UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Personal Name

Personal names are the names of specific, individual humans or animals.

Maıdèa

Mary Adele

Ts’ıhjǫ

Here (at) the Birch

Mǫhwhı̀

Monfwi

Personal names in Tłı̨chǫ come from a variety of sources. Many are adaptations of European names, particularly those of French and English origin. For example:

Mısè

Michael

Zozè

Joseph

Ilabè

Elizabeth

Many other names are of traditional Dene origin, predating European contact. Sometimes, the meanings of these names can be reconstructed, but more often, their exact meanings have been obscured by time. For example:

Ts’ıdzǫǫ̀

Spruce Beetle

Edzaghò

Leg Scar?

Ewaàghoa

Possibly related to ewaà (‘sand’) or gowà (‘mouth’)

In the dictionary, in instances where the meaning of a traditional name is not known, the definition is given simply as ‘personal name’.

Other personal names are descriptive in nature, referencing a particular characteristic or accomplishment of their bearer; these names may be thought of as similar to nicknames, although they are often the primary name by which someone is known.

Ts'èkotłòo

Chubby Girl

Wekwı̀ghàzǫą

Dark Hair

Wekwı̀yı̨̀ą

Round Head

Often, names such as this are created by adding a descriptive element of some kind to an existing personal name. For example:

Mısècho

Big Michael

Alıısı̀gǫ̀ą

Skinny Alex

Jımı Eneèkoa

Old Man Jimmy

Personal names in Tłı̨chǫ can be derived from a variety of parts of speech; some are derived from nouns, others from verbs, others even from numerals and postpositions. However, when used as personal names, these words function in the same way as a typical noun.

Wechè

His Tail

Tı Ts'àts'eedı

Pays the Water

Tł'ızhı̨ı̨̀

Between the Ropes

Ek’edı̨ą

Little Eight