Galina Tserenova, About the First Haircut and Name Giving Practices

Abstract

Galina talks about the ritual of the first haircut and name giving conventions among the Kalmyks. Babies have their first haircut at the age of 1. It is a maternal uncle who cuts the baby’s first hair. Galina’s children received their names from her grandfather. One of Galina’s sons was named Sandzhi-Garya in memory of his great grandfather, although Kalmyks try not to name their children after deceased relatives. But since the grandfather said that the name of Sandzhi-Garya suited the boy, the family decided to stick to his advice. Galina’s paternal aunt named Galina’s other son Ilya. Galina says that all Kalmyk girls with Russian names have a Kalmyk name by which they are addressed at home.