SUGGESTED EXPLANATIONS OF SHEEPA NAMES

B. R. Goodfellow.

WE give below a list of the common, or better-known Sherpa names, together with suggested explanations of meanings and derivations. Column A is by Ludwig Krenek; Column B by Johannes Schubert, who also provides philological corrections.

We do not propose to enter the controversy over the meanings, still less over the variety of spellings and pronunciations, which appear to be legion.

Generally, however, the pronunciation of Tibetan names deviates considerably from the original Tibetan spelling. For example, the Tibetan 'p^’ and 'ch' are often pronounced 'b’ and 'ts’. The prefix 'Ang' is always stressed, e.g. Ang Tsering is pronounced Angts(e)ring, with an almost inaudible e. The same applies to the prefixes Da and Pa, e.g. DaN (or) bu, PaN (or) bu; the or being practically inaudible.

It is interesting to find that in some cases there is perfect agreement between the two versions; whilst in others, the opposite seems to be the case.

Mr. Krenek says that he has been helped in his interpretations and spellings by Rai Bahadur Tenduf La, son-in-law of the late Sirdar Bahadur Laden La, one of the best-known figures of his time in Darjeeling.

Days of the Week :

Monday	..	..	Dawa
Tuesday	..	..	Mingma
Wednesday	..	..	Lhakpa
Thursday	..	..	Phurba (Purba)
Friday	..	..	Pasang
Saturday	..	..	Pemba
Sunday	..	..	Nyima (Njima).

suggested explanations oe sherpa names

	Name	A	B
1.	Ajiba	The fourth son	Tib. bzhi-pa = the fourth, i.e. son.
2.	Ang, Anga	Infant, baby. As in similar eases (cf. Nullu) the name given to the small child is retained throughout life.	The meaning 'baby' is doubtful.
3.	Changba	The youngest. This is not a Sherpa name. It derives from the Thamang; another branch of Nepalese Buddhists.	Tib. chun-ba (also chun-nu) = the small or young one. The youngest in the case of many children.
4.	Chettan, Tsetan	Che == life, ten = safe, sure, hence an assured or long life.	Tib. tshe-brtan = enduring, eternal, long life.
5.	Chodi,		Tib. chos-Idan == having religion, pious.
	Chicade	One who prattles unceasingly.
6.	Chung	Small	(Cf. changba; Tib. chun-ba).
7.	Da or Dawn	Born on a Monday	Tib. zla, zla-ba = moon, month Pronounced da.
	Dakshi	Perhaps the same as Dawa = born on a Monday.
8.	Dorji	Thunderbolt .	Better with e (Tib. rdo-rje) = Dorje.
9.	Dukpa	A native of Bhutan	Tib. 'abrag-pa' = the man from Bhutan. The Bhutan woman would be ' abrug-ma'. Pronounced dukpa and drukpa.
10.	Genden Amdo	Genden (?) from the province of Amdo, aregion on borders of China and Tibet.	Genden may be Tib. dge-ldan == virtuous. Uncertain. Amdo is Tib. a-mdo.
11.	Gna (better Nga)	The fifth son	Tib. Ina = five. Is, of course, an abbreviation of Ina-pa (nga-ba, nga-wa), the fifth.
12.	Gyalgen	Gyal = king, chen == great, hence great king.	Not 'great king' (Tib. rgyal-/po/chen/po), but 'emblem of victory' (Tib. rgyal- mtshan), pronounced djalchen.
13.	Gyali	The victor (often in fisticuffs between brothers).	Tib. rgyal-ba, or rgyal-la, or rgyal-le, or jal(l)e/i.
14.	Hishe or Yishe	The so of a priest	Tib. ye-shes = absolute wisdom = Sskr. jnana. A very popular Tibetan name and, owing to the spread of Lamaism, also in Mongolia (Ishi).
15.	Jigme	Designation of a low caste. When the first son dies, the parents often call the second son by the name of a low caste or an animal, hoping thereby to confuse death or the god of death, as if to say: It is not worth while taking him, for he is only an animal.	Tib. 'ajigs-med -= fearless.
16.	Karma	Star	Tib. skar-ma == star. Perhaps associated with Karmi and Kami ?
17.	Karsang		Tib. skar-bzan = favourable star (born under a favourable star ?).
18.	Kesar Singh		Tib. ge-sar. By popular etymology also skye- gsar or ke-sar. Name of the hero of the Tibetan national epic. Skr. simha = lion.
19.	Kikuli	Name given to a dog (cf. Jigme)	Contains Ki, Tib. khyi == dog.
	Kitar	One who leads a carefree life.
	Lewa (better Leba)	Of good looks.
20.	Lhakpa	Born on a Wednesday	Tib. lhag-pa - Wednesday.
21.	Lobsang	Lob = heart, sang = good or big, hence kind, generous.	Tib. blo-bzan == of good understanding. The meaning ' heart' for lob is an error. It is a very frequent name.
22.	Mingma	Born on a Tuesday	Tib. mig-dmar = Redeye = Mars = Tuesday.
23.	Namgyal also Norbu (the r almost inaudible).	Nam = heaven, Gyal = king Precious stone, jewel	Tib. rnam (par) rgyal (-ba) = thoroughly victorious. No connection with ^’heaven' or 'king'. A name often met with in Sikkim.
24.	Naspati		Probably Hindustani from Persian naspati = pear.
25.	Norsang	Nor == riches, sang - much, great	Tib. nor-(bu) bzan(-po) = fine jewel.
	Nullu	One who always cries. Name given to an infant (cf. Ang).
26.	Nyima (Njima)	Born on a Sunday	Tib. nyi-ma - sun, Sunday.
27.	Palden		Tib. dpal-ldan = having fame = famous.
28.	Pasang	Born on a Friday	Tib. pa-sans or wa-sans = Venus, Friday.
29.	Pemba	Born on a Saturday	Tib. spen-pa = Saturn, Saturday.
	Phensing	Not a Tibetan name. Mr. Kydd of Darjeeling nicknamed Angtsering III 'Fancy'. Angtsering pronounced it 'Phansi'. On later expeditions this became' Pansy'.
30.	Phu (pronounced more like pu)	Son	Not Tib. bu = son, but abbreviation of Phurba.
31.	Phu or Phurba (Purba)	Born on a Thursday	Tib. phur-pa = peg, nail, magic dagger. Also = Jupiter, Thursday.
32.	Pintso		Tib. phun-(sum)-tshogs(-pa) = perfect, excellent ; very common for men and women alike.
33.	Rinsing		Tib. rigs-'adzin = understanding science, having great talents.
34.	Samdup	Reliable, true	Tib. bsam-'agrub = executing the will.
35.	Sanglu	Good singer. His voice may have been good when he was a child.	Tib. bzan-glu = good song.
	Sarki	Leather merchant (a very low caste, cf. Jigme).
36.	Sona, Sona(m)	A happy one	Tib. bsod-nams - luck.
37.	Tashi	One who lives happily	Tib. bkra-shis =% blessing, happiness.
38.	Temba	Equable, reliable	Tib. brtan-pa = sure, certain.
39.	Tensing (better than Tenzing) Tewang (more correctly Tewing)	About the same as Temba Name of a monkey (cf. Jigme)	Tib. bstan-'adzin = understanding the teaching. A frequent name.
	Tharke	A name without a special meaning
40.	Thondup	Successful in life	Tib. don-grub - one who has reached his goal; Skr. Siddhartha.
	Thundu
	Tendrnp
	Thondup
41.	Thupden		Tib. thub-ldan = having strength, endurance.
42.	Tinle	One who works fast	Tib. phrin-las = the busy one. Better Thinle. Also occurs as Thinlay.
43.	Tobge	Very strong	Tib. stobs-rgyas = extended power.
44.	Tse (I)	Tibetan che - life	Tib. tshe = life. Better aspirated with h.
45.	Tse (II)	Mountain top, summit	Tib. rtse = summit.
46.	Tsering	Long life. Abbr. Tsin	Tib. tshe-rin = long life (same as Chettan). Abbreviated to Tsin.
47.	Tsong	Name of a Tibetan province near the borders of Nepal.	Tib. gtsan = pure. Name of one of the chief provinces of Tibet, the Sherpa pronunciation being tsong.
48.	Urgent	A Bhutia name of unknown meaning	Tib. o-rgyan or u-rgyan = Skr. udyana = garden.
49.	Wangdi also Ongdi (more correctly Wongdi)	A powerful or mighty one	Tib. dban-ldan = having power, strong, mighty,
50.	Wangyal also Ongyal		Tib. dban-rgyal = powerful.
51.	Yila, Yula, Yil	A local god in the Khumbu district	Tib. Yul-lha == a national god.

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