Hi! I’m struggling a bit with naming one of my POV characters, a Navajo/Dine woman in a fantasy western taking place c.1885. In my research, I’ve seen several mentions of Navajo/Dine names being considered very personal to the point of being sacred and only shared with family/close friends. If this is the case with my character, do you think she would more likely use an english name among non-tribe-members, or simply a nickname that still originates from the her own language? (1/2)
(2/2) Either way, my instinct is to not reveal her true name even to the audience out of respect for it being sacred. At the same time, this feels like a bit of a cop-out if she’s using an english name, and I don’t want her to seem ashamed of her culture or eager to assimilate. I’m considering having her use an english first name but use her clan name as a surname (according to my research this was done in real life). Thoughts? Any input from Navajo/Dine folks is of course hugely appreciated.
Navajo/Dine and Sacred Names
My grain-of-salt (not Navajo/Dine) suggestion is to make mention she’s using a sacred name among family/close friends (like, “they called her by the name only they could” or somesuch), then use a name that still lines up with names-given-to-outsiders from the tribe in question.
Any Navajo/Dine input is greatly appreciated.
~ Mod Lesya
Commentary
@iliketowritestuffs said:More common last names I’ve seen are: Begay, Yazzie, Benally, Sayetsitty, Bowman, Shirley, and that’s all I can think of off the top of my head. My family’s name is Shurley.
As for Navajo names; my family isn’t traditional, so none of us have one. Women get their Navajo name during their Kinaaldah, which is a coming of age ceremony which occurs when a girl first gets her period. As for boys, I can’t be of help. Sorry.
@aisarete said:
Another grain-of-salt, not-Navajo suggestion: tell us why she chose the name she gives outsiders. That seems like it would give us valuable insight on who she is as a person. Maybe she liked the name of a character from a story, or a historical figure. Maybe she heard a name in passing and chose it arbitrarily, and only her sacred name really means anything to her emotionally. Maybe she just really liked the way it sounded, and it is a traditionally masculine name or not a traditional name at all. Salutations, Comraderie, and Marionette would all make cool name imo.
