The Language Secretariat of Greenland

 
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Matching Names

Found 160 matching names:
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  Name European Old Spelling
  Name European Old Spelling
A
 AamaN  WAuma
 AaruN   Aero
 AarunaN  WÂruna
 AarutN   Aerut
 AatiitaaqN   Âtîtâĸ
 AatitaaqN   Âtitâĸ
 AeruN   Aero
 AerunaN   Aeruna
 AerutN   Aerut
 AimaN   Aima
 AimannguaqN   Aimánguaĸ
 AininaaqN   Aininâĸ
 AisivakN   Aisivak
AkitseqN   Akitseĸ
 Meaning: The Precious One.
 AkitsinnguaqN   Akitsínguaĸ
 AkulukN   Akuluk
 AlalaqN   Alalaĸ
 AleqasinaN   Aleĸasina
 AleqasinnguaqN   Aleĸasínguaĸ
 AleqatsiaqN   Aleĸatsiaĸ
 AlikaN   Alika
 AlingnaluaqN   Alingnaluaĸ
 AlingnalukN   Alingnaluk
 AloqisaaqN   Aloĸisâĸ
 AmaannalikN   Amáunalik
 AmaunnalikN   Amaúnalik
AminnguaqN   Amínguaĸ
 From ameq (skin) and the ending -nnguaq (dear, little). Several Greenlandic names has to do with skin, which is an indication of cultural significance.
 AmmikN   Ámik
 AnguaqN   Anguaĸ
 AppaliapikN   Agpaliapik
 AqattannguaqN   Aĸátánguaĸ
 AqattaqN   Aĸátaĸ
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.)
 AqissiarsukN   Aĸigssiarssuk
 AqutakN   Aĸutak
 ArnaalukN   Arnâluk
 ArnaaraqN  WArnâraĸ
 ArnaattoqN   Arnáutoĸ
ArnajaaqN   Arnajâĸ
 from Arnajaraq (little girl). Some Greenlandic names alternate in sound due to wear, or as a result of speech impediment among children, or when adults coo with children. The consonant r between two vowels have vanished and been replaced by a long vowel; Arnajaraq - Arnajaaq.

This process is rather common in Greenlandic, fex: ujagaq - ujaaq (that which one is searching for), ulimagaq -> ulimaaq (that which have been chopped with an ax), umiatsiaraq -> umiatsiaaq (small boat), uniagaq -> uniaaq (that which one has dragged behind him) etc.
 ArnakitsoqN   Arnakitsoĸ
 ArnakitsorsuaqN   Arnakitsorssuaĸ
 ArnakutsukN   Arnakutsuk
 ArnaluannguaqN   Arnaluánguaĸ
 ArnaluaqN   Arnaluaĸ
 ArnannguaqN  WArnánguaĸ
 ArnannguarsuaqN   Arnánguarssuaĸ
 ArnaraarsukN   Arnarârssuk
 ArnarulukN   Arnaruluk
 ArnarulunnguaqN   Arnarulúnguaĸ
 ArnaruniaqN   Arnaruniaĸ
 ArnatsiannguaqN   Arnatsiánguaĸ
 ArnauttoqN   Arnáutoĸ
AtanganaN   Atangana
 Atangana most probably means: 'The One Who Remained' (when all the siblings had died). In Western Greenland the term: "Atamertaq" is used, which means 'the sole child remaining with its parents' (see S. Kleinschmidt: "Den grønlandske Ordbog, 1871, p. 52.). But this term has not been registered as a name, except for "Pituaq" (only possession (child)). Atangana has a socalled names suffix -na (Atangat+na).
 AtiiN   Atê
 AtussukN   Atugssuk
 AtussunnguaqN   Atuvssúnguaĸ
 AtuvssunnguaqN   Atuvssúnguaĸ
 AviakullukN   Aviakutdluk
 AvianngorneqN   Aviángorneĸ
AviaqN  WAviaĸ
 Girls name (Formerly also a boys name) A kinship term. Meaning: family. From the stem 'aavik-' (real blood) or 'avik-' (half/part) part (of our family).
 AvoortungiaqN   Avôrtungiaĸ
E
 EqaasuaqN   Eĸâsuaĸ
 EqariusaqN   Eĸariussaĸ
 EqariusarsuaqN   Eqariussarssuaĸ
 EqilanaN   Eĸilana
 EqilatN   Eĸilat
I
 IlaatsoqN  WIlaitsoĸ
 IlaatsukN   Ilaitsuk
 IlaatsunnguaqN   Ilaitsúnguaĸ
 IlaitsoqN   Ilaitsoĸ
 IlaitsukN   Ilaitsuk
 IlaitsunnguaqN   Ilaitsúnguaĸ
 InalliaqN   Inatdliaĸ
InalukN   Inaluk
 (Gut) casings. The traditional Greenlandic culture was a hunting culture, hence a significant number of names derive from the human and animal body. Older traditional names were: Iggiaq (throat), Oqaq (tongue), Qutuk (collarbone), Tulimaaq (rib) etc. Names currently in use are: Ivalu or Ivalo (sinew or thread), Puiaq (crop or craw).

Number of bearers: In Greenland: Inaluk 53 (most of these born in the 80s). In Denmark: Inaluk 26.
 InalunnguaqN   Inalúnguaĸ
 InoqusiaqN   Inoĸussiaĸ
 InugaarsukN   Inugârssuk
 InuttaqN   Inugtaĸ
 InuugukN   Inûguk
 IsigaitsoqN   Isigaitsoĸ
 IsinnguaqN   Issínguaĸ
 IttussaarsuaqN   Ítússaarsuaĸ
IvalorsuaqN   Ivalorssuaĸ
 sinew. A variant of the name Ivalu.
IvaluN   Ivalo
 sinew

Number of bearers: Ivalu 128. Ivalo 103.
IvikN   Ivik
 Grass.

Variant: Ivinnguaq 26 (Sweet little I.). Ivínguaκ <4.

Plant name.
IvinnguaqN   Ivínguaĸ
 Sweet little grass.

Number of name bearers: Ivinnguaq 26 (Dear little I.). Ivíngua? <4. Variant of: Ivik 77
K
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).
 KassaalukN   Kavssâluk
 KassaalussuaqN   Kavssâlugssuaĸ
M
 MaalaviaqN  WMâlaviaĸ
 MaaluguaqN   Mâluguaĸ
MagserannguaqN   Magseránguaĸ
 From the stem 'massippoq: rising half up from horisontal position' + the ending -nnguaq: 'sweet, dear'. The Greenlandic author Karl Siegstad explains that the name means 'Flower which is raised up by the heat of the sun, whilst small pieces of ice are still above it.'
 MalugiaqN   Malugiaĸ
ManuminaN   Manumina
 "Small piece of fur under chin", from "manumineq" where manu is '(fur)chin' and -mineq is 'small piece'.

The form -mineq is either contaminated with the names' suffix -na and has become -mina (Manumina), or the -mina form is a hypocorism.

Naming with pieces of clothing was rather common in traditional society: Nasaq (hat), Teqqiaq (cap peak), Pualut (mittens), Kamik (boot) etc.

Variants: Manu (under chin or its cover), Manunnguaq (sweet little M.), Manuaraq (little M.), the mythological name Manutooq (The One With a Big Fur Under Chin)

Number of name bearers: Manumina 25. As surname 11.
 MassannguaqN   Magssánguaĸ
 MassaraannguaqN   Magssarãnguaĸ
 MassarannguaqN   Magssarãnguaĸ
 MasserannguaqN   Magsseránguaĸ
 MavsannguaqN   Mavsánguaĸ
 MeqqupalukN   Merĸupaluk
 MequN   Meĸo
 MikissukN   Mikivssuk
MinikN   Minik
 Samuel Kleinschmidt defines the word minik in his Greenlandic dictionary (Den grønlandske ordbog fra 1871 p. 211), that minik is "1) Blubber, which has become a viscous glue-like substance (of which a thin layer has been exposed to the action of the air, fex. outside, or on the rim of, a blubber vessel); 2) earwax.)"

According to Jonathan Petersen’s ’ordbogêraĸ’ from 1951 p. 101 the word minik means ’hardened layer of fat’.

Kleinschmidt's next entry is: 'minippaa or minitserpaa, pastes the seams of the boat with minik.'

The name Minik might derive from these definitions. A significant portion of Greenlandic names have their origin from the daily life, some of them dealing with the household and its tools, as well as hunting life and its equipment. Minik might belong to this category, however a mainstream interpretation is Kleinscmidt's no. 2 definition.

Due to cooing with babies and constant use, consonants often weaken. A good example is the girls' name Natuk, which is believed to be a babbling form of inequnartoq (cute and sweet), with the following process: unoqunartoq -> uukunattuk -> nattuk -> natuk). Thus mineq can become minik.

The name is short and easy to pronounce, and this might be the reason why it is so popular. Also the fact that several books were published about the controversy concerning the boy Minik, who in 1897 was brought with his family to New York by Robert E. Peary, might have had an impact on the popularity of the name.

According to statistics, only a handful of people (10 persons) bore the name Minik in the 50s, 60s and the 70s. But after the books were published, there was a marked increase of boys being named Minik, 57 persons in the 80s and 84 persons during the 90s.

Number of name bearers: Minik 152 (72 in DK), totalling 224, of which only 4 were girls.

Taamatuttaaq Samuel Kleinschmidtip ordbogiani Den grønlandske ordbog-imi 1871-imi saqqummersumi q. 211-mi ima nassuiarneqarsimavoq: orsoq, mattutsissimasoq nipoqqutalluni (qaava ilaatigut silaannaap sunniineranik qalippersimasartoq, soorlu qulliup ukkusissap qaavani sinaaniluunniit).
N
 NaajarlakN   Naujardlak
 NalikkatsiaqN   Nalíkatsiaĸ
NatukN  WNatuk
 A hypocoristic name.

Natuk is a hypocoristic name which has been shortened and simplified through babbling with a baby, which is a very common custom in Greenland. The name possibly derived from the word inequnartoq (sweet/cute). The babbling forms of inequnartoq are: 'unukunattuk', 'oqunattuk', 'ukunattuk', 'uukunattuk' etc., since simplified to 'nattuk'. This form again has been simplified into natuk through constant use.

The name might also be a simplified form of the old name Arnatuk (which again stems from the mythological concept re. soul or name wandering arnattoq (of arnappoq: seeks a mother“, i.e. a soul being born into different shapes and animals before crawling into the womb of a woman to be born again and re-claim his name.)

Natuk often earlier was s written with a ‘d’ (Naduk). This dates back to the time when the Americans recorded names in the Thule region. The Personal Names Committee recommends that the principles of the Greenlandic writing systems be followed in regards to Greenlandic names, i.e.: Natuk.

Natuk siornatigut d -erlugu allanneqartarpoq (Naduk), tamanna Amerikamiut nalaannit pisuuvoq. Inuit Aqqinik Akuersisartut innersuutigaat kalaallit aqqi allattaatsit atorneqartut malittarisaat malillugit allanneqartassasut.
 NaujarlakN   Naujardlak
NavaranaN S Navarana
 "The One That Alternates Between Different Parties". From the Proto-Eskimo: naverar-, which in Yupik has evolved into meaning 'to exchange', 'to trade' or 'to borrow', ending with the names suffix -na. The stem might be related to 'niruver-' (niuver-), which in Greenlandic has evolved into meaning 'to trade'.

Navarana is the main character in a legend which is known among most Inuit tribes, the name depicts an activity where a person alternated between two different tribes and ended up creating disunity. In Greenland it was a woman between the Norsemen and the Greenlanders, in other Inuit tribes it was an activity between Inuit and Indians.

The name has developed different variants throughout time, such as Avranna or Aijanna in Inuvialuit and Inuinnaqtun, where the main character was a male, among Inuit in Labrador it was an Indian woman named Javraganak.

The stem nava- is also used as a name in the legend of Navagiaq, where N. travels from animal to animal as a soul and ends up crawling into a woman and become born again among humans. The ending -giaq suggests the meaning 'travel' or 'be out'.

In Iñupiaq, the shore bird 'Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)' is in some places known as navaluġauraq, perhaps due to its flying back and forth by the shore.

Number of name bearers: Navarana 65 (in Grl.). 18 (in DK).
NavarapalukN   Navarapaluk
 'Sweet little Navarat.' Navarat is a short form of Navarana, see under Navarana.

Mythological name.
NavaratN   Navarat
 Short form of Navarana. See under Navarana.
 NialiannguaqN   Nialiánguaĸ
 NingioqN   Ningioĸ
NiviarsiaqN   Niviarsiaĸ
 'Young woman or girl, maiden, girl of marriageable age'. From Niviaq (girl) + -siaq (acquired as).

Abbreviations: Nivi, Niviaq. Nivikka.

The stem 'nivi' holds these meanings: 'cling to', 'adhere' (perhaps from a girl refusing to leave mothers side). In Greenlandic the word 'niviorpoq' also means 'linger around’, ‘hover' (ordbogêrak' 1951, p. 122).

In the online Canadian Inuit dictionary (www.asuilaak.ca) the word 'niviurpuq' means: 'worry about, wants to remain close to by affection (1) a mother about her sick child (2) a bird remaining close to its nest'.

In Jean Brigg’s 'Never in Anger', a study about social relationships among Inuit in Canada, the word ‘niviuq’ is explained as meaning ‘to wish or to arouse the wish to kiss or touch one another affectionately’ (1970:376). The designation of a young girl in Kivalliq (Qamanittuaq – Baker Lake) is: 'niviakkaq'.

In the Greenlandic names register there are 14 variations of names with the stem nivi: Niviarsiaraq (little girl), Niviaaluk (little G. (affectionately)), Niviatsiaq (beautiful G.), Nivinnguaq (sweet G.).

Other forms with traditional names endings are: Niviana, Niviarsina and Nivikkana. The endings for names being -na, -sina and -kkana.

Niviarsiaq earlier also was a designation for a nurse (present term: peqqissaasoq).
NivikkaN  WNivíka
 Nivikka is possibly a compound of 2 short forms of both the word for girl: niviarsiaq (nivi) and the name ending –kkana (Nivikkana): Nivikka.

In the 2007 Greenlandic names list other names with the same stem appears: Niviaaluk (little girl (hypocorstic form)), Niviarsiaraq (little girl), Niviatsiaq (graceful, beautiful girl), Nivinnguaq (dear girl) and Niviaq (fashioned as a girl?).

Other forms equipped with traditional name endings (-na, -sina og -kkana) with the stem nivi: Niviana, Niviarsina and Nivikkana.
 NivikkanaN   Nivíkana
 NivikkannguaqN   Nivikánguaĸ
 NujaliannguaqN   Nujaliánguaĸ
 NujaliaqN   Nujaliaĸ
 NujalikN   Nujalik
P
PalleqN  WPatdleκ
 Name for (dwarf) willow or alder (alnus crispa). Grows in tall shrubs in the interior.
 PallipalukN   Patdlipaluk
 PalloqN   Patdloĸ
 PallunnguaqN   Patdlúnguaĸ
PipalukN   Pipaluk
 Hypocoristic name.

from the stem ’pi-’ (pigisaq: ones possession/property) with the Thule ending '-paluk': ’ones own and dear little possession’.

The ending '-paluk' is common in the Thule region, in names such as: Inukitsupaluk (little Inukitsoq), Kaalipaluk (little Karl), Ittupaluk (Little Ittu), Qujanapaluk (the gratifying little one) and Pallipaluk (Little Birch tree). The place name Siorapaluk (Little front/head or small beach).

According to the publication from Statistics Greenland: ’Navnestatistik for Grønland 2004', Pipaluk was the most used Greenlandic girls name in the period 2000-2004.

Number of name bearers: Pipaluk 136. (If you include the 81 women named Pipaluk in Denmark the number amounts to 217. This is probably due to the fact that the famous polar explorer and author Peter Freuchen named his daughter Pipaluk (1918 -1999)).
Q
 QaavigaqN   K'âvigaĸ
 QajuutsiaqN   K'ajûtsiaĸ
 QiajukN   K'iajuk
 QiajunnguaqN   K'iajúnguaĸ
 QuliN   K'ule
 QuliikN  WK'ulîk
 QupalukN  WK´upaluk
S
 SaamikN  WSâmik
 SaffakN   Savfak
 SaggakN   Saggak
 SatoranaN   Satorana
 SauneqN   Sauneĸ
 SauninnguaqN   Saunínguaĸ
 SaunipalukN   Saunipaluk
 SerminnguaqN   Sermínguaĸ
 SimigaqN SWSimigaĸ
 SinarajukN   Sinarajuk
 SiuleqatukN   Sujuleĸatuk
 SoqqaqN   Sorĸaĸ
 SuakannguaqN   Suakánguaĸ
 SujuleqatsiaqN   Sujuleĸatsiaĸ
 SujuleqeqatsiaqN   Sujuleĸatsiaĸ
T
 TaffinnguaqN   Tavfínguaĸ
TaoranaN   Taorana
 From the stem Taorat. Possibly from the same stem as the Canadian Inuktitut “taurannituq” or “tauranniqtuq” which means “pleasure to watch”, ("takorannertoq" in Greenlandic) i.e. "handsome or beautiful." The following -na is the traditional names suffix (Taorana), which indicates it is a personal name.
 Taorana (Daorana)N   Taorana
 TapaitsiaqN   Tapaitsiaĸ
 TavfinnguaqN   Tavfínguaĸ
 TorngiN   Tornge
 TornginnguaqN   Torngínguaĸ
TukummeqN   Tukúmeĸ
 According to Samuel Kleinschmidt’s dictionary ‘Den grønlandske ordbog’ from 1871 the word 'tukumavoq' means “agile, vigorous, swift, prompt to act, is cheerful” (hence the girls and boys name: Tukumaq: agile, cheerful).

In 'Comparative Eskimo Dictionary' (Fortescue et. al., Fairbanks, Alaska 1994, p. 348) the word derives from proto-eskimo tukku(R): host, be rich, which in other dialects (Western Canadian Inuit, Tuku(ma)) also contains the meanings: “be generous" and "stay at someone’s house (hence the Grl. name Tukkujaq: sleepover)”.
 TukumminnguaqN   Tukúmínguaĸ
U
 UjarakN  WUjarak
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.
 UlulikN   Ululik
 UngaaqN  WUngâĸ

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