DAIVA SINKEVIČIŪTĖ

Vilnius University

NEW LITHUANIAN-ORIGIN CHILDREN’S NAMES AND NAMING TRENDS, 2007–2010

KEYWORDS: name, name of Lithuanian origin, children’s names, two-stem personal name, shortened form, appellative name, prefixal name.

1. When naming children, some people choose well-known names, sometimes giving them personal names belonging to acquaintances or grandparents, while others try to make a name distinctive and as little-heard as possible, and therefore create names themselves, alter existing personal names, or seek them in the name repertoires of distant, exotic countries. Some names are adopted from countries where Lithuanian citizens have emigrated and now live. The expansion of the name repertoire with new personal names is a reality of the present day.

When looking for a name for a child or learning about the origins of names, linguists recommend reading the repeatedly reissued Dictionary of the Origins of Lithuanian Names, compiled by Kazimieras Kuzavinis and Bronys SavukynasLietuvių vardų kilmės žodyną (hereafter LVKŽ). Nevertheless, today the LVKŽ no longer meets the needs of the public: quite a few names in use and widely circulated (e.g., Smiltė, Nėdas, which appear among the twenty most popular names in recent years; see Sinkevičiūtė 2011) have not been included in it. That actual name usage differs markedly from the recommended repertoire was already noted more than ten years ago by Vitalija Maciejauskienė (1998: 41), writing about names given to children in Lithuania in 1991–1992. Although the author later maintained that the LVKŽ contains no names of little value from our name repertoire (Maciejauskienė 2004: 93), data from recent years show that the repertoire is being expanded with names that are suitable for use but often go undiscussed by linguists.

The fact that it is still not known precisely how naming fashions have changed or what new names have emerged in the Lithuanian name repertoire over the past century is probably due to the large volume of information and the problems of collecting and processing it in earlier decades. Perhaps this is why some names suitable for use were not included in the LVKŽ: the dictionary was compiled when its authors lacked precise data on the names of the population of all Lithuania. Another reason was the strict prescriptive approach of the time: in an effort to keep personal names that did not meet the concept of a correct name out of the LVKŽ, various variants were not expanded, and a-

214

KALBOS KULTŪRA | 84

number of names were not included in the dictionary (the widespread and criticized variant Dōvydas of the name Deividas may be considered the clearest example).

Publications about names show how slowly linguists’ attitudes toward new personal names change: names entering the repertoire are accepted gradually. For example, more than twenty years ago, the need for artificial two-stem names, which the LVKŽ proposed for use in 1987, was questioned (see Maciejauskienė 1989: 84–85); the name Gretà was criticized (Maciejauskienė 1993: 4), but later, probably because a large number of girls were given this name and of the LVKŽ authors’ position, it came to be considered suitable (Maciejauskienė 2004: 87). In the context of the time, such an assessment of names does not seem strange, since the conservative attitude to language that prevailed in earlier times helped protect it from an influx of Russianisms.

Nevertheless, even today, in some publications on the new name repertoire, language researchers criticize names that have foreign endings, e.g., -ita, -eta, etc., short two-syllable names of unclear foreign origin, and so on (see Klimavičius 2004: 20–22). It seems that attitudes toward such names should change: although some names are usually fortuitous, an increasing number of children have been given them for more than a decade, and this trend will presumably intensify under the influence of foreign names and cultures and of globalization as a whole. On the other hand, such names also show a certain inventiveness (or lack thereof) on the part of parents and a desire to give a child the most distinctive name possible. These names have regular endings, so unusual new names that the LVKŽ does not recommend for use should not be judged negatively. A closer look at these names makes it possible to explain their origin and structure and even to account for why and how they arose.

At present, Lithuania’s name repertoire faces greater problems than the growing number of foreign-origin names or personal names containing foreign formants. Over the past decade, more and more children have been given names that do not conform to the Lithuanian language system: names without endings (e.g., Gvide, Vivijan, Kelvin, Veid) or names written so as to preserve their “original” spelling (e.g., Linnea, Mariya, Malh, Mihael). In an effort to preserve surnames (e.g., those with the suffix -auskas), they are registered in official documents as given names; there are also increasing numbers of children with not two names (which, it seems, has already become customary), but three or more¹ (e.g., Jonas Algirdas Eduard); sometimes separate letters become components of multi-part names (e.g., Grant J), and so on. It is precisely these problems in naming culture that need to be addressed, and ways of preventing them considered, rather than merely criticizing and discussing names that at least conform to the language system, even if they look strange, and are only one or two let-

¹ It was noted that no names longer than five-part names had been given.

D. SINKEVIČIŪTĖ. Nauji 2007–2010 m. lietuviškos kilmės vaikų vardai ir jų davimo polinkiai

215

personal names given to children. It seems that at present names suitable for use should be considered those with endings customary in the language, written according to the rules of the Lithuanian language, and without negative connotations.

2. This article aims to discuss new names of Lithuanian origin given to citizens of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter, LR) born in Lithuania and abroad in 2007–2010. Combinations of multiple names (e.g., Godà Žavintà, Gójus Algìrdas) and unadapted names of foreign origin (e.g., Abbi, Anastassia, Djemel, Mian) were excluded from the analysis; names of foreign origin, including Christian origin, and their variants (e.g., Diomidis, Kornelà, Leonėlis, Tãdė) are set aside because of the large number of names, with the intention of addressing them later.

The subject of the article is new names of Lithuanian origin that had not been given to any LR citizens before 2007. The data were obtained from the Residents’ Register Service under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter, the Register), through the mediation of the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language. They were processed using statistics on individual names programmed by UAB “NTSG”.

The names of all LR citizens, not only those of Lithuanians, are examined for two reasons. According to Register data, many families do not indicate their children’s ethnicity when registering them, and this tendency has been evident for almost two decades. There are also cases in which a name of Lithuanian origin is given to a Pole, a Russian, or someone of another ethnicity. For this reason, the study also excluded names given only to children of Lithuanian ethnicity, since ethnicity is not the main criterion when giving a child a name of Lithuanian origin.

Thus, the aim of the article is to establish which names of Lithuanian origin, not previously used, are expanding our name stock. To achieve this aim, the study sought to: 1) discuss the classification of names provided in LVKŽ and its relevance to describing new names; 2) present which groups of names of Lithuanian origin predominate in the new name stock and reveal the characteristics of the names in each group discussed; 3) catalogue names of Lithuanian origin that are not written according to the rules of the Lithuanian language and highlight the problems surrounding their emergence.

3. New names of Lithuanian origin, not previously used for LR citizens, are not popular. In 2007–2010, they were generally given to one child each, sometimes to two, and rarely to three or more. New names of Lithuanian origin are more common for girls than for boys.

When discussing personal names, the term name of Lithuanian origin is used somewhat loosely, since many of the names mentioned below are derived from the Lithuanian

216

KALBOS KULTŪRA | 84

language lexicon, which consists of words of both native and foreign origin. The names discussed here include those whose one stem is of native origin and whose other stem derives from a borrowed name or appellative, since attention is paid to how they came into being and the names are considered creative formations. Names of Lithuanian origin also include personal names whose stems can be linked not only with Lithuanian but also with Prussian vocabulary, with their shared Baltic origin being taken into account².

4. Lithuanian names have conventionally been divided into four groups according to LVKŽ 14–33: old Lithuanian (Baltic) names, calendar baptismal names, new Lithuanian names, and new borrowed names. This classification seems suitable for describing the continuous development of the name stock. It can be used only in part when studying new names, since the name stock is expanded little by names—whether old or new Lithuanian names recommended in LVKŽ—that have not yet been given to children. On the other hand, LVKŽ does not include all old Lithuanian names, because sources also contain previously unmentioned two-stem personal names and their shortened forms. Nevertheless, such names are rarely given to children, since the present-day name stock is expanded mainly by names created by language users. To reveal the novelty of the name stock, the distinction drawn in LVKŽ between old and new Lithuanian names seems irrelevant here, since it is more important to distinguish names already proposed for use by the authors of LVKŽ from newly created ones.

To highlight this distinction, the article further divides names of Lithuanian origin into smaller groups according to their origin and formation: two-stem personal names, appellative names, place names used as personal names, and shortened forms. This division of names does not correspond to LVKŽ, because it does not distinguish ethnonymic names, which are assigned to the larger group of appellative names on the basis of their source (an ethnonym, which is an appellative).

Mythological or literary names are likewise not divided into separate groups, as they are in LVKŽ. They differ from other personal names in that, when language users choose such a name, certain qualities possessed by a mythological being, a character in a literary work or film, or a cultural figure are more likely to matter than the name’s origin, which is evident from its base. Nevertheless, like other names, these have bases (most often derived from appellatives, and less often from two-stem personal names, place names used as personal names, or shortened forms), on the basis of which they are assigned here to the four aforementioned groups of origin. It seems that this is a more precise way to classify them,

² It is believed that children born in 2007–2010 were not given names of Latvian origin that had not yet been recorded in the name stock.

D. SINKEVIČIŪTĖ. Nauji 2007–2010 m. lietuviškos kilmės vaikų vardai ir jų davimo polinkiai 217

since one basis for assignment is retained, while the distinctiveness of the names becomes apparent when it is additionally noted that they are also literary and mythological names.

Abbreviations are also presented more broadly than in LVKŽ: this group included short names derived not only from two-stem personal names (as in LVKŽ), but also from names of other origins. Although LVKŽ classifies abbreviations only within the group of old Lithuanian names (they are not even mentioned among new Lithuanian names), actual name-selection tendencies show that children are given shortened names derived from names of other origins as well.

Derivatives formed with endings and suffixes are not assigned to separate groups either. Since these names share the same base as personal names without formants, they are discussed under the aforementioned name groups.

5. A review of the most recent children's names shows that in 2007–2010 the name inventory was updated mainly with two-stem names.

5.1. Among the two-stem names recorded in the name inventory but not previously given to children, some are suggested by LVKŽ: Arvaidà, Aūgmilė, Aušoydė, Dróvydė, Eīgmantė, Gaṅtautė, Jógundė, Kiñtvilė, Kóvilte, Mañvydė, Miñvilė, Širmantė, Vīsmilė, Žadminà; Aĺkantas, Geīsvydas, Miĺgeidas, Miṅgailas, Nórmilas, Nórmintas, Taũtgintas, Vīntaras³. It may therefore be assumed that LVKŽ is also consulted when naming a child. Children are also given two-stem names with endings other than those provided by LVKŽ: Žygimantà; Arvīlis, Deīmilius, Eīnorius. This shows that the name inventory is being expanded not only with suggested or new two-stem names ending in -as, -ė and -a (these are the two-stem name variants most commonly indicated by LVKŽ)⁴, but also with -is, -ius.

5.2. Another group of new names is formed from the stems of two-stem personal names, including ones found in LVKŽ; cf.: Aimantà⁵, Aimedà, Aivaldà, Aivinà, Argirà, Arimeda, Augundà, Bergáilė, Dóvinė, Mintvidà, Nármantė, Ràdmilė, Váidmilė, Vaigandė, Vaīmante, Vilgūstė; Aũštaras, Aŕvinas, Dárminas, Dárvinas,

³ Girls' and boys' names are discussed together: girls' names are listed first, followed by boys' names after the semicolon.

⁴ It is common for LVKŽ to recommend using only two-stem female names ending in -ė, but not -a (e.g., Mílgyde, although Míl gydas); it also happens that only a male name is given (e.g., Miñjotas).

⁵ Here and below, the new names of Lithuanian origin are accented according to the general stress patterns of Lithuanian names. When a name can be stressed in two ways (e.g., Aimantà 3b and Aimanta 1, following the pattern Eikintà 3b and Eīkinta 1), the first stress variant of the name is given.

218

KALBOS KULTŪRA | 84

Deიმiras, Eიგvirdas, Eიტmantas, Geიდydas, Gėl vinas, Riŋgardas, Sárm antas, Výgardas⁶. Thus, it can be seen that new names are formed by selecting stems of various structures (more often ternary, but also quaternary and binary), and in creating a new personal name one of the three customary endings of two-stem names may be adopted. Comparing these names with those mentioned in subsection 5.1, it is clear that new names are first formed with customary name endings, and only later with others—-is, -ius.

5.3. The children's name corpus shows that the creation of two-stem names is an ongoing process. In forming new names, a new stem is often added to a familiar second stem of a two-stem name, derived either from a shortened form of a name of Christian origin: Jūstautė (cf. Jūstė), Zig mintà (cf. Zigmas); Égv- vidas (cf. Égis), Elimantas (cf. Élis), Mãtautas (cf. Mãtas), or from an appellative: Gražbilė (cf. gražūs), Jaušmilė, Jausminà (cf. jaušti), Jusminà (cf. jūsti), Rãsviltė (cf. rasà; or rãsti); Lokimantas (cf. lokỹs⁷.

There are cases where the second stem of a two-stem name is unrelated to either a name of Lithuanian origin or one of Christian origin, but instead has newly arisen from a name of foreign origin: Eitlandas (with -land- – Jolánda, Rolándas), Jormándas (<Jōris with the ending -mandas, cf. Armándas), Mìngridas (with -grid- – Ingridà, Sigrìdas⁸. V. Maciejauskienė (1998: 39–40) calls new two-stem names of this type formations by hybrid derivation and maintains that their creation should not be endorsed. Nevertheless, this view seems somewhat dated today.

All the aforementioned two-stem names, which contain new stems of native and foreign origin, appear alike because they were created in the same way: one stem of a two-stem name has been replaced by a new stem. Moreover, the new stems in all the two-stem names created are derived from personal names or appellatives of various origins that are familiar and common in usage.

This method of creating two-stem names, discussed above, is customary among Lithuanians: it is evident in new two-stem personal names that appeared after the introduction of Christianity. In these names, more often the first stem, and less often the second, has been re-

⁶To save space, the LVKŽ names containing these stems are not listed alongside these names; it is hoped that interested readers will consult the dictionary themselves.

⁷ In some cases, the sound sequence occurring in the first-stem position is difficult to explain; cf. Lãviltė. Perhaps names beginning with the syllable la- influenced it; cf. Lãvija (?).

⁸ It cannot be ruled out that the stem grid- may be a distortion, made during registration, of the familiar two-stem name stem gird-. Nevertheless, it is not considered such a stem, since our name corpus contains more names with the second element grid-; cf. Aĩgridas, Mañgridas, etc.

D. SINKEVIČIŪTĖ. Nauji 2007–2010 m. lietuviškos kilmės vaikų vardai ir jų davimo polinkiai

219

…positions were taken by shortened Christian names, which replaced the earlier Lithuanian-origin stems (see Zinkevičius 2008: 284–286). Thus, the neologisms presented here show that compound names continue to be created in the same ways as in earlier centuries, and their constituent elements are names of various origins that are widely used. Therefore, it seems that these names should not be evaluated negatively, since they reveal both the continuity of the creation of new two-stem names and the possibilities for renewing the name stock.

5.4. Yet another source of new names is two-stem surnames. The names Asminà may be associated with them (cf., for example, Asmināvičius, where asmin- derives from *ais-min-, LPŽ I 128), Èsmantė (cf., for example, Esmantas, LPŽ I 583), Jagminà (cf., for example, Jāgminas, LPŽ I 783); Doļmantas (cf., for example, Doļmantas, LPŽ I 511), Reĩvidas (cf., for example, Reĩvidis, LPŽ II 593), Skãivydas (cf., for example, Skãivydas, LPŽ II 728). Antanas Salys (1983: 267) had already written that two-stem surnames, especially those that are little known, can serve as given names. These names most likely also show that surnames are used when naming children in order to preserve a family personal name, and that rare surnames thus become given names.

It may be surmised that this type of two-stem Lithuanian surname influenced two-stem personal names whose stems are more typical of surnames derived from dialectal or, owing to spelling changes, altered forms of personal names, for example: Aĩtvidė (cf. Eĩtuvydė), Demilė (cf. Deĩmilė), Diãmontė (cf. Dómantė)⁹, Ermantà (cf. Arimantà), Ẽrtautė (cf. Ãrtautė), Gilmenà (cf. Gilminà); Damìlis (cf. Dómilas), Dėminas (cf. Deĩminas), Raĩgerdas (cf. Raĩgardas). In this context, when evaluating name stems, it appears that variant forms give the name stock a dialectal hue. Thus, problems arise concerning the authenticity of the stems: since some stems have been altered or distorted in the spelling of surnames, one can see how stems other than those ordinarily recommended in the LVKŽ are spreading through the Lithuanian name stock. This raises the question of whether names containing such stems are acceptable. V. Maciejauskienė (1998: 38) calls them distorted names or names written with errors.

Nevertheless, it seems that those name stems that occur in several different two-stem surnames could be recommended and used in given names, but comments on such names should indicate that the stem is not authentic. Likewise, those stems that have already spread in Lithuanian names (thus …

⁹ It is possible that the name originated from English diamond, Italian diamanti, or words in other languages meaning ‘diamond’.

220

KALBOS KULTŪRA | 84

…are also suitable for use, including the stem vid-¹⁰, whose use may also have been encouraged by two-stem names with the first stem vid-, cf. Vìdmantas). It might be assumed that the frequency and use of stems in names indicate which stems regarded as dialectal or distorted are suitable for forming new names, and which stems are accidental and should be avoided.

5.5. The stems of new two-stem names are highly diverse, making it difficult to determine which stems predominate. The second stem mant- appears to be somewhat more frequent in girls’ two-stem names. It is assumed that names with this stem are formed because of the popularity of the shortened two-stem name Mańtas (this name was especially popular among boys’ names in 1984–1999, when more than 600 boys were given it each year). The more frequent use of the stem mant- in forming girls’ two-stem names may be explained by the effect of a “compensatory mechanism,” since the name Mańtė is rare among girls’ names. In addition, the first stem ai- has a relatively high frequency in the creation of new girls’ names (in contrast to names in the LVKŽ, where only one name with ai- – Aigùstė is listed).

5.6. Two-stem personal names are also extended with suffixes¹¹, cf. Armintėja, Ervilėja, Mantvilija. Such names are rare, most likely because the unsuffixed names themselves are rather long—three syllables—and there is currently a stronger tendency to give children short names (see further Sinkevičiūtė 2011: 3–9).

6. Other names that expand the name stock are appellative names.

6.1. Children are also given names proposed in the LVKŽ that have never been used, cf. Ąžuolė, Garšė, as well as variants of the endings of appellative names listed there, cf. Drāvis, Kērnis. These names also support the idea that the LVKŽ is used creatively when choosing a name.

6.2. Children are also given coined names, often based on an unsuffixed appellative related to nature: a plant, for example: Brūknė (cf. brūknė), Lūg-

¹⁰ At present, the Lithuanian name stock as a whole contains more than 40 two-stem names whose second stem is vid-, cf.: Aividas, -ė, Algìvidas, Aļgvidas, -a, Aļvidas, -a, -ė, Arūvidas, -a, -ė, Aūgvidas, Aušvidas, Dárvidas, Daūgvidas, Eīdvīdas, -a, Eīgvīdas, Eīsvidas, Eītvīdas, -ė, Eīvidas, -a, Gaūdvīdas, Gėdvīdas, -a, Geīvidas, Geṙvidas, Gilvidà, Gìntvidas, Gìrvidas, Gražvidas, -a, -ė, Grìnvidas, Iṙvidas, Jóvidas, -a, -ė, Laīsvidas, -a, Lìnvidas, -a, Mańtvidas, Mańvidas, -a, Mìlvidas, -a, Mìntvida, Mìnvidas, Nárvidas, Neīvidas, -ė, Nórvidas, -a, Ràdvidas, -a, Rìmvidas, -a, Rìnvidas, -a, Taūvidas, -a, Tólvidas, Vaidà, Viltvidas, Vīlvidė, Vìsvidas, Žãdvidas, Žeividà, as well as more than 100 two-part names, one component of which is a two-stem personal name with the second stem vid-.

¹¹ See below for more on this.

D. SINKEVIČIŪTĖ. Nauji 2007–2010 m. lietuviškos kilmės vaikų vardai ir jų davimo polinkiai

221

nė (cf. lūgnė “a plant of the water-lily family”), Smilga, Smilgė (cf. smilga “fescue”); a bird, e.g. Volungė (cf. volungė “oriole”); a natural object or phenomenon, e.g. Kaitrą (cf. kaitra “heat”), Pūsné (cf. pusnìs “snowdrift”), Žemė (cf. žėmė “earth”), Šerkšnas (cf. šerkšnas “hoarfrost”). There are also names associated with sensations and appellatives denoting qualities, e.g.: Gėlà (cf. gėlà “severe pain”)¹², Jaustė (cf. jausti “to feel”); Mañdrius (cf. mandras “clever”), Ōrius (cf. orùs “airy”). The names Gruodà, Grúodė most likely arose from the name of the month (cf. grúodis, though also grúodas). Among boys’ names, Dijõkas (cf. dijõkas “scribe”) and Jaunėlis (cf. jaunėlis “youngster”) are also worth mentioning; their base words relate to occupation and social status.

V. Maciejauskienė (1998: 36) has also written that the common vocabulary of the native language should be a source for creating new names, and this view of appellative names can only be endorsed. The name Dijõkas, derived from the borrowing dijõkas “scribe,” merits comment here. It should not be used, primarily because of its meaning: occupational terms turned into names seem somewhat odd in our name stock, although this tendency is already found in foreign name stocks. One can only hope that Jaunėlis will remain a one-off name, given to a boy most likely after a character in the television series “The Sopranos,” since the diminutive suffix and the meaning of the stem may seem rather odd once the child grows up.

Names derived from international words are also found: Alegrà (cf. allegro), Dakotà (cf. South Dakota, a US state), Safyrà (cf. safyras “sapphire”), but such names are few.

6.3. Lithuania also has names of appellative origin with suffixes. Some were selected from LVKŽ, e.g. Dangilė (<Dãngė), while others, e.g. Jõringas (<Jõris), also arose through use of the dictionary, but by changing the ending of the name. These names are few because only a small number of names of this origin in LVKŽ remain that have not been given to children.

6.4. Other suffixed names of appellative origin have been created. The base of many is a non-suffixed name with the same stem, the most common of which is Ùgnė; cf. the names derived from it: Ugnėja, Ugnėtė, Ugmilė, Ugnit๳. The fact that many suffixed derivatives are formed from the name Ùgnė can be explained by its frequency in the Lithuanian name stock, particularly since 2002.

The bases of other suffixed names are usually well-known names or names that have become popular in recent years: Aidestà (<Áida), Aistilė (<Áistė), Audrità (<Áudra),

¹² It is possible that this name is derived from the appellative gėlė “flower.”

¹³ The name Ugmilė is thought possibly to have been formed by blending Ùgnė and Emilė.

222

KALBOS KULTŪRA | 84

Gintaritā (<Gintārė), Jūrūnė (<Jūra), Smiltėja (<Smiltė), Upėja (<Ūpė); Aistėjūs (<Áistis, Áistė), Aūdri jus (<Aūdrius), Taūrinas (<Taūras). Deir ointà (<Deiōe), Gerūnė (<Gerà), Snaigità (<Snaigė); Gērintas (<Gērius) Other similar names can be derived from rare non-suffixal names listed in the Register: Deirointà (<Deiōe), Gerūnė (<Gerà), Snaigità (<Snaigė); Gērintas (<Gērius) or from Lithuanian appellatives: Selija (< sélis)¹⁴.

The name suffixes show considerable variety. This is probably because there are more suffixal girls’ names, and their suffixes are more varied; the most frequent are -ita (4x), -ėja (3x), -ilė (3x), -ūnė (2x). Suffixes common to new appellative-derived suffixal names for both boys and girls are -ėj- and -ij-.

In discussing the suffixes, both native and foreign, of this group and of the aforementioned two-stem names, it is interesting to note that they are attested in our own name stock. A review of the suffixes used to form Lithuanian hydronyms (see Vanagas 1970: 70–215) shows that all the suffixes of the names mentioned above occur in hydronyms. This seems to be an argument against negatively evaluating new suffixal names derived from appellatives, formed on the model of foreign personal names and having suffixes of foreign origin, since the derivational formant is attested in our name stock¹⁵.

The suffixal names presented share a common feature: these personal names are created from names or appellatives familiar to language users. Therefore, such names can be viewed as creative products formed according to existing name patterns, from clear bases and with known formants, which are also attested in hydronymy.

7. The new name stock also contains names derived from place names—Preila, Ventė—which are not mentioned in LVKŽ (only Ventà is listed). The name Beržūna may perhaps also be linked to the Lithuanian hydronym Beržūnà, and Gilūžė to the lake name Gilūžis – Gilūžė. Such new place-name-derived names are rare.

8. The lists of the twenty most popular names in recent years show that two-syllable names are becoming increasingly common, while diminutives are gaining popularity in the name stock, especially among girls (Sinkevičiūtė 2011: 3–9).

¹⁴ The base of appellative-derived names with suffixes can also be linked directly to the appellative from which the aforementioned non-suffixal names arose.

¹⁵ An argument for evaluating suffixal names of this kind was put forward and supported as early as 2009 by the VLKK Name Stock Subcommission, during a discussion of the suitability of Baltic-origin names for use.

D. SINKEVIČIŪTĖ. Nauji 2007–2010 m. lietuviškos kilmės vaikų vardai ir jų davimo polinkiai

223

8.1. Currently, among new short names of Lithuanian origin, shortened forms of two-stem names predominate. The name stock is being updated with shortened forms recommended for use by the LVKŽ: Džiugė, Gaudė; Mìntas (these are headwords in the LVKŽ). Shortened forms of two-stem personal names that the LVKŽ lists under specific names are also becoming official names: Ārtė (cf. Ārtautė), Gertė (cf. Gērtarė); Mañtrius (cf. Mañtrimas), Taučius (cf. Tauvilas). These names show that an increasing number of shortened forms are acquiring the status of official names; therefore, their use should not be avoided, since both their basis and the way they are formed are clear. Among new short names from other origin groups, only the shortened form Gabijà Gābė is worth mentioning; the LVKŽ lists it under this name.

8.2. Although the LVKŽ lists shortened forms with various endings, the name stock is also being expanded by choosing other endings for the shortened forms of two-stem names it recommends; for example: Tarà (cf. Tārė < Tārvilė), Tilà (cf. Tīlė < Tīlmantė); Gìris (cf. Gìras < Gìrmantas), Gìrstis (cf. Gìrstỹs < Gìrstautas), Jóvis (cf. Jóvas < Jóvydas), Mañtis (cf. Mañtas < Mañtautas), Nóris (cf. Norỹs < Nórmantas), Rādvis (cf. Rādvas, Radvỹs < Rādvilas), Žỹgis (cf. Žỹgas < Žỹgaudas). This shows that various forms of short names are currently spreading: masculine names with the endings -as, -is, -ys and -us, and feminine names with -a and -ė. Therefore, when recommending the use of various shortened forms, all their possible variants should be recommended.

8.3. Shortened forms of two-stem personal names not recommended by the LVKŽ are also emerging, for example: Aĩsmė (cf. Aĩsmantė), Kuñtė (cf. surname Kuñtautas), Mìndė (cf. Mìndaugė); Aĩsis (cf. surname Aĩsmantas). In view of changes in the Lithuanian name stock, it may be surmised that such names will become more numerous.

8.4. Children are given suffixed shortened forms derived from two-stem names—these are suffixed names recommended by the LVKŽ, for example: Gedėnė, Gytėnė, Vilintė; Sinotas. The name stock is also expanded by changing the ending of a suffixed name recommended by the LVKŽ, for example, Eidenà (alongside Eidėnė).

8.5. Other shortened forms derived from two-stem names are further expanded with suffixes: Aisėja (Aĩšė < Aĩsmantė), Aurūnė (Aūrė < Aūrìme), Eidėja (Eĩdė < Eĩdmantė), Gederà (Gėdė < Gėdmantė), Gintėja (Gìntė < Gìntautė), Medinà, Medūnė (Mėdė < Mėdvilė), Milavà (Milė < Milgedà), Minedà¹⁶, Minelà, Minėja (Minė < Mìndaugė), Radilė (Rādė < Radvydà), Vilántė (Vilė < Vilgáilė); Ārvijus (Ārvis < Ārvydas), Dārintas (Dārius < Dārtautas), Mìntijus (Mìntas < Mìntautas), Tarūnas (Tarỹs < Tarūvydas), Váidingas (Váidas <

¹⁶ This name most likely arose from the pseudonym Minėdas of a pop music performer, whose real name is Mìndaugas.

224

KALBOS KULTŪRA | 84

Váidminas), Viltėjus (Viltỹs < Vìltautas), Žygitas (Žýgas < Žygimantas)¹⁷. The suffixes of these names, like those of names derived from common nouns, are also attested in Lithuanian hydronyms. This is precisely why such names can be considered acceptable for our name stock and suitable for use (see above on this point).

It should be added that when forming new suffixed shortened forms, suffixes that recur less often than in names derived from common nouns are attached to their stems. Among these, -ėj- and -ūn- are characteristic of both boys’ and girls’ names, while the suffix -ėja is somewhat more frequent in girls’ names and -ijus in boys’ names.

9. A review of new children’s names from 2007–2010 shows that citizens of the LR also receive names that do not conform to the norms of the Lithuanian language. There are not many such names as distinct items, but some are recorded several times¹⁸; for example: Vilte (5), Rugile (3). Their frequency is directly related to the frequency of all children’s names in a given year: names belonging to the ten most frequent are the ones unusually spelled several times.

Some names are written with errors: they lack ogonek letters, cf.: Drasità, Kęstminà; Ážuolas. It has been observed that children given such names are usually of Lithuanian ethnicity and born in Lithuania. Another group of names belonging to LR citizens is written with the letters e, u, z instead of the ė, ū, ž customary for Lithuanians; for example: Aistė, Armantė, Deimantė, Eimantė, Gytė, Gustė, Jorunė, Ovilė, Rimantė, Rugilė, Smiltė, Viltė, Žavinta; Dziugas. Such names are fairly common: they are given to children born abroad (especially in Ireland, as well as in the United Kingdom and the USA) to parents who are LR citizens and, in most cases, of Lithuanian ethnicity.

Differently again, for example: Deymantas, Ioris, names in which the structure of the individual syllables is not customary in Lithuanian, have been given to children born in Lithuania (although their ethnicity is not specified). A third group of names of Lithuanian origin, for example: Deinor, Eivid, Eiman, are personal names of children born in Lithuania, but one may assume that the names without endings were given to children of other ethnicities, since their ethnicity is not specified, except in one case (a Pole). It also happens that LR citizens born abroad are registered with new names without endings, for example: Bart, Berkant, Ned, of which only one is indicated—

¹⁷ Although these names with suffixes are derived from shortened forms of two-stem names, in some cases the possibility of another origin cannot be ruled out (for example, Aurūnė may be regarded as arising not only from the shortened form of a two-stem name, Aūrė < Aūrime, but also from the name of Christian origin Áura < Aurėja, Aurėlija).

¹⁸ There are now considerably more names that do not conform to the system of our language, are misspelled, and so on; only those that emerged in 2007–2010 and had not previously been recorded are discussed here.

D. SINKEVIČIŪTĖ. Nauji 2007–2010 m. lietuviškos kilmės vaikų vardai ir jų davimo polinkiai

225

nationality was stated as Lithuanian. There are also names with unusual syllables given to children born abroad, e.g.: Gitte, Yoris, Lūkass, of which only Yoris is Lithuanian.

The problem with these names is their official status: families living abroad who want to give their children names register them according to the alphabet used there, and upon arriving in Lithuania the names are not changed to Lithuanian orthography. That is why such names are found in the name register.

CONCLUSIONS

An examination of new personal names of Lithuanian origin from 2007–2010 reveals several tendencies in the selection and use of children’s names.

The name register is updated using both names included in LVKŽ and new names that have not previously been proposed for use. It seems that the pool of names proposed for use in LVKŽ has already been exhausted; personal names from the dictionary make up a minority in the new register. Therefore, when assessing new names in the context of the name classification presented in LVKŽ, it is apparent that the classification given in the dictionary (old and new Lithuanian names) is suitable for describing the development of names. In discussing new names, it is more relevant to highlight their novelty and the fact that they have been coined.

The classification of new Lithuanian names distinguished in LVKŽ should be improved, since it does not reveal a common basis for classification. Some names (ethnonymic, mythological, literary) can usually be assigned, according to the origin of their base word, to the category of appellative names, as well as to compound names or other categories; supplementary information should be provided to indicate that a name is mythological, literary, or the like. In addition, based on their formation, it is proposed to distinguish a group of shortened names, which would include not only shortened compound names but also shortened forms from other name groups.

By origin, the new name register most often contains names from three groups: compound personal names, appellative names, and shortened compound personal names; the personal names in the last two groups are often expanded with suffixes. Other types of names are rare; an occasional place-name-derived name occurs.

Compound personal names are formed not only from stems in common use; an increasing number of new personal names are appearing, one of whose stems is an appellative or a name of native or foreign origin. This method of name creation, in which a commonly used name stem is replaced by another, especially in the position of the first stem,

226

KALBOS KULTŪRA | 84

This is not new: such tendencies in the formation of two-stem names have been evident since the beginning of Christianity in Lithuania. Nowadays, foreign-origin polysyllabic names are also being reshaped in this way, with their beginnings replaced mainly by Lithuanian stems.

It is becoming clear which familiar stems are used to form names: in girls’ names, the stem mant- occurs somewhat more often in the second-stem position, while among the first stems, the increasingly popular stem ai- stands out; one name featuring it, Aigùstė, is also listed in the LVKŽ.

Names derived from common nouns are formed in two ways: the bases of names without suffixes are lexical items, most often associated with nature, whereas the bases of names with suffixes are names formed from the same stem. The suffixes used in names are varied and are attested not only in foreign names but also in Lithuanian hydronyms. Therefore, names formed from common nouns that contain suffixes are suitable for use and should be regarded as products of human creativity.

The abundance of names derived from short forms indicates their expansion in our name stock and testifies to a tendency to give children short names. The short forms without suffixes show that short forms ending in -as, -is, -ys and -ius, as well as -a and -ė, are being created. Short forms are also expanded with suffixes, which are more varied than those added to names derived from common nouns.

Names of children of citizens of the Republic of Lithuania that are written contrary to the rules of Lithuanian are appearing both in Lithuania and abroad. It seems that there are not many new, as yet unrecorded names written with errors in Lithuania: most often, one or two names appear without a diacritic, a long vowel, or an ending. Children born abroad are given Lithuanian names, but when written using the characters of other languages, those names do not meet the criteria for Lithuanian names.

LITERATŪRA

K l i m a v i č i u s J. 2004: Tarptautiniai žodžiai lietuviškoje reklamoje. – Reklamos kalba, Vilnius: LKI, 14–32.

LPŽ 1985, 1989: Lietuvių pavardžių žodynas 1, 2. Ats. red. Aleksandras Vanagas, Vilnius: Mokslas.

LVKŽ 2007: Kuzavinis K., Savukynas B. Lietuvių vardų kilmės žodynas, Vilnius: MELI.

M a c i e j a u s k i e n ė V. 1989: Ne visi vardai puošia vardyną. – Kalbos kultūra 57, 62–86.

M a c i e j a u s k i e n ė V. 1993: Apie mūsų vardų vartoseną. – Gimtoji kalba 9, 3–6.

D. SINKEVIČIŪTĖ. Nauji 2007–2010 m. lietuviškos kilmės vaikų vardai ir jų davimo polinkiai

227

Maciejauskienė V. 1998: Lietuvių vardyno raidos polinkiai. – Kalbos kultūra 71, 33–42.

Maciejauskienė V. 2004: Dar kartą apie lietuvių vardus. – Kalbos kultūra 77, 84–95.

Salys A. 1983: Mūsų lietuviškieji vardai. – Raštai 2. Tikriniai vardai, Roma: Lietuvių katalikų mokslo akademija, 267–284.

Sinkevičiūtė D. 2011: Žvilgsnis į populiariausius pastarųjų penkerių metų vardus. – Gimtoji kalba 10, 3–9.

Vanagas A. 1970: Lietuvos TSR hidronimų daryba, Vilnius: Mintis.

Zinkevičius Z. 2008: Lietuvių asmenvardžiai, Vilnius: Lietuvių kalbos institutas.

Gauta 2011 10 21

Redakcinės kolegijos prierašas

Straipsnio autorė pateikia naują požiūrį į pastarojo meto lietuviškojo vardyno polinkius, tačiau vardų santykį su lietuvių kalbos normomis vertina kitaip nei kiti vardyno tyrėjai. Autorės teiginiai dėl dalies naujųjų vardų normiškumo, redakcinės kolegijos nuomone, yra diskutuotini.

NEW PERSONAL NAMES OF LITHUANIAN ORIGIN IN 2007–2010 AND TENDENCIES OF GIVING THEM TO NEW-BORN BABIES

Summary

The paper discusses names of Lithuanian origin, which were hardly ever given to babies some time ago but appeared in the Republic of Lithuania in 2007–2010. The paper aims at identifying names which contribute to the expansion of the Lithuanian onomastics. The key factor in the discussion is the novelty of the name; a distinction is drawn between the names suggested by the authors of the Lietuvių vardų kilmės žodynas (Dictionary of Origin of Lithuanian Names) and newly coined names, which are divided according to origin to two-stem compound, appellative, locative and truncated names.

Many new names emerged as a result of human creativity; most names listed in the Dictionary had already been given to new-born babies. In the names given between 2007 and 2010, most names are two-stem compound, appellative names and truncated two-stem names; of them, appellative names and truncated names are often expanded by suffixation. These types of names are characterised by the following features:

228

KALBOS KULTŪRA | 84

1. Two-stem compound names are coined on the basis of usual stems; however, there are cases when one of the stems is appellative, of appellative or foreign origin. Such tendency in coining new compound names is not new; it was observed in old two-stem compound names as well. The same principle applies when new borrowed names are recreated. According to the frequency of stems, in female names the second stem mant- and the first stem ai- clearly stand out.

2. Appellative names are coined in two ways: the base of unsuffixed names is usually expressed by the lexis referring to nature; the base of suffixed names is expressed by appellative names with the same stem. Suffixed appellative names, like suffixed truncated names, are built with the help of suffixes, which are of foreign origin in the new names as well as in Lithuanian hydronyms. Such names are considered acceptable.

3. The abundance of names originating from truncated names attests to a general tendency towards shortening. Such names demonstrate that newly coined truncated names and those suggested in the Dictionary have the inflections -as, -is and -ius; -a and -ė. Thus new truncated names are made on the basis of all possible variants.

KEY WORDS: name, a name of Lithuanian origin, children’s names, two-stem personal name, truncated name, appellative name, suffixal name.

DAIVA SINKEVIČIŪTĖ Vilniaus universiteto Baltistikos katedra Universiteto g. 5, LT-01513 Vilnius [email protected]

D. SINKEVIČIŪTĖ. Nauji 2007–2010 m. lietuviškos kilmės vaikų vardai ir jų davimo polinkiai

229