-Lushai Expedition of 1889–90. The suffix -i identifies the person as a female.
Pre-Mizo script records The British army officers and administrative officials were the first foreigners to make contact with and survey the lands inhabited by the Mizo people, and started the first written records of the culture and society of the different tribes. Captain Thomas Herbert Lewin first mentioned one Mizo chief named "Rutton Poia" in his monograph The Hill Tracts of Chittagong and the Dwellers Therein in 1869. Lewin mistook the name as two parts in all his accounts, but the correct name is "Rothangpuia". A. Campbell, a medical officer, reported in 1874 some Mizo (then variously called and spelled Lushais or Looshais or Kookis or Kookas) names based on English phonetics and alphabets such as:
"Vanpilal", which would be properly written in Mizo script as "Vanpuilala", name of a chieftain. "Vanolel", which would be "Vanhnuailiana", a major chieftain. Two army officers, Robert Gosset Woodthorpe (in his 1873 book The Lushai Expedition, 1871–1872) and Lewin (in A Fly on the Wheel: Or, How I Helped to Govern India of 1885), who led the Lushai Expedition, were the first to document comprehensive lists of the Mizo chiefs. In addition to "Vanpilal" (or "Voupilal" according to Woodthorpe) and "Vanolel", some notable names are:
"Lalboora" is correctly "Lalburha". "Lalingvoom" is "Lallianvunga". "Lalsavoong" is "Lalsavunga". "Sukpilal" is "Suakpuilala". "Lai Jika" is "Lalzika". Lewin was also the first to document the structure of Mizo language. In his 1874 book Progressive Colloquial Exercises in the Lushai Dialect, he exemplified the use of common Mizo names:
"My brother's name is Muktee" means "Koyma u hming Mukia ani." [In modern script: "Ka u hming chu Mukia a ni."] "The daughter of my female slave is named Laijovi" means "Koyma boinu afanu a-hming Laijovi ani ey." [In modern script: "Ka bawihnu fanu hming chu Lalzovi a ni e."] In the book, Lewin also recorded folk tales of male and female characters such as "Lal Rounga" [modern script: "Lalruanga"] and "Kungori" [modern script: "Kungawrhi"].
Vocative case In verbal address, Mizo names, whether single-part or multiple-part form, are not used in the full forms. Usually two syllables from any part of the name are used. In case of multiple syllabic name, the gender suffix is always eliminated.Examples: "Thanphunga" will be addressed as "Thangphung" by dropping the third syllable, the suffix; "Liankungi" is to be addressed as "Liankung."In case of two syllabic name, the gender suffix is retained.Examples: "Khuma" is always "Khuma" in writing or verbal address; "Tungi" remains "Tungi".
Regal names In the past, regal names were reserved within the use of Mizo chieftains. The Mizo has an idiom "lal hming sakna dâl lo" signifying the traditional rule that literally means "unhindered to the chief's name" so that it was customary for a commoner to avoid any name that might be associated with the chieftains. Names of the chiefs popularly included "Lal" and "Van" which refers to chieftainship and greatness are unsuitable for the commoners. Such names as "Lalburha", "Vanpuilala", "Vanhnuailiana", etc., would not be given to commoners.
The elitist naming was practically ended due to Independence of India from the British rule in 1947. The birth of new democratic government facilitated creation of political parties for the citizens. The first major party in Mizoram, the Mizo Union, which largely proliferated out of anachronistic attitude towards tribal chiefs was particularly effective in ousting the Mizo chiefdoms and thus obliterating the regal naming tradition.
Warriors Warriors were central to the safety and security of the Mizo communities, and were distinguished from the general public and attire. Their names also carried social distinctions not shared by others. For example, "Kapṭiala" would be that the person had shot (kap) a striped beast, a tiger (ṭial). "Saizahawla" signifies, in exaggeration, one who fought hundred elephants. "Keivawmhranga" suggests an encounter with the beasts such as bears and tigers.
Hypocorism Pet names were also given to warriors to replace their birth names. "Taitesena" was a new name given to Ralthatchhunga Khiangte – a birth name already an expression of bravery against enemies. "Thangzachhinga" as a warrior became "Vanapa".
Teknonymy The Mizos historically practised teknonymy. Teknonyms were used amongst elders and parents only. Many notable people changed their birth names by adopting the names of their firstborn. Thanzachhinga's firstborn was Vana, hence his new name "Vanapa" (literally "Vana's father"). Another warrior, Khawtindala had a firstborn daughter, Burkhawni, so he became "Burkhawnipa". A noted folk composer, Hmarlutvunga was later known as "Awithangpa" after his firstborn son, Awithanga. This custom of identifying parents by their children's name is known as Fa Hming Koh (naming after the firstborn).
Clan names Mizo clans also had common syllables associated with them based on their clans. For example, the Sailo clan used the term "Ngur" commonly among males and females. The Chawngthu clan used "ch" for the beginning of names and the Pawi (Lai people) used "hrang" as syllables. As the Sailo chiefs were the dominant ruling clan in pre-colonial Mizoram, many non-Sailo clans took on the nomenclature of Sailo naming conventions. This was mainly due to intermixing. However, in some cases, the () of a chief would have their children named by their owner.
Conversion of foreign names For the early Mizo people, foreign names were not easily recognised, so that Mizo-rendering names were given. They called the British people Sâp, a corruption of the Hindi/Urdu word sahib, used as a "respectful title used by the natives of India in addressing an Englishman or other European (= 'Sir')." The Mizo-adapted words came to be used for many British missionaries, who were later collectively named Zosâp.
The first missionaries were Frederick William Savidge, called "Sap Upa" (for old sahib), and James Herbert Lorrain, names "Pu Buanga" ("Mr Brown"). The first Presbyterian missionaries were David Evan Jones, called "Zosaphluia" (the older Mizo white man or Mizo-sahib), and Edwin Rowlands, called "Zosapthara" (the new Mizo-sahib). Edith Mary Chapman became "Pi Zirtiri" (the teacher; "Pi" is a honorific title for women). The British officers were not normally given the sâp names:
Thomas Herbert Lewin was called "Thangliana" (the greatly famous/well-known). The first political officer, Captain Herbert Richard Browne was named "Hmaireka" (pinched face). Browne's successor Robert Blair McCabe was infamous for capturing the chiefs and was called "Lalmantua" (he who captures chiefs). Major John Shakespeare, the first Superintendent (the highest administrative officer) of the Lushai District, was known as "Tarmita" (the spectacled).
Transliteration The Mizo people found some foreign names similar in tone to Mizo words and gave Mizo names based on their original names.
Basil Edward Jones and his wife Margareth Jones were called "Pu Zâwna" and "Pi Zâwni" respectively. Molly Parker and her companion Imogen P. Roberts were called "Pi Pari" and "Pi Rovi". Owen William Owen became "Pu Âwna". Rev. Frederick Joseph Sandy, who started formal education among the Mizos, was "Pu Dîa".
Modern names
Mononyms Following the traditional Mizo names, many modern names are made of one part, multisyllabic words and with gender determinant.Example:
"Lalrinpuii" is with a female suffix, such as the Minister of State of Mizoram since 2023. "Lalduhawma" is a male name, as that of the Chief Minister of Mizoram since 2023. The person chose an alternate spelling "Lalduhoma".
Hypocorism