Khoja Naming Customs
Since their emergence as a distinct syncretic community between 600-700 years ago, Khojas of Western Gujarat have used a unique personal identification protocol.
Firstly, most have always had at least three or sometimes even four individual names as part of their full name. e.g Abdul Jaffer Kanji Manji
Secondly, the second name is the first name of the father, whilst the third name (if used) is the first name of the grandfather. Abdul would use his fathers's first name, Jaffer.
Thirdly, in keeping with the Gujarati tradition of always retaining one's "attak", the surname or family name of a person has remained the same throughout the generations. Hence, most Khojas continue to have ancient Sindhi Lohana surnames ending in "ani" such as Lalani, Kanani or Sayani or Kutchi Kathiawari names such as Kanji, Manji or Dhanji etc. A few have followed other Indo-Pak Muslim communities and do not use "attak" but use only the father's first name as a surname eg Abdul Jaffer.
And finally, the first or given name of a Khoja person has either been an Arabic, Persian or Indian word for a desirable attribute or a popular name taken from the local society where they live.
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, during the period of the European disruption and colonization of the Indian Ocean littoral area, local merchants were often identified by their caste in the first part of their name so that Ismail Mohamed Dewji would often be recorded simply as Khoja Ismail Mohamed.
A typical Khoja in Gujarat would be called "Geeta Karim Hussein Kanji" and in Africa, "Greeta Karim Kanji".
However, in the Western countries, where names of locals are generally limited to two words, most Khojas have dropped their father's and grandfather's first names, so a typical name would be "Adam Kanji".
The advantage in the traditional Khoja naming protocol is that the surname retains links with ancestry (which is important to avoid rootlessness), the fathers/grandfathers name (or mothers, if so inclined) would give social recognition. The first name of course, allows for easy local integration.
In migration, these benefits were not immediately apparent but once a community is established in a city or state, name recognition and familiarity could lead to access to opportunities, friendships and avoid social isolation. With the Web creating a global village, connections due to recognition and familiarity are bound to generate economic benefits as well.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Suffix ‘ji ‘ in Indian tradition, is used to address an individual respectfully. Thus name such as Rama is addressed Ramji. Names Kan, Lal, Shyam , Keshav, (affection names of Krishna) are Kanji, Lalji, Samji, Keshavji . Shiva as Shivaji. Similarly names such as Dewji, Premji etc". Credit: Chandoo Jadav
TYPICAL KHOJA FIRST NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS
During the last two centuries, Khojas have used Arabic names or nouns as their first names. Obviously, earlier generations preferred retaining their Indian heritage through their family names.
Compiled from Salim Vellani’s “Special Edition” ISMEX 1980
___________________________________________________
ABDALLAH: slave or servant of Allah; an epithet of Prophet Mohammed
ABDUL: devotee, religious person
ABID: adorer, worshipper
ABIDAH: worshipper, adorer
ADIL: just, equitable, dispenser of justice. Al-Adil, an attribute of Allah
AFROZA: igniting, kindling, enlightening
AFTABUDDIN: the sun of religion
AFZAL: most excellent, prominent
AHAD: one, unit, singular, unique
AHMED: more and most recommendable, name of Prophet Mohammed
AISHA/ AYSHA: way of life, mode of living
AKBAR: great, greatest, opposite of Asghar, Al-Akber an attribute to Allah
AKHTAR: star, constellation, good luck
ALI: the most high, exalted, lofty, sublime. Al-Ali, an attribute of Allah
ALIM: learned, erudite. Singular of Ulema
ALIYA: loftiness, exaltedness, sublimity
ALMAS: diamond
ALNOOR: pronounced An-noor, light, divine light. Singular of Anwar
ALTAF: kindness, grace, plural of Latif
AL-Nar: pronounced An-nar, fire, hell fire
AMAN: safety, peace, safeguard
AMIN: faithful, constant, trustworthy, safe
AMIR: nobleman, singular of UMAR
AMJAD: more glorious, more distinguished
ANAB: grapes
ANAR: pomegranate
ANIL: air, wind
ANJUM: stars
ANWAR: light, rays, brightness, gleam, shine, plural of Nur
ARIF: wise, holy, discerning
ASAD: lion, a man of courage
ASA- DULLAH: Lion of God, one of the epithets Hazrat Aii
ASGHAR: very little, lesser, smallest, opposite of Akber
ASHIQ: Lover
ASHRAF: noblest, most distinguished, most eminent Plural of Sharif
ASIFA: violent wind, gale, tempest, storm, hurricane
ASLAM: safer, freer, sounder, healthier
ASMAT: chastity, honour
AZAD: free, independent, ease, liberated
AZIM: large, tremendous, mighty, great, Ai-Azim, an attribute of
AZIZ: dear, beloved, darling, respected,
AZMINA: time, duration, fortune,
B
BABU: Respectable sir
BABUL-BABOOL: term for father indicating a daughter's affection
BADRU: full moon
BAHADUR: brave, bold, courageous
BAKSHI: paymaster, commander, in chief
BARAKAT/BARKAT: blessing, benediction, charisma
BASHARAT: humanity, mankind
BASHIR: bringer of glad tidings, messenger,
BEGUM: lady, queen, title of royal ladies
BHIMJI: Lord Krishn
BUSHARA: breaking good news
D
DARVESH: Persian for Faquir, poor in a sufi
DAULAT: wealth, riches, fortune, felicity
DAYA: Kindness; mercy; pity.
F
FAHMIDA: intelligent, understood
FAIROUZ: turquoise
FAISAL: arbitrator, decisive criterion
FAIZ: outpouring, emanation, divine grace
FANI: transitory, perishable
FAQUIR: poor in spirit, a person who has renounced the world, darvesh
FARAH: joy, cheerful, glad, happy
FARID: alone, lone, solitary, lonely, unique matchless
FARIDA: precious pearl, gem
FAROOQ: brightness, splendor, glory, fame, honour
FARZANA: wise, intelligent, distinguished, blest
FARZAND: child, son
FATEH: conqueror
FATEHALI: the great conqueror
FATIMA: to wean a child or an animal, a dyer
FAYYAZ: munificent, bountiful, liberal, generous
FAZAL: confer benefit, kindness, favour, obliged, bestow, grant, award
FIDA: ransom, consecration, sacrifice
FIRDAUS: paradise
G
GITA: song of God
GHAFOOR: forgiver. AI-Ghafoor...an attribute of Allah
GHULAM: boy, youth, lad, slave, servant
GHUL-AFROZ: sunflower
GOKAL/GOKAR Village where Lord Krishna was born
GULBANU: lady of rose, rose-checked lady
GULNAR: scarlet, the flower of the pomegranate
GUL.SHAN: a rose garden
GULZAR: well-populated town
H
HABIB: favorite, friend, lover, dear one
HABIBAH: beloved, sweetheart
HADI: one who guides. Al-Hadi, an attribute of Allah
HAFIZ: keeper, protective, guardian, preserver, one who has memorized the whole Quran
HAFIZA: one with a good memory
HAKIM: philosopher, sage, physician, wise man
HALIM: mild, gentle, humane
HAUAM: mild, humane, humble
HANIF: true, believer, follower of religion
HASINA: comely, beautiful,
HASSAN: handsome, handsome
HATIM: generous, from a generous king called HATIMTAI
HIKMAT: wisdom, sagacity, rationale, philosophy
HUSSEIN: virtuous
I
IMTIYAZ: distinction, mark of honour, special right
INAYAT: favor, kindness, bounty, support, aid
IQBAL: drawing near, advance, approach, arrival, advent, response
IZZAT: honour, respect
J
JAMAL: most beautiful
JAMEEL: more and most beautiful
JAMI one who gathers, Al-Jami, an attribute of Allah
JAUHAR: jewel, gem, skill, merit, virtue
JAVID: eternal, everlasting
JEHAN: world, universe
JINA/JINNAH Lord Vishnu
JIVRAJ: Lord of life
JUMA: gathering, congregation, collecting, Friday
K
KABIR: great, large, opposite of Saghir
KAMAL: perfect, complete, and excellent
KARIM: generous, magnanimous. At-Karim, an attribute of Allah
KAUSAR: a stream of nectar in paradise
KHALIQ: creator, Al-Khaliq, an attribute
KHANOOM: wife of a Khan, a lady, a woman of rank
KHATOON: lady, matron
KULSUM: to kiss, strike or wound
L
LATIF: kindness, grace, singular of Altaf
LEILA: night
LUTFU- LLAH: grace of God
M
MAHABANU: moon-faced lady, beloved, beautiful
MAHBOOB: friend, beloved, sweetheart
MAHMUD: praiseworthy, recommendable qualities, virtues
MAIMUNA: made secure or safe
MAJID: honorable, the glorious, Ai-Majid, an attribute of Allah
MANSOOR: aided, supported (by God), victorious triumphant
MANZOOR: seen, visible, foreseen
MAQSOOD: intent, design, object, aim, view
MEHBOOBA: sweetheart, beloved
MEHDI: guide, one who is ted in the right way messiah
MEHRUN: kindness, favour affection, prosperity
MIRZA: son of a nobleman, title used by the Persians
MOHAMMED: praiseworthy
MUBARAK: blessed
MUBEEN: manifest, evident, dear
MUJIB: cause, reason, motive, one who accepts prayers, an epithet of God
MUKHTAR: chosen, selected, invested with authority autonomous
MUMTAZ: distinguished, exceptional, top-notch, superior, rare
MANAWAR: brilliant, illuminated, enlightened,
MUNAZAR: similar, like, equal, rival
MUNIR: luminous, radiant, brilliant, illuminative
MUNIRA: luminous, radiant
MURAD: desire, will, inclination, end, purport
MURTAZA: chosen, approved, one of the epithets of Hadhrat
MUSHTAQ: longing, yearning, craving
MUSTAPHA: the chosen one, an epithet of Prophet Mohammed
MUZAFFAR: victorious, successful, triumphant
N
NAAZ: blandishment, coquetry, whims
NABAT: vegetation, plant, grass, vegetable
NADIA: moist, damp, tender, delicate
NADIM: friend, intimate, confident
NADIR: rare, wonderful, uncommon, precious
NAFISA: pure, delicate, precious, refined,
NAHID: active, rising or getting up, energetic
NAIMA: pleasures, benefits
NAIMET: favour, blessings, gracious, delight, ease, comfort, delicacy
NAJMA: star, constellation
NAJMUDDIN: star of the religion
NARGIS: narcissus
NARMIN: softness, mildness, delicacy, fluency
NASEEM: breeze, gate, fragrant. Zephyr
NASEH: sincere, friend, sympathizer
NASHILA: inebriant, intoxicating
NASIR: friend, assistant, helper, defender, Ai-Nasir- an attribute of Allah
NASRIN: wild rose
NAUSHAD: to seek, took or search for, implore, adjure
NAVAZ: cherisher, musician
NAVROZ: New Years Day March 21st
NAZAHAT: exemption from anything bad, purity (Of life)
NAZIM: governor, poet, composer
NAZIR: example, inspector, supervisor, precedent
NAZIRA: eye, sight, vision, headmistress, matron
NAZMA: order, arrangement, institution, organization, verse, string of pearls, poetry
NAZNIN: a delicate woman, sweetheart
NIGAR: painting, picture, portrait, idol, belle
NILUFAR: lotus, water, lily
NISARA: helper, aider, assistant
NIYAZ: petition, prayer, an offering, a thing dedicate
NIZAM: order, custom, governor, string of pearls
NIZAR: lookers on, gift, an offering
NOORBAND: lady of light
NURJEHAN: light of the world
O
OMAR: to live long, longevous
P
PARVEEN: duster of stars, the Pleiades
Q
QADIR: powerful, al-Qadir... an attribute of Allah
QAMAR: UDDIN: the moon of religion
QASSIM: distributor...AI-Qassim, an attribute of Ai
QAYYUM: self-subsisting, ever-living, eternal Al-Qayyum, an attribute of Allah
QUTBUDDIN: pole/pivot of religion
R
RABIA: summer, spring harvest
RAFI: high-ranking, lofty, exquisite, subtle, artistic
RAFIQ: companion, escort, friend buddy
RAHEMAN: beneficent, merciful, forgiving, Al-Ri an attribute of Allah
RAHEMAT: divine, compassion, mercy, favour
RAHIM: merciful, compassionate, AI-Rahim., an attribute of Allah
RAJAB: 7th month of the Muslim calendar
RAJANI/RAJNI: of the night(born at night-dark skinned
RAMZAN: also Ramadhan, 9th month of the Muslim calendar, the month of fasting
RASHID: Follower of the right path, one who directs. At Rashid, an attribute of Allah
RAZIA: to be satisfied, be content, to consent, approve
REZA contentment, satisfaction, content, assent
RIAZ: practice, exercise, spiritual exercise, relaxation, meadow, garden
RIFAT: high ranking, elevation, height
RIZWAN: consent, assent, sanction, approve, delight angel at die gate of Paradise
ROSEMIN flower
RUKHNUDDIN: the face of religion
RUKHSANA: good-cheeked face
RUSTAM: brave man,one of the heros of Persia.
S
SABIR: patience
SADIQ: just, true, sincere, faithful
SADRUDDIN: leader, commander of religion
SAFINA: ship
SAGHIR: small, petty, tiny, opposite of Kabir
SAHIR: magician, conjurer
SADIQ: just, true, sincere, faithful
SADRUDDIN: leader, commander of religion
SAFINA: ship
SAGHIR: small, petty, tiny, opposite of Kabir
SAHIR: magician, conjurer
SAHRA: a sandy desert
SAIDA: happy, blissful
SAIFUDDIN: sword of religion
SAIFULLAH: sword of Allah
SAJJAD: one who bows, prostrates in pray
SAKAR: sugar, sweet
SALIM: safe, sound, perfect, whole, peace
SALIMA: peaceful, sound, serene
SALMA: safe, secure, peaceful
SHABNAM: dew, dewdrop
SHAFIQ: affectionate, kind
SHAHBANU: royal lady, wife of a shah
SHAHBAZ: a royal falcon
SHAHIN: falcon
SHAHZADA: prince
SHAHZADI: princess
SHAIDA: madly in love
SHAKEEL: handsome, comely, well formed
SHAMIL: comprising, including, blended (with) united (to), confederated
SHAMIM: to smell, sniff, snuff, to emanate
SHAMSHER: sword
SHAMSUDDIN: the sun of religion
SHAREEF: noblest, distinguished
SHAUKAT: dignity, magnificence, grandeur,
SHIKOH: grandeur, pomp, majesty
SHIRAZ: place where books are bound
SHIRIN: sweet, pleasant
SIRAJUDDIN: lamp, light of religion
SUHAIL: Canopus (astronomy)
SULTAN: king, emperor, monarch
SURAYA: light
T
TAHER: pure, chaste
TAJ: crown, plume, crest, cap
TAJDIN: crown of religion
TAUB: searcher, questor, wisher
TAMER: building, construction, structure
TANVEER: flowering, bloom, blossoming, enlightening, efflorescence
TAQI: pious, devout, righteous, virtuous
TARIQ: path, way, road, manner, observances
TASUM: salutations, homage, greeting, turning over, presentation
TAUFIQ: divine guidance, grace, resources
TAZIM: aggrandisement, exaltation, glorification
Y
YASMIN: Jasmin
Z
ZAFAR: to be triumphant, victorious
ZAHID: monk, recluse, devotee
ZAHIR: apparent, ascendant over all.AI-Zahirl attribute of Allah
ZAHRA: glare, glow, shine, radiant, light, brightness, an epithet of Bibi Fatiml
ZAHID: increasing, growing, excessive, extra, additional
ZAIN: beautiful, pretty, nice
ZAINAB: beauty, beautiful, nice, pretty
ZAITOON: olive, olive tree
ZAKI: acute, sharp, clever, ingenious
ZAKIR: a grateful person, one who praises God
ZAMAN: time, period, era, age, world
ZAMURAD: emerald
ZARIN: golden
ZEBA: becoming, befitting, proper, graceful
ZOHRA: the planet Venus
ZUBEIDA: butter, cream, essence, elite