The Language Secretariat of Greenland

 
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Matching Names

Found 520 matching names:
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  Name European Old Spelling
  Name European Old Spelling
A
Aaju   WÂjo
 Aaju is a so-called babbling name. A small child tries to say "angaju" (big sister or brother) and produces the sound "aaju" instead. These names usually are used internally in the family, but as is often the case, they stick to the person and evolves into personal names.
Aajunnguaq   WÂjúnguaĸ
 From Aaju, a so-called babbling name, supplied with the ending: -nnguaq (dear or sweet). A small child tries to say "angaju" (big sister or brother) and produces the sound "aaju". These designations usually are used internally in the family, but as is often the case, these designations stick to the person and evolve into personal names.
 Aakasak   WÂkasak
 Aallaaritaa E WAutdlâritâ
 AamaN  WAuma
 Aamaasi   WÂmâse
 Aanngii   WÃngê
 Aannguaq   WÃnguaĸ
 Aappilattoq   WAugpilagtoĸ
 Aaqqii E WÂrĸê
 Aaqqiooq   WÂrĸiôĸ
 AaqqioqN  WÂrĸioĸ
 AarunaN  WÂruna
Aataalia   WÂtâlia
 Mythological name, see under Aataliannguaq.
Aataaliannguaq   WÂtâliánguaĸ
 The stem is 'aataaliaq' with the ending '-nnguaq' (dear). Aataaliaq can be translated as 'he whose course is set towards aataat - harps seals'. Thus belonging to the category of invocational names given to the bearer, in order for him to be close to seals throughout the course of his life.

Aataaliannguaq is a well-known myth about a bachelor. He acquired a wife that turned out to be a fox who had shape-shifted to a human being. When the wife fled to the mountains, he pursued her and was made to fall asleep in its burrow, only to wake up the next spring.

In some variants of the myth some scholars suggests that the name means "the small one fathomed in the likeness of a harp seal", from which a poor hunter wishes to identify himself with the seals and dies or falls into a death-like sleep and become a seal, but is caught by humans and return once again among humans to become a good hunter.

Abel Kristiansen (1900-1975) wrote a very popular song about the myth. This song resulted in the the changing of the name of the marine gastropod Aataasaq (Sea Angel) to Aataaliannguaq, due to a mix-up with another song among children (Kaatungiiaa).
 Aavitsoq   WÂvitsoĸ
 Aavuuva   WÂvûva
 Affaq   WAvfaĸ
 Ajaaja   WAjâja
 Aka   WAka
 Akamak   WAkamak
 Akamali   WAkamale
 Akamalik   WAkamalik
 Akamaq   WAkamaĸ
Akannguaq   WAkánguaĸ
 Hypocoristic name.
Meaning: From the kinship term Nuka (littlesister or brother to the speaker), prattled by a sibling as Aka, with the ending -nnguaq (Sweet little Aka).
 Akik  SWAkik
Akisooq   WAkisôκ
 the Precious One.
 Akka   WÁka
 Akutaaneq   WAkutauneĸ
 Akutaq   WAkutaĸ
 Alaaq   WAlâĸ
 Alasuaq   WAlasuaĸ
 AlataqN  WAlataĸ
 Aleq   WAleĸ
 Aligiaq   WAligiaĸ
 Aliuusaq   WAliûssaĸ
 Allarneq   WAtdlarneĸ
 Alleq   WAgdleĸ
 Alluaq   WAgdluaĸ
 Allunaaq   WAgdlunâĸ
 Aluineq   WAluineĸ
Amaalik   WAmâlik
 Amaalik was traditionally a name used by both genders. For females Amaalik means "the One Carrying a Child in Her Amaat (a womans coat with a large hood to carry children)".

Amaalik is also a birds name for the Common Eider duck, which is white on its back (also sometimes referred to as Qaqujuk (the white one)).
 Amaasa   WAmâsa
 Amaasi   WAmâsse
 Amajuna   WAmajuna
 Amajut   WAmajut
 Amanna   WAmána
 Amianeq   WAmianeĸ
 Amisuna   WAmisuna
 Amitsoq   WAmitsoĸ
 Ammalortoq   WAngmalortoĸ
 Ammassiaq   WAngmagssiaĸ
 Aneerajik E WAnêrajik
 Anga   WAnga
Angaaq   WAngâĸ
 Kinship term.
Meaning: maternal uncle. A variety of forms are used as a personal name, the most common being the abbreviation Anga, but often used in combination with a European name Anga Otto og Anga Tobias, or with suffixes: Angaaraq (little uncle), Angaanngu (North Girl.:little uncle). Kinship terms are a common occurrence as personal names in Greenland.
 Angaaraq   WAngâraĸ
 Angaartaaq   WAngârtâĸ
 Angajooraq   WAngajôraĸ
 Angaju   WAngajo
 Angajulleq   WAngajugdleĸ
Angerla   WAngerdla
 Girls and boys name (mostly in Northern Greenland).

The name is a short form of the word angerlartoq, the one who has returned, or angerlartoqut, ‘the person who once again has returned’.

Due to ritual name avoidance (taboos in mentioning names in traditional society), family members were weary of mentioning names of their deceased, even when babies were born and named after them, thus alternative forms of address were used such as: Angerla (short form of ‘angerlartoqut' (the one who has returned home), and Utertoq (the returned one), perhaps also Qaaqqutsiaq (the summoned one) and Taatsiaq (the fancied mention).

These forms of address have evolved into independent names over time. Angerla belongs to this category. The concept of angerlartussiaq (the one who was destined to return (to be born again after death) is often used in Greenlandic myths and legends.
 Angerlannguaq   WAngerdlánguaĸ
Angerlartoq   WAngerdlartoĸ
 'The One Returning Back Home'. Either an alternative designation for a person who was named after a deceased (due to names taboo), or a person who, since childhood was subject to certain rituals, to be destined to return home after having drowned at sea in the kayak (Angerlartussiaq - see: Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo, Edinburgh, London: W. Blackwood and Sons, nr. 79, pp. 414 - 418: Avatarsuak, who was baptised Nathan).
 Anginnguaq   WAngínguaĸ
 Angiseq   WAngiseĸ
 Angisina   WAngisina
 Anguaaseq   WAnguaiseĸ
 Anguasak   WAnguasak
 Anguk   WAnguk
 Angukina   WAngukina
 AngullukN  WAngutdluk
 Angunnguaq   WAngúnguaĸ
Angusinnaaq   WAngusínâĸ
 "The One Proficient in Catching Sea Mammals." Possibly a name conferred upon a bearer (through magic) in order for the individual to be a good hunter of sea mammals.
Angusuatsiaq   WAngusuatsiaĸ
 "May He Be Able to Catch Plenty Sea Mammals." Possibly a name conferred upon a bearer (through magic) in order for the individual to be a good hunter.
 Angut   WAngut
 Anguteeraq   WAngutêraĸ
 Anguteq   WAnguteĸ
 AngutikassakN  WAngutikavsak
Angutimmarik   WAngutímarik
 The stem "angut" means man, and the ending -mmarik bears the meaning real, genuine. So Angutimmarik means 'genuine, real, stout man'.
 Angutinnguaq   WAngutínguaĸ
 Angutitsiaq   WAngutitsiaĸ
 Ani   WAne
 Aniinngu   WAnĩngo
 Aningaaq   WAningâĸ
 Aninngu   W
 Aninnguaq   WAnínguaĸ
Anngannguujuk   WÁngángûjuk
 Kinship term. Mythological name. From Anngak, 'her brothers child', with the ending -nguujuk (sweet little). (opposite qangiak/qangiaq: his brothers child, nuaraluaq & ujoruk: sisters child.) Name of the main character of a myth which is very popular among children.
 Anu   WAno
 Apaaq   WApâĸ
 Apannguaq   WApánguaĸ
 Appa   WAgpa
 Appaaraq   WAgpâraĸ
 Appak   WAgpak
Apunnguaq   WApúnguaκ
 Meaning: Probably from Aputsiaq, but could also be a short form of the Greenlandic pronounciation of the European name Apollo = Apulu = Apu, with -nnguaq (sweet, little) as an ending, or from the girls name Abelone = Apuluut = Apu.
Aputsiaq   WAputsiaĸ
 Meaning: snow crystal. The name Aputsiaq became known when the French author Paul-Emile Victor (1907-1995) published the children's book Aputsiaq, det lille snefnug in 1970 (first published in French in 1950 as Apoutsiak, le petit flocon de neige.), the Greenlandic version was published in 1984 with the title Aputsiaq nittaalannguaq.

A mainstream interpretation is that the name means snowflake, but a snowflake is qanik in Greenlandic and Oqaasiliortut - The Language Council, has sugeested to use snow crystal for Aputsiaq instead, since this is the correct word to use.
 Aqaatilik  SWAĸautilik
AqissiaqN  WAĸigssiaĸ
 Mythological name, meaning Ptarmigan chick. The main character in one of the best known myths in Greenland was Aqissiaq. (The myth is believed to be inherited from Tuniit - Dorset people, as it is not to be encountered throughout the Arctic, except among Indians in Northwestern Canada.)
 Aqqa   WArĸa
 Aqqalooraq   WArĸalôraĸ
Aqqalu   WArĸalo
 kinship term
 Aqqalua   WArĸalua
 Aqqalualii   WArĸalualê
 Aqqaluannguaq   WArĸalúnguaĸ
 Aqqaluaq   WArĸaluaĸ
 Aqqaluartaa   WArĸaluartâ
 Aqqaluartaaq   WArĸaluartâĸ
Aqqaluk   WArĸaluk
 Kinship term.
 Aqqalunnguaq   WArĸalúnguaĸ
 Aqqaq   WArĸaĸ
 Aqqatsiaq   WArĸatsiaĸ
 Aqqu   WArĸo
 Arfaatsoq   WArfaitsoĸ
 Arfalik   WArfalik
Ari   WAre
 Meaning: Hypocoristic name from Central Western Greenland, primarily to boys, and bear the meaning "the Sweet One", "Lovable" and /or "Precious One", Arivaraq f.ex. (Little Ari). Another similar name is: Ara, short form of "asasara" (my beloved).
 Arivaraq   WArivaraĸ
 Arniaq   WArniaĸ
 Arpaajuk   WArpâjuk
 Arpaarsuk   WArpârssuk
Arpaarti E WArpârte
 The messenger. From arpappoq 'runs' (arpaartoq: runs from house to house to give a message)'. Another personal name with the same etymology is: Tilioq, 'friend' or 'sends him a message through another person'.
AsarpanaN  WAsarpana
 Hypocoristic name.
Meaning: the Genuinely Loved One.

From the stem asa- (asasaq, the Loved One), and the postbase -pak (final k and t alternates in frequent use, especially in personal names). The postbase -pak is archaic. In the Yupik dialect it is used with the meaning large, big, to be very, all. In Iñupiaq in Alaska and in Canadian Inuvialuit the ending is used in words such as umiaqpak, large umiaq= ship.

Asarpat often is intermingled with the Biblical Asaph.
 Asarpat   WAsarpat
 Asiaq   WAsiaĸ
 Asorut   WAsorut
Assak   WAgssak
 Neologism.
Meaning: Hand
 Assassaq   WAgssagssaĸ
 Assersoq   WAgssersoĸ
 Ataaluk   WAtâluk
 Ataraaq   WAtarâĸ
 Avaavak   WAvâvak
 Avalak   WAvalak
 Avalequt   WAvaleĸut
 Avataaq   WAvatâĸ
 AvatannguaqN  WAvatánguaĸ
AvataqN  WAvataĸ
 float made of sealskin (used in the qajaq).
 AvigiaqN  WAvigiaĸ
 Avva   WÁva
E
 Eerinni   WÊríne
 Eqalugaq   WEĸalugaĸ
 Eqqamaq   WErĸamaĸ
 Eqqitsiaq   WErĸitsiaĸ
 Eqqumaq   WErĸumaĸ
 EquaqN  WEĸuaĸ
 Ernannaq   WErnangnaĸ
 Erneeraq   WErnêraĸ
 Erneq   WErneĸ
 Ernersiaq   WErnersiaĸ
 Ernguta   W
 Erniaranti   WErniarante
 Erninnguaq   WErnínguaĸ
I
 Igalaaq   WIgalâĸ
 Iggiti   WEgedeIggite
 Igimaq   WIgimaĸ
 Iinnguaq   WĨnguaĸ
 Ikaajik   WIkâjik
 Ikajak   WIkajak
 Ikinngut   WIkíngut
 Ikkaana   WÍkãna
 Ikkaq   WÍkaĸ
 Ikkeq   WÍkeĸ
 Ikkik   WÍkik
 Ikorfaq   WIkorfaĸ
 Ikuala   WIkuala
 Ilaaluat   WIlauluat
 IlaatsoqN  WIlaitsoĸ
 Ilakujuk   WIlakujuk
 Ilannguaq   WIlánguaĸ
 Ilarsuatsiaq   WIlarsuatsiaĸ
Ilasiaq   WIlasiaĸ
 Mythological name

"A companion (child) acquired (through magic)." From a historical legend from the Upernavik region. See: “Qitornassarsiuisoq” Hans Lynge "Inuppaat" 1991, p. 74-75.
 Illaaq   WIgdlaoĸ
 Imaneq   WImaneĸ
 Imanngaaq   WImángâĸ
 Inequ   WIneĸo
 Inequnaaluk   WIneĸunâluk
 IngaaqN  WIngâĸ
Innisaq   WÍnisaĸ
 ‘The one who was given life (through the aid of innersuit – the fire beings (helper spirits))’. According to legends, this name could be mentioned through the ears of a deceased by a specially powerful shaman, and the deceased would be revived and come back into life.

The European name Henrik, was often adapted into the Greenlandic language with the name ‘Innisaq’, as was the name Edvard that was adapted into Greenlandic with the name ‘Ittuat’ (the head/leader).
 Inooraq   WInôraĸ
 Inoqut   WInoĸut
 Inuaq   WInuaĸ
 Inuinnaq  SWInuínaĸ
 Inuk   WInuk
 Inukatak   WInukatak
 Inukkuluk   WInúkuluk
 Inumineq   WInumineĸ
 Inungasoq   WInungassoĸ
 Inunnaq   WInuínaĸ
 Inunnguaq   WInúnguaĸ
 Inusseq   WInugseĸ
 Inuujuk   WInûjuk
 Inuuseq   WInûseĸ
 Inuusuttoq   WInûsugtoĸ
 Isaalaq   WIsailaĸ
 Isaallak   WIsâtdlak
 Isaraq   WIsaraĸ
 Isaroq   WIsaroĸ
 Isigaalaq   WIsigailaĸ
 Itsik   WItsik
 Ittuk   WÍtuk
Ivaaq   WIvâĸ
 The word 'ivaaq' means 'Brood Egg', or 'the Brooded/Embraced One (to keep warm or in affection').

Variants: Ivaaq, Ivaneq (the Brooded One), Ivaaraq (the Sweet Little Brooded One).

Mythological names which are yet to be included this names list: 'Ivaasaq' (the One Having Been Brooded) name of a female shaman from the Qeqertarsuaq region, and 'Ivalimaaq' (The Adept Brooder) and Ivaniisaq (The One Resembling Ivaneq), from East-Greenland.

Number of bearers: Ivaaq 9. Ivâĸ <4.
K
 Kaaka E WKâka
 Kaannassuaq   WKãnagssuaĸ
 Kaapi   WGabrielKâpe
 Kaassak   W
 Kaassannguaq   WKâvssánguaĸ
 Kaassassuk   WKâgssagssuk
 Kaavaq   WKâvaĸ
KajoqN  WKajoκ
 'the Brown One'. Originally a byname established to characterize a distinct attribute of the bearer of the first name.

Variants: Kaju (short form), Kajuaq (the brownish one) & Kajuinnaq (solely brown).
KajuN  WKajo
 short form of Kajoq 'the Brown One'. Originally a byname established to characterize a distinct attribute of the bearer of the first name.

Variants: Kajoq, Kajuaq (the brownish one) & Kajuinnaq (solely brown).
Kajuinnaq   WKajuínaκ
 'the Solely Brown One'. Originally a byname established to characterize a distinct attribute of the bearer of the first name.

Variants: Kaju (short form), Kajuaq (the brownish one), Kajuina & Kajuinna (short forms).
 Kakiak   WKakiak
 Kakilik   WKakilik
 Kakitsoq   WKakitsoĸ
 Kalleq   WKagdleĸ
 Kalluk   WKavdluk
 Kamillannguaq   WKamigdlánguaĸ
 Kamisa   WKamisa
 Kangoq   WKangoĸ
 Kanioq   WKanioĸ
 Kanortoq   WKanortoĸ
 Kapisik   WKapisik
 Kasana   WKasana
 Kassoq   WKagssoĸ
 Katoq   WKatoĸ
Katsuana   WKatsuana
 From the word "katsuaq" which means biceps (the large muscle on the front of your upper arm). With the names suffix -na (Katsuaq+na). In traditional society it was common to use human as well as animal body parts as names
 Kikkeriaq   WKíkeriaĸ
Kikkik   WKíkik
 Hypocoristic name.

The renowned cathecist and psalm writer, Rasmus Berthelsen (1827-1901), was born onboard an umiaq July 10th, in the Amerloq Fiord in Sisimiut, while the family was on their way to go reindeer hunting. He was swept in a reindeer skin and a small tent was made for him inside the umiaq.

As they put him there, his father had exclaimed "Kakkaak kikkiik!" (how ugly he is!) Since that day, Kikkik became his pet name and this lasted for the rest of his life. (From the Greenlandic book "Kikkik - Rasmus Berthelsen", by U. Kristiansen 1988, p. 9.)

Greenlanders have the habit of calling children with expressions which are contrary to what they mean, but this is always understood as an endearment expression by both parties.

Number of name bearers: Kikkik 6 (the oldest born in the 70s). Kíkik 6 (born in the 30s).
 Killiaq   WKivdliaĸ
 Kinavina   WKinavina
 Kipparik   WKíparik
 Kissana   WKíssana
 Kissavik   WKigssavik
 Kitigaq   WKitigaĸ
 KivioqN  WKivioĸ
 Kuka   WKuka
 Kukku E WKúko
 KulloqN  WKuvdloĸ
Kuluk   WKuluk
 Originally a hypocoristic name

The ending -kuluk is a syncopation of the babbling forms aakkuluk or iikkuluk (you sweet little one).

Syncopation before or after a word is rather common in Greenlandic names, either due to babbling with a child, or because a child has tried to utter a word and omitted a sound or a syllable, f.ex.: Uka (from Nuka – little brother or little sister), Kartaava (from Nukartaava – her/his new N.), Qunaaq (from Inequnaaq – you are so sweet!) etc.

Names with syncopation following a word often appears when adults babble with a child, as in: Mineq (‘little’ from unamineq or inumineq – small one or small human being), Nguujuk (iinnguujuk – sweet/dear/poor little child), Natuk (unukunattuk - sweet/cute little child), Palu (from the ending –paluk (Pipaluk ’one’s sweet little possession’ or from another expression with same ending), Taaraq (itaaraq – sweet or cute/awful little one) etc.

The name Rulu (Rulo) has the same form and meaning as Kuluk, from the ending –ruluk. Babbling names which do not appear in ‘Fortegnelse over grønlandske navne (List over Greenlandic Names)’, that primarily are used internally in families are hypocoristic names such as: Kulooq (big one), Tsiakasik, Kasik (little mite!), Nguaq (sweet/adorable) etc.

The variant Kulunnguaq 35 (sweet little K.) is used solely as a name for girls. Kulúnguaĸ 24.
 Kulunnguaq   WKulúnguaĸ
Kunuk E WKunuk
 Hypocoristic name.

Mythological name.

Kunuk is either an antiquated name from myths, whose meaning has become obscure, or as believed by some Canadian Inuit, it could be a hypocoristic name. Perhaps a short form of 'inequnaq' (Sweet/cute One): 'unukunuk' -> 'kunuk'. Several Greenlandic names belong to this category, see: Natuk and Kuluk.

Number of name bearers: Kunuk (in Greenland) 136. Kunuk (in Denmark) 20.
 Kununnguujuk   WKunúngûjuk
 Kunuttaaq   WKunugtâĸ
 Kunuunnguaq   WKnudKunũnguaĸ
 Kussak   WKugsak
 Kusugaq   WKusugaĸ
 Kuuka   WKûka
 Kuulu   WKûlo
 Kuupik   WKûpik
 Kuutsik   WKûtsik
M
 Maalu   WMâlo
Maannguaq   WMãnguaĸ
 Hypocoristic name.

”the whining/wailing one”, i.e. (lovingly): ’the sweet thinskinned little one’.

Other names in the same category: Ungaaq & Ngaanga (onomatopoetic for baby bawling).
 Maanu   WMâno
 Majuutaq   WMajûtaĸ
 Makkigaq   WMákigaĸ
 Malersorniannguaq   WMalerssorniánguaĸ
 Maligiaq   WMaligiaĸ
Malik   WMalik
 Malik means "wave". In a hunting society which chiefly makes its outcome from the sea, it is reasonable to assume that names were given from the surrounding environment. There is a category of names which depict natural phenomena such as: Pujoq (fog), Sialuk (rain), Anori (wind) etc., and Malik must belong to this category.

In older times names have been bestowed according to the prevailing weather conditions at the time of birth, and it is possible that there were heavy seas during the time of birth.

Malik is an increasingly popular name. During the 50s and the 60s, only a few people bore the name. In the 70s approx. 30 persons received it, during the 80s there was a marked increase to 148, and again in the 90s 230 persons were named Malik. In 2005 the number totalled 414.

Variants: Malinnguaq (dear, sweet M.), Maligiaq (mid-size wave).
 Malitsiaq   WMalitsiaĸ
 Mamagoq   WMamagoĸ
 MamarutN  WMamarut
 Mangaanna   WMangãna
 Mangilak   WMangilak
 Manguaraq   WManguaraĸ
 Manu   WMano
 Manuaraq   WManuaraĸ
 Manunnguaq   WManúnguaĸ
Maqqioq   WMarĸioĸ
 "The One Uttering Healing Formulas", from the word 'maqqiissut' a magical formula uttered to heal and mend a wound so it grows back together.
Masik   WMasik
 A significant amount of Greenlandic names originates from daily household activities and articles and also from the hunting life and its equipment. Masik belongs to the latter category, and is the name for a cross beam on the deck of the kayak, which is situated just in front of the cockpit. Samuel Kleinschmidt's Greenlandic Dictionary from 1871 (p. 204) describes Masik as follows:

"Masik 1) Gill (in a fish, crab, or other living being breathing through gills) ... 2) The curved cross beam in front of the cockpit (thus named due to its resemblance to the shape of the curved gill of a fish)."

Masik as a description of gill in fish and the cross beam in a kayak is used in most Inuit dialects.

Other traditional personal names which has to do with the kayak and its equipment are: Norsaq (throwing stick in a harpoon), Avataq (harpoon float), Kujaaq (keel), Tuilik (wind and water proof jacket with a hood used in kayaking, the word means “the one with shoulders.” ), Paajuk (the paddler) etc.

Number of name bearers: Masik 5. All born in the 90s.

Kalaallit aqqi allat qaannamut pisataannullu attuumassuteqartut makkuupput: Norsaq (qisuk saaqqutinut igeriussinermut ajattaatitut atorneqartartoq), Avataq (qaannami puttaqut), Kujaaq (qaannap kujaava), Tuilik (atisaq imermik pitarneqarneq ajortoq), Paajuk (paartoq) il.il.
Massagaq   WMássagaĸ
 from mamisagaq: the healed one.

Massaaraq (the Little Healed One), Massannguaq (the Sweet Little Healed One). From myths in Paamiut and Upernavik region: Massaaq (Mavsâĸ): the Healed One, Massaluttoq (Mavsalugtoĸ): the Insufficiently Healed One.

Aamma takukkit: Suersaq & Maqqioq.
 Matsilleq   WMatsigdleĸ
 Meeraq   WMêraĸ
 Miilu   WMîlo
 Miki   WMike
 Mikisoq   WMikissoĸ
 Mikisuluk   WMikissuluk
 Milinnguaq   WMilínguaĸ
 Milortuaraq   WMilortuaraĸ
 Minagu   WMinago
 Minannguaq   WMinánguaĸ
 Mineq   WMineĸ
 Minissuaq   WMinigssuaĸ
 MiteqN  WMiteĸ
N
 Naalik   WNâlik
 Naatsoq   WNaitsoĸ
 Nalaak   WNalâk
 Naleraq   WNaleraĸ
 Nallissaq   WNagdligssaĸ
 Nammiaq   WNangmiaĸ
 Napaaq   WNapâĸ
Napaartoq   WNapârtoĸ
 ‘Standing upright.’ Name of tree: Greenland mountain ash. (Latin: Sorbus Groenlandica). In the Canadian and Alaskan Inuit dialects napaartoq is a generic term for tree.

Number of name bearers: Napaartoq 12. Napârtoĸ 5.
 Naqqoq   WNarĸoĸ
 Naruana   WNaruvana
 Nasaasaq  SWNasaussaĸ
 Nasaq   WNasaĸ
 Nataaq  SWNatâĸ
 Nattoralik   WNagtoralik
Navagiaq   WNavagiaĸ
 "The One Who Travelled from Place to Place." The stem nava- is ancient and has to do with 'exchange', 'moving from place to place', whilst the ending -giaq suggests the meaning 'travel' or 'is out'.

The legend of Navagiaq, which is the source of the name, is a so-called transmigrational myth where the main character dies, but travels from animal to animal as a spirit until it is finally caught and takes its abode inside a woman and become born among the human beings, and is named Navagiaq because of this process.

The girls' name Navarana also contain the same meanings (see under the name). Variants or cognates of the name Navagiaq can be encountered in other Greenlandic legends in names such as Navak and Navalik. The name Navagiaq and the variant Navaluk are also names known and used among Iñupiat in Alaska.

Also see: Thalbitzer, W. 1914: The Ammasalik Eskimo, I, Meddr Grønland 39(5): 272 - 274.

Birgitte Sonne's database on myths and legends: http://tors.ku.dk/biblioteker/eskimologi/datasamlinger/sonnesbase/
 Naviaq   WNaviaĸ
Neruana   WNeruana
 The name comes from the ancient word 'neruak' which means 'to choose.' The ending -na is a so-called names affix.

The word also has the same stem as : 'neruuppoq' which means: 'dedicates/gives of oneself', 'submits one to acquire it', (ordbogêrak' 1967, p. 123), also the stem 'neruut(i)' which means 'give permission to take', 'offer assistance'. (Comparative Eskimo Dictionary, 1994, p. 231.)

The word may also be linked to : 'neriuppoq' (hopes) and 'neriugineqarpoq' (has good expectations to).

Neruana was first registered as a name in Northern Greenland in 1799 as: 'Neroenna.'

In Nunavut, Arctic Canada, 'niruartaujuq' means 'to be elected' (to an official post or function).
 Ngiinga   WNgînga
 Ningia   WNingia
 Niumak   WNiumak
 Norsaq   WNorssaĸ
 Nujukkaq   WNujugkaĸ
Nuka   WNuka
 Kinship term

Nuka means a sisters younger sister or a brothers younger brother. The name Nuka is widespread (as of 01.01 2005 899 persons in the Danish realm bore the name Nuka, of which 694 were living in Greenland).

It is very common to combine the name with another Greenlandic or Danish name, i.e.: Nuka Aqqalu (Aqqalu means younger brother to an older sister), Nuka Marie, Nuka Peter, Nuka Anders, Nuka Pavia etc.

A total of 86 persons bore names combined with another name. Also approx. 25 variants of the name Nuka with varying endings (chiefly bearing the meaning small, sweet N., etc.) are listed in the approved names list.

Number of name bearers: Nuka 694.
Nukaaka   WNukâka
 from the name Nuka, which means 'younger sister or brother'. The form Nukaaka is a babbling name which is a widespread category in Greenlandic names, that is names which small siblings use among one another, or adults use in cooing with toddlers. These forms have since evolved into regular personal names.

In the approved names list, other types of names with the same ending as Nukaaka appears, names such as Atsaaka (of atsa: paternal aunt) or Akkaaka (of akka: fathers brother) and Najaaka (of naja: older brothers younger sister) and Kaaka (probably deriving from Nukaaka, with the first syllable omitted,

a common occurence in Greenlandic names) and finally from a original European name which have been adapted into Greenlandic, the name Juaaka (probably from Johan (Grl.: Juaat)). The names Aka and Kaka are babbling forms of Nuka.

The name Nuka is widespread (as of 01.01 2005 899 persons in the Danish realm bore the name Nuka, of which 694 were living in Greenland). It is therefore very common to combine the name with another Greenlandic or Danish name, i.e.: Nuka Aqqalu (Aqqalu means younger brother to an older sister), Nuka Marie, Nuka Peter, Nuka Anders, Nuka Pavia etc.

A total of 86 persons bore names combined with another name. Also approx. 25 variants of the name Nuka with varying endings (chiefly bearing the meaning small, sweet N., etc.) are listed in the approved names list.

Nukaaka is a contraction of the babbling form Nuka Nuka or Nuka Aka, hence the correct meaning would be ’my littlesister/brother who is named/called Aka or Nuka’. Another contracted form is Nukanu, with the last syllable omitted.

The name Nukaaka became mainstream as a formal name after the introduction of Home Rule. The first persons who were baptized Nukaaka were registrered in the 80s. Nukâka in the old orthography were first registered in the 70s. However, this doesn't mean that the name wasn't used informally or as a nick name prior to this period.

Number of name bearers: Nukaaka is primarily used as a girls name, a total of 48 persons bore the name, of which 44 were women. 4 men use the name as a first name, in comparison 27 women use Nukaaka as a first name. Under 4 persons are registered with the name Nukâka.

Kinship term.
 Nukaarannguaq   WNukâránguaĸ
 Nukaaraq   WNukâraĸ
 Nukaatsa   WNukâtsa
 Nukannguaq   WNukánguaĸ
 Nukanunnguaq   WNukanúnguaĸ
 Nukappi   WNukagpe
 Nukappiaaluk   WNukagpiâluk
 NukappiannguaqN  WNukagpiánguaĸ
 Nukappiaq   WNukagpiaĸ
 Nukappiaraq   WNukagpiaraĸ
 Nukarleq   WNukardleĸ
 Nukarliaq   WNukardliaĸ
 Nukarta   WNukarta
 Nukartaa   WNukartâ
 Nukartaaq   WNukartâĸ
 Nukatsaaq   WNukatsâĸ
 Nukik   WNukik
 Nukki   WNúke
 Nungu   WNungo
 Nunngaq   WNúnguaĸ
 Nunni   WNúne
 Nunnu   WNúno
 Nuungajuk   WNûngajuk
 Nuunu   WNûno
 Nuunuuta   WNûnûta
O
 Ooqi   WÔĸe
 Oqajaq   WOĸajaĸ
 Oqalikaq   WOĸalikaĸ
 Oqi   WOĸe
 Oqila   WOĸila
 Oqilaatsoq   WOĸilaitsoĸ
 Oqina   WOĸina
 Oqqapia E WOrĸapia
 Orliina   WOrdlîna
 Orlinnguaq   WOrdlínguaĸ
P
 Paajuk   WPâjuk
 Paalu   WPaulus / Poul / PaulPâlo
 Paartoq   WPaortoĸ
 Paavia   WPoul/PaulPâvia
 Pakkutaq   WPákutaĸ
PalleqN  WPatdleκ
 Name for (dwarf) willow or alder (alnus crispa). Grows in tall shrubs in the interior.
 Palu   WPalo
 Peqitaq   WPeĸitaĸ
 Peqittoq   WPeĸigtoĸ
 Peqqik   WPerĸik
 Peri   WPrebenPere
 Perraq   WPerraĸ
 Persileq   WPersileĸ
 Piffarik   WPivfarik
 Pikinnguaq   WPikínguaĸ
 Pilagaq   WPilagaĸ
PiloqN  WPiloĸ
 Probably a short form of the word pilutaq (leaf). But Inughuit also have a way of saying: "pilugataaraa" which means "handles it with care."
Pilu   WPilo
 name for bog bilberry, great bilberry, whortleberry (vaccinium uliginosum). The name Pilu could also be a shortened form of pilutaq (leaf).

Variants: Pilunnguaq 91 (dear P.). Pilúnguaĸ 43 (dear P.). Pilutaq 35 (leaf). Pilutaĸ 11 (leaf). Pilutannguaq 9 (dear small leaf). Pilutánguaĸ 4 (dear small leaf).

Number of name bearers: Pilu 33. Pilo 11.
Pilutaq   WPilutaĸ
 Varianter: Pilutannguaq 9 (dear little leaf). Pilutánguaĸ 4 (dear little leaf). Pilunnguaq 91. Pilúnguaĸ 43

Number of name bearers: Pilutaq 35. Pilutaĸ 11.
 Pingeq   WPingeĸ
 Pingiaq   WPingiaĸ
 Pinnernaq   WPínernaĸ
 Pitu   WPito
 Pituaq   WPituaĸ
 Pooq   WPôĸ
 Pueq   WPueĸ
 Puju   WPujo
 Pukeq   WPukeĸ
Q
 Qaajarnaq   WK'âjarnaĸ
 Qaamaninnguaq   WK´aumanínguaĸ
 Qaamaq   WK'aumaĸ
 Qaaneq   WK'âneĸ
 Qaanngusaq   WK'áungussaĸ
 QaarluttoqN  WK'aordlugtoĸ
 Qaarsuluk   WK'ârssuluk
 Qaassuk   WK'âgssuk
 Qaateq   WK'âteĸ
 Qajuerneq   WK'ajuerneĸ
 Qaleraq   WK'aleraĸ
 Qangatsi   WK'angatse
Qangiak   WK'angiak
 Kinship term.

Nephew (a mans brothers son). In Nunavik, Canada, same meaning, but also Qangiaq: child (son) of a first cousin.

Other in same category: Anngak, her brothers child. Nuaraluaq, ujoruk: sisters child.)

Isumaa: Akkap soraluaa, jorngua, erngutaa. Akilinermi Nunavimmi aamma taamatut isumaqariarluni aamma illooqqap angutip meerai taama taaneqartarput.
 Qaqaat   WK'aĸât
 Qaqi   WK'aĸe
 Qasaaq   WK'assâĸ
 Qasana   WK'asana
 Qasapi   WK'asape
 Qasiaq   WK'assiaĸ
 Qatik   WK'atik
 Qattaaq   WK'átâĸ
 Qattaarsuk   WK'átârssuk
 Qattaasaq   WK'átaussaĸ
 Qavannguaq   WK'avánguaĸ
 Qeqquaq   WK'erĸuaĸ
 Qiimaaraq   WK'îmâraĸ
 Qilagoq   WK'ilagoĸ
 QilerneqN  WK'ilerneĸ
 Qilluttoq   WK'igdlugtoĸ
 Qilugoq   WK'ilugoĸ
 QipisorsuaqN  WK'ipissorssuaĸ
 QipisunaN  WK'ipissuna
 Qissisaq   WK'íssissaĸ
 Qiteraq   WK'iteraĸ
 Qitinnguaq   WK'itínguaĸ
Qivioq   WK'ivioĸ
 Qivioq is the name of down on a birds skin or wooly hair or fleece on an animals skin. It is also the name for fluff or down from plants.

Other similar Greenlandic names include: Meqqoq (feather), Meqqunnguaq (dear little feather), Meqqupaluk (dear little feather (Thule dialect)) perhaps also Meqqusaaq (see under this name).
 Quaajeq   WK'uâjeĸ
 Quajaak   WK'uajâk
 Quajaq   WK'uajaĸ
 Quannaq   WK'uánaĸ
 Quiak   WK'uiak
 Qujaavaarsuk   WK'ujâvârssuk
 Quliaaq   WK'uliâĸ
 Qulitsaq   WK'ulitsaĸ
 Qulliaq   WK'uvdliaĸ
Quloqutsuk   WK'uloĸutsuk
 Mythological name.

Possibly from Kwakiutl Indian: Quequtsa, which means 'sparrow'. Quloqutsuk was a figure in the myth about Aqissiaq, one of the most known myths next to the myth of Kaassassuk. The myth is believed to be a remnant from the presence of the Tuniit - Dorset people (AD 600-900), since it is only known in Greenland and not among other Inuit tribes. The myth is also composed in the way Indian myths are constructed.

Also see the name Qulutaq.

Robert Petersen: Aqissiap oqaluttuaani eqqumiiginartut. Ilisimatusarfik 1990.
Qunaaq   WK'unâĸ
 Handsome, beautiful, sweet or attractive. Short form of Inequnaaq. The Eastern Greenlandic girls name with the same stem as Qunaaq, Qunerseeq carries the same meaning. Likewise Quneqitooq which means 'the very sweet or beautiful one' was a name for a woman from Uummannaq who had moved to north of Upernavik in the 1880s.

Other names with the same meaning is the Western Greenlandic girls and boys name Qunerna (one whom one finds sweet/attractive) and the Western Greenlandic girls name Quniganna and the Southern Greenlandic girls name Quneq. The word quniitsoq with the opposite meaning: 'the ugly/untidy one' can be found in the dictionary, the Eastern Greenlandic girls and boys hypocoristic name Quninngi (the not attractive/sweet one) is derived from this stem.

Number of name bearers: Qunaaq 10. K’unâĸ 6.
Qunerna   WK'unerna
 one whom one finds sweet/attractive. From the word Quneq (sweet/beautiful) and a short form of (ine)qunaaq. Qunaaq from Western Greenland and the Eastern Greenlandic name Qunerseeq carries the meaning.

Likewise Quneqitooq which means the very sweet or beautiful one was a name for a woman from Uummannaq who had moved to north of Upernavik in the 1880s. Other names with the same meaning is the Western Greenlandic girls name Quniganna and the Southern Greenlandic girls name Quneq.

The word quniitsoq with the opposite meaning: the ugly/untidy one can be found in the dictionary, the Eastern Greenlandic girls and boys hypocoristic name Quninngi (the not attractive/sweet one) is derived from this stem.
 Qusoraq   WK'usoraĸ
 Qussuk   WK'ugssuk
S
 Saaguaq   WSâguaĸ
 Saakkorat   WSãkorat
 Saamaq   WSaimaĸ
 SaamikN  WSâmik
 Saamoq   WSâmoĸ
 Sakkak   WSakariasSákak
Salik   WSalik
 Mythological name.

The Western Greenlandic boys name Salik possibly comes from the word: ’saliisoq’ (the cleanser). The name may derive from the shamans spirit journey to the Mother of the Sea, with the purpose of cleansing her hair in order for the animals to return to the hunting grounds.

In the beginning of the 80s the artist Keld Hansen published a series of childrens books about a boy named Salik, who lived in Greenland in the 1600s. In that same period, Peter Berliner, a psychologist, did a series of radio programs where the main character was named Salik. Statistics Greenland depicted a rise in the number of boys names immediately after that.
 Sapangisaq   WSapangisaĸ
 Sapiitsoq   WSapîtsoĸ
 Saqu   WSaĸo
 Sarfak   WSarfak
 Satorina   WSatorina
 Seqineq   WSeĸineĸ
 SequssukN  WSeĸuvssuk
SequssunaN  WSeĸuvsuna
 The name originates from the Thule region and is often interpreted to have the meaning: egg yolk. The name is a cognate (relation) to the word sequsseq (hequsseq in the Thule dialect) from the word hequsseraq (Western Grl.: sequsseraq) meaning egg inside a bird. Spawn from fish is also called hequsseraq in the Thule dialect. (see: M. Fortescue: Inuktun 1991, p. 41)

In the Tununiq dialect of Northern Baffin Island, Canada, the word ‘siqussiraq’ is explained as: “an egg still inside the bird, which hasn’t yet developed a hard shell.” (www.asuilaak.ca ) Likewise in Arctic Québec - Canada, the word ‘siqutsiraq’ is used with the following explanation: “egg not yet laid, whose shell is not completely formed” (Lucien Schneider: Ulirnaisigutiit 1985, p. 362).

In the Iñupiaq dialect of Alaska Siqupsiraq is a personal name. The star constellation Pleiades (Qiluttuusat or Tartutuuttut in Greenlandic) is called: ‘Siqupsiqqat’. (http://www.alaskool.org/LANGUAGE/dictionaries/inupiaq/dictionary.htm )
Sikkersoq   WSivkersoĸ
 "Bud", "Sprout", "The Blossoming One" or "The One in Bloom." The word sikkersoq also means: "burst out laughing."

Number of name bearers: Sikkersoq 59. Sivkersoĸ 21
 Sikki   WSivke
Singajik   WSingajik
 Mythological name.

Singajik is a cognate to 'singarnaq', a term for a yellowish grey dog (wolf-like). In Canada a shamans' word for wolf is 'singarti' and the word for foxes is 'singakarjuit' (Hudson Bay). Singartik is also a personal name in Arctic Canada.

Singajik is a name of a historic person and hero from Kangeq off Nuuk, who moved there from the Arsuk region by the end of the 1600s.
Singajuk   WSingajuk
 Mythological name.

Singajuk is a cognate to the word 'singarnaq', a term for a yellowish grey dog (wolf-like). In Canada a shamans' word for wolf is 'singarti' and the word for fox is 'singakarjuit' (Hudson Bay). Singartik is also a personal name in Arctic Canada.

The dialectical variant Singajik, is a name of a historic person and hero from Kangeq off Nuuk, who moved there from the Arsuk region by the end of the 1600s.
 Singeqqaq   WSingerĸaĸ
 Singerneq   WSingerneĸ
 Sinnii   WSivnê
 Sinniisoq   WSivnîssoĸ
Siuana   WSujuana
 Siuana derives from the stem siu- (suju- in the old writing system), which has to do with the meaning 'front', 'face', 'foremost' or 'forward'. In the Register over Greenlandic Names, 3 names with the same stem have been recorded: Siuleqatuk (Hiuleqatuk), and Sujuleqatsiaq, both girls names from the Thule Region, which seems to allude to 'forefathers', the latter name meaning 'The One With Good Forebears'.

The Western Greenlandic boys' name Siukiaq has to do with 'Front'.

Parallels are to be found in Alfred Berthelsen's treatise re. Grl. names from 1918: Sujortoq (Sujugtoq, 'Leader' or 'The One in Front'), a male name from 1799 meaning 'The Harpooner' in a whaling sloop. The womans name from 1799: Sujotona (Sujutuna = siutuna), 'Large Front', alludes to her large nose. In 1867 a man's name from Northern Greenland was registered: Sujoraq (Sioraq), 'Long-nosed'.

The ending -na in the names Siuana and Siutuna is a so-called names affix common in Inuit names signifying a personal name.
 Siukiaq   WSiukiaĸ
 Sorlak   WSordlak
 Sorlannguaq   WSordlánguaĸ
 Suigana   WSuigana
 Sukateq   WSukateĸ
 Suloraq   WSuloraĸ
 Suluk   WSuluk
 Sulunnguaq   WSulúnguaĸ
 Sunavana   WSunavana
T
 Taajuat   WTâjuat
 Taaluaq   WTâluaĸ
 Taaraq   WTâraĸ
 TaiunginaN  WTaiungina
 Tajaq   WTajaĸ
 Tajarneq   WTajarneĸ
 Takisooq   WTakisôĸ
 Takisuunnguaq   WTakisũnguaĸ
 Taliffak   WTalivfak
 Talissaq   WTaligssaĸ
 Tappiana   WTagpiana
 Taqajaraq   WTaĸajaraĸ
 Taqatuina   WTaĸatuina
 Taqqaq   WTarĸaĸ
 Tasiaq   WTasiaĸ
 Tassuana   WTássuana
 Tassutaq   WTavssutaĸ
 Tavik   WTavik
 Termaq   WTermaĸ
 Tigaq   WTigaĸ
 Tinneraq   WTíneraĸ
 Tita   WTita
 Tivariaq   WTivariaĸ
 Tuapak   WTuapak
 Tuiigaq   WTuîgaĸ
 Tuilik   WTuvilik
 Tukku E WTúko
 Tukuma   W
Tukumaq   WTukumaĸ
 'quick', 'eager', 'active', 'cheerful', 'vigorous', 'is prompt to act' with the connotation 'is busy' from the verbal form; ’tukumavoq’. Informal form: Tukuma.

Other names in the same category are Qiimaaraq, a boys name from W. Greenland meaning 'Cheerful Little One', and the W. Grl. boys name Oqila, meaning 'Fast Runner’, short form: Oqi.

See also under the girls name Tukummeq.
 Tulimaaq   WTulimâĸ
 Tulleq   WTugdleĸ
 Tulluartoq   WTugdluartoĸ
 Tunersuk   WTunersuk
 Tungutsiiannguaq   WTungutsîánguaĸ
 Tungutsiiaq   WTungutsîaĸ
 Tunukana   WTunukana
 Tuttorana   WTugtorana
 Tuugaaq   WTûgâĸ
 Tuujuk   WTûjuk
 Tuukkaq   WTũkaĸ
 Tuullik   WTûgdlik
U
 Ueqqaaq   WUerĸâĸ
 Uerana   WUverana
 Uiaqoq   WUiaĸoĸ
 Uilulaq   WUilulaĸ
 Uisasoq   WUisassoĸ
 UjarakN  WUjarak
 Ujaratsiaq   WUjaratsiaĸ
 Ujarneq E WUjarneĸ
 Ujoru   WUjoro
 Ujuuki   WJohannesUjûke
 Ukaleq   WUkaleĸ
 Ukaliusi   WUkaliuse
 Ukatu   WUkato
 Ulaaju   WUlâjo
UlaajukN  WUlâjuk
 Ulaajuk means ‘the tall, shapely or well-built one’. Other names with the same stem and meaning are the Eastgreenlandic girls and boys name Ulannaq and the womens name from Southernmost Greenland Ulartoq. In 1881, a man in Alluitsoq (Lichtenau) was baptised, prior to his baptism his Greenlandic name was: Ulaasi.
 Ulloriannguaq   WUvdloriánguaĸ
 UlloriaqN  WUvdloriaĸ
 Ulornaq   WUlornaĸ
 UluattooqN  WUluagtôĸ
 Unaliina   WUnalîna
 Unalina   WUnalina
 UngaaqN  WUngâĸ
 Uniaq   WUniaĸ
 Unnaq   WÚnaĸ
 Uppik   WUgpik
 Usinna   WUsivna
Utertoq   WUtertoĸ
 The name Utertoq means the returned one, (the family member who has come home again). Due to ritual name avoidance (taboos in mentioning names in traditional society), family members were weary of mentioning names of the deceased

, even when babies had been born and named after the deceased, thus alternative forms of address were used such as: Angerla (short form of ‘angerlartoqut' (the one who has returned home), and Qaaqqutsiaq (the summoned one), perhaps also Taatsiaq (the fancied mention). These forms of address has evolved into independent names over time.

Utertoq belongs to this category. Another name under this category is Sinniisoq (the one who comes in your stead, i.e. the substitute).
Uti   WUte
 Abbreviation of Utertoq. The name Utertoq means the returned one, (the family member who has come again). Due to ritual names of the deceased, even when babies had been born and named after them - thus alternative forms of address were used such as: Utertoq, Angerla, perhaps also Qaaqqutsiaq and Taatsiaq. These forms af address have evolved into becoming independent names over time. Uti belongs to this category. Another name of this type is Sinniisoq.
 Uunu   WÛno

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