Moksha name

Moksha names are the personal names among people of Moksha language and culture generally consist of a given name, a patronymic, and a family name.

The study of ancient Moksha personal names is a branch of onomastics, the study of names, and more specifically of anthroponomastics, the study of names of persons. There are hundreds of Moksha names on record, making them an important resource for any general study of naming, as well as for the study of Moksha culture itself. The names are found in place names analyzed by experts and evaluated by archaeological findings, epic tales, clan names and modern family names. This article will concentrate on Moksha naming from the 2–5th centuries AD, when the evidence begins, to the end of the 19th century AD.

Ancient history
Ancient Mokshas generally had a single name, often qualified with a patronymic, a clan or tribe, or a place of origin. Married women were identified by the name of their husbands, not their fathers.

Hereditary family names or surnames began to be used by elites in the Khazar, Bolgharian or Muscovy service. Well into the 9th century, they were rare. But by the 11th and 12th centuries, elite families often used family names.

During the Russian period, surnames with Russian suffixes such as "-ov", "-yev","-(k)in", "-(o)vich" became common, first among Tambov, Tula, Penza and Siberian Mokshas. It is not clear when stable family surnames became widely used. Though elite families often had stable family names, many of the "last names" used by Mokshas into the 19th century were either patronymics or nicknames. It is also possible that family names were simply not recorded because Russian administrative practice preferred patronymics, and did not require surnames.

In the 19th century, patronymic surnames became common but still few family names still reflected archaic clan names.

For personal names, from the first century CE until the nineteenth century CE, pagan names from the past were partially replaced by names from Judaic scriptures and tradition. During the Russian Colonisation names of Jewish origin still were popular since they now became Biblical.

Family names may be patronymic in origin or else based on occupation, location, or personal characteristic. These origins are often indicated by roots or suffixes. Traditionally a woman used a feminine version of her father's family name, replacing it with a feminine version of her husband's name with suffix – (o/a)räsj (<рьвясь) and in documents husband's family name on marriage. In modern time, a woman keeps her father's family name for life until marriage then husband's family name is used.

In official documents in modern Russia, people are given three names: a given name, a patronymic and a family name.

Given names
Until the late 19th century, many Judaic Mokshas had names from the Torah and later Old and New Testaments. Names from antiquity became less popular.

Male names usually end in -a/-ä, -ai/ei, -u/-iu but sometimes archaic forms in -man, -mas, -for, -as/es/is, -ash/esh/ish are also used. Female names almost always end in -a/ä- and -u/iu, though a few end in -ai with -l, -gä or being possible.

Since ancient times, there has been a strong tradition of naming the first and second sons after the paternal and maternal grandfathers and the first and second daughters after the paternal and maternal grandmothers.

This results in a continuation of names in the family line, but cousins with the same official name are almost always called by different shortened forms or diminutives. The Pagan and Christian have been divided into two lists in Moksha Wikipedia, showing the widespread use of shortened forms in addition to the rarely used formal forms of the official Russian name forms. These lists are understandable even if one doesn't understand Moksha. These variants make it possible to differentiate between cousins despite these traditionally having the same official names because they are traditionally named after their grandparents.

Family names
Moksha family names are most commonly patronymics but may also be based on occupation, personal characteristics or clan name (Yarman Päta, Pekaren Yaku, Kavalon Serga, Uzer Pavol.

Russian surnames
People in speaking use the family name followed by the given name, so Osä Cherapon is called Cherapon Osä. In modern practice he is called Russian name Iosif Cherapkin, where Iosif is the Russian form of the formal Joseph and Cherapkin is possessive form from Moksha name Cherapa. The Russian feminine version is usually the genitive of the family name of the woman's father or husband; so, for example, Mr. Shukshin and Mrs. Shukshina. Children usually receive the paternal surname. In official documents, the father's name in the genitive will be inserted between a person's first and last names. For example, if Uchaen Roman has a daughter named Mariu and a son named Andiu, they will be referred to as María Románovna Ucháeva and Andréy Románovich Ucháev. If Mariu then marries Yaku Tumaen, she may retain her original name or choose to be called María Románovna Tumáeva.

Archaic names

 * 1) Afkiman, m Афкиман founder of Afkiman
 * Aguta, f Агута
 * 1) Akshmakai, f Акшмакай
 * 2) Alai Алай, m
 * 3) Alda, f Алда
 * 4) Aldal, m Алдал, founder of Aldal
 * 5) Aliona, f Алёна Elena
 * Anai, m Анай, founder of Anayu
 * Arista, m Ариста (
 * 1) Armai, m Армай, founder of Armei velä
 * Arshu, f Арьшу Irina
 * 1) Artiush, m Артюш Ártamis
 * 2) Aryu, f Арю Erekan
 * Atämas,m Атямаз Atämaz
 * 1) Ater, m Атерь, founder of Ater
 * 2) Atiash, m Атяш founder of Atiash
 * 3) Atman, m Атман founder of Atmanka
 * 4) Azrapa, m Азрапа
 * 5) Bala m Бала
 * 6) Burmiza, f Бурмиза
 * 7) Dariush/Darshu, f Дарюш/Дарьшу
 * 8) Donisi, m Дониси Dionysus, God protector of cattle
 * Dora, f Дора
 * 1) Ekamas, m Екамас Darya Ekamasova, actress of Moksha descent
 * 2) Fäka, f Фяка Thekla
 * Garas, m Гарась Gerásimos
 * 1) Istarta, f Истарта
 * 2) Kanor, m Канор Nicanor
 * 3) Kelgä, m Кельге
 * 4) Kidai, m Кидай, Earth God
 * 5) Kinyaka, m Киняка
 * 6) Kirdyapa, m Кирдяпа   Vasily Kirdyapa
 * 7) Kitai, m Китай
 * 8) Kitsiat, m Кицят
 * 9) Klema, m Клема Clymenus
 * 10) Kola, Nikolaos
 * 11) Kolapa, m Колапа founder of Kolapa
 * 12) Kolamas, m Коламаз  founder of Mokshen Kolamas
 * 13) Ksniaka, f Ксняка
 * 14) Kulisha, f Кулиша
 * 15) Kulyaga, f Куляга
 * 16) Kulyas, m Куляс
 * 17) Kutsäi, m Куцяй
 * 18) Lesnifor m Леснифор
 * Lipifor m Липифор
 * 1) Lituva, f Литува Leto
 * 2) Malemas, m Малемас
 * 3) Maska, m Маска founder of Mokshen Maskanä, Oleg Maskaev boxer of Moksha descent
 * 4) Miyanza, m Миянза ,
 * 5) Murai, m Мурай, founder of Murai velä
 * Nasta/Nastyu, f Наста/Настю, Anastasía
 * 1) Mikefor, m *Микефор, Nikephoros
 * 2) Normal, f Нормаль
 * 3) Oi(ka), m Ой(ка)
 * Oku, m Оку
 * Ot, m От
 * 1) Osta, m Оста
 * 2) Otsiat, m Оцят founder of Otsyadu
 * 3) Paranza, m Паранза
 * 4) Polyap, m Поляп Philip
 * 5) Polda, m Полда, founder of Boldu
 * 6) Poldia, m Польдя, founder of Poldiaz
 * 7) Poshapa/Poshat,m Пошапа/Пошат, founder of Poshadu velä
 * 8) Pozai, m Позай
 * 9) Puresh, m Пуреш, Kanazor of Moxel
 * 10) Saitsä, m Сайце
 * 11) Salkai, m Салкай
 * 12) Samila m Самила
 * 13) Samka m Самка
 * 14) Sandor, m Сандор Alexander
 * Sandra, f Сандра Alexándra
 * Sazan, m Сазан Sozon, founder of Od Sazan
 * 1) Selik, m Селик, founder of Seliksa
 * 2) Shongor, f, f rune singer from Vechkänä
 * 3) Sofa, f Софа, Sofia
 * 4) Syumerjgä, f Сюмерьге
 * 5) Tetingei, m Тетингей founder of Tetingei
 * 6) Tsiftomas, m Цифтомас
 * 7) Tolku, m Толку, founder of Od Tolku
 * 8) Tiushtia, m Тюштя
 * 9) Uskai, m Ускай
 * 10) Valgapa, m Валгапа
 * Vasalgä/Vasonä, f Васальге/Васоня Basílissa
 * 1) Vechkan/Vechkinza, m Вечкан/Вечкинза founder of Vechkänä
 * 2) Veka, m Века
 * 3) Velmai, m Вельмай
 * 4) Virias, m Виряс
 * 5) Yan/Yanka, m Янь/Янька Iánthē
 * 6) Yana,f Яна
 * Yavsei, m Явсей Eusébios
 * Yefima, m Ефима Efthýmios
 * Yermila, m Ермила Hermólāos
 * 1) Yon, m Йон, Ion
 * 2) Zinä, m Зине

Hebrew and biblical names

 * Abra, m Абра, Abraham
 * Adam, m Адам
 * Aksä, f Акся, Xenia
 * 1) Älgä, m Эльгя, Elijah
 * 2) Andiu/Andiama, m Андю/Андяма
 * 3) Aniu, f Аню, Anna
 * 4) Arina, f Арина, Irene
 * 5) Aron, m, Aaron
 * 6) Dania, m, Daniel
 * 7) Daud, m Дауд, David, founder of Daud vele
 * 8) Doma(sha), f Дома(ша), Domna
 * 9) Dora/Dorka Дора/Дорка, Dora
 * 10) Fadei, m Фадей, Thaddeus
 * Foka, m Фока, Phōkâs
 * 1) Foma, m Фома, Thomas
 * 2) Gavdai, m Гавдай
 * Iga, m, Ignátios
 * 1) Inä Ине, Eugenia
 * 2) Kandra, m Кандра, Codratus
 * 3) Kanor, m Канор Nicanor
 * 4) Katernä/Katrä, f Катерня/Катря, Katherine
 * 5) Kavrä, m Кавре, Gabriel
 * 6) Klema, m Клема, Clement
 * 7) Kola, m Кола, Nicolas
 * 8) Kotya, m Котя, Nicodemus
 * 9) Krila, m Крила, Cyril
 * Lasei, m *Ласи Blaise
 * 1) Lazur, m Лазур, Lazarus
 * 2) Lepa, m Лепа
 * 3) Lisa, f Лиса, Elizabeth
 * 4) Luka f Лука
 * 5) Malafei, m Малафей, Malachi
 * Malka Малка
 * 1) Mardei, f Мардей
 * Maryu, f Марю, Mariam
 * 1) Marka, m Марка  , Mark
 * 2) Marfa, f Марфа  Martha
 * 3) Matfei, m Матьфей, Matthew
 * Mika, m Мика  Micah
 * 1) Mikla, m Микла
 * Minus, m Минус
 * Mihaiila, m Михайила , Michael
 * Mihei, m Михей , Micaiah
 * 1) Miketa, m Микета, Nicetas
 * 2) Moka, m Мока, Mocius
 * 3) Mokshai, m Мокшай Moxius
 * 4) Mordukai, m *Мордукай, Mordecai
 * 5) Mosha, m Моша, Moses
 * Nadyu, f Надю
 * 1) Narchat/Naricha, f Нарчат/Нарича, Queen of Moxel
 * Navum, f Навум, Nahum
 * 1) Osä, m Ося, Joseph
 * Palaga, f Палага Pelagia
 * 1) Päta, m Пята, Peter
 * 2) Pavol, m Павол, Paul
 * Polad, m Полад
 * 1) Radu(sha), m Раду(ша)
 * 2) Rast, m Раст, Tümen Prince, founder of Rast dynasty
 * 3) Riba, m Риба
 * 4) Rizai, m Ризай
 * 5) Rusä, m Руся
 * Saiiä, m Сайя, Isaiah
 * Sakai, m Сакай, Isaac, founder of Sakayevo
 * Salonä, f Салоня, Salome
 * Sara(i), m Сара(й)
 * 1) Sekla, f Секла
 * 2) Semyä, m Семъя, Simeon
 * 3) Serga, m Серьга, Serge
 * 4) Sila, m Сила, Sila
 * 5) Siuriandiei, m Сюряндей
 * 6) Sofa, f Софа, Sofia
 * Soltan, m Солтан, Earth God
 * 1) Tair, m Таир, Taher
 * Tama,f Тама, Tamara
 * 1) Trafa, m Трафа, Trophimus
 * 2) Ulita, f Улита
 * 3) Vara, f, Barbara
 * 4) Vasil, m Василь
 * Vera, f Вера, Vera
 * Yäfrim, m Яфрим, Ephraim
 * 1) Yagor, m Ягор, George
 * 2) Yakim, m Яким, Joachim
 * 3) Yaku, m Яку, Jacob
 * 4) Yarma, m Ярма, Jeremiah
 * 5) Yavsei, m Явсей, Eusebius
 * 6) Yefiut, m Ефют
 * Yesha, f Еша, female of Isaiah
 * Yon(ka), m Йон(ка), Jonah
 * Yosha, m Йоша, Joshua
 * Yuda, m Йуда, Judah
 * Yuha, m Юха, John
 * Yuvan, m Юван,, Evan
 * Zafar, m Зафар, Zechariah

Gothic names

 * 1) Nava, m Нава, Noah
 * Stiratӓ, m Стырятя
 * 1) Yevga, f Евга, Eve

Muslim names

 * 1) Ahmad, m m Ахмад, Emir of Volga Bulgaria
 * 2) Araslan
 * 3) Bazan, m Базан
 * 4) Beibars, m Бейбарс Prince from Rast Dynasty
 * 5) Biliar
 * 6) Islam
 * 7) Jaulat, f Джаулат
 * 8) Kasim
 * 9) Kulaa, m Кулаа Prince from Rast Dynasty
 * 10) Mamai
 * 11) Mumin, m Мумин
 * 12) Yanbars, m Янбарс Prince from Rast Dynasty