Traditional practice of naming of people based on plants amongst the Meitei community of Manipur, North East India

Abstract

Naming of a person may be based on numerous factors. The Meitei community of Manipur has a tradition of naming people based on plants. In a survey conducted amongst the Meitei community of Manipur state has revealed that 85 people names are based on 56 plant species, 9 species each are herbs and trees, 7 species for shrub, 6 species each for aquatic herb and undershrub, 3 species each for climbers, epiphytes, rhizomatous herbs and woody climbers, 2 species each for bulbous herb and scandent shrub and single species each for creeper, stoloniferous herb and twinning herb. Out of the 85 names, around 70% are called in female, 28% in male while only 2% are called in both male and female. Based on RFC values, around 25% of the total names are frequently used, 28% commonly used and 47% are occasionally used. The name Thambal is generally called in both male and female which is adopted from vernacular name of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. and similarly, Parijat is also called in both male and female, adopted from the vernacular name of Combretum indicum (L.) Filipps.