Kiva is a non-profit organization that allows you to lend money to entrepreneurs in developing countries all over the world.
How is Kiva applicable to baby naming? Well, many of the small business owners in Kiva’s database have very interesting first names–browsing through them might spark a few ideas. For example, here are some that I gathered last week…
| Male names | Female names | |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Ezathullah, Kambit, Mahbob, Norallah, Sardar | Gulalai, Khalida, Nazanen, Rohena, Sadeqa |
| Azerbaijan | Abbas, Cherkez, Heydarali, Magsud, Yusif | Aygun, Firganiz, Seyidurre, Tahira, Zemfira |
| Benin | Bruno, Christian, Frédéric, Marcel, Osariere | Enogie, Koubouratou, Osariemen, Patience, Ugbo |
| Bolivia | Arturo, Gregorio, Jhonny, Marco, Mario | Albertina, Erodita, Ines, Jesusa, Marcela |
| Bulgaria | Dimitar, Emil, Gentcho, Ihtiandar, Krasimir | Karamfilka, Nezat, Tzvetelina, Velichka, Zlatka |
| Cambodia | Chun, Kouk, Sophal, Um, Yous | Chanthy, Khai, Samoeun, Sokcheng, Yorn |
| Cameroon | Godlove, Moses, Ndah, Thomas, Valentine | Alice, Comfort, Emelda, Nanga, Theresia |
| Cote D’Ivoire | Aboh, Didier, Koua, Moussa, Otawaye | Akissi, Clementine, Henriette, Kouadio, Odette |
| Dem. Rep. Congo | Ali, Felly, Ifoly, Muka, Theo | Adolphine, Kambere, Kebadio, Saida, Victorine |
| Dominican Republic | Carlos, Ciprian, Esdras, Hipolito, Pedro | Arsenia, Balbina, Belquis, Soraida, Yudelka |
| Ecuador | Alsi, Aroldo, Bernardo, Cristóbal, Edgar | Germania, Lorenza, Lucita, Nieves, Piedad |
| El Salvador | Fermin, Guillermo, Israel, Miguel, Reynaldo | Etilma, Nidia, Norma, Rhina, Silvia |
| Ghana | Kwamina, Mawulawoè, Steven, Yaa, Yakubu | Alima, Faustina, Gifty, Mariama, Millicent |
| Honduras | Agusto, Cesario, Gerardo, Rigoberto, Wilmer | Angela, Edis, Guillermina, Ninfa, Sayra |
| Indonesia | Joko, Neman, Nuryanto, Slamet, Turimin | Ketut, Muni, Rusmini, Ulfah, Wawat |
| Kenya | Aggrey, Davies, Dickson, Obadiah, Titus | Catherine, Houglias, Nereah, Rafriza, Teresia |
| Mali | Gabriel, Joseph, Mkama, Syvanus, Wycliffee | Lasty, Nuru, Regina, Rokia, Tabia |
| Mexico | Celedonio, Fausto, Ignacio, Jose, Longuino | Cayetana, Claudia, Domitila, Elodia, Gloria |
| Moldova | Ion, Nicolae, Ruslan, Valeriu, Vasile | Elisaveta, Gheorghita, Liliana, Parascovia, Svetlana |
| Mozambique | Admiro, Enoque, Jorge, Jossefa, Vasco | Amina, Atalia, Olinda, Raquelina, Valentina |
| Nicaragua | Francisco, Hugo, Isidro, Lazaro, Santos | Amelia, Isaura, Lissette, Neylin, Simona |
| Nigeria | Cookey, Dogood, Monday, Nosa, Rezent | Blessing, Esther, Folake, Itohan, Osagiduwa |
| Paraguay | Dionisio, Herminio, Roberto, Teofilo, Yimi | Emiliana, Purificación, Rosalina, Viviana, Zunilda |
| Peru | Aquiles, Ciriaco, Gabino, Nemesio, Oswaldo | Epifania, Gilma, Leocadia, Teodenila, Widma |
| Senegal | Amsatou, Atoumane, Babacar, Ibrahima, Moustapha | Diariétou, Gnima, Rokhaya, Seynabou, Toulaye |
| Sierra Leone | Amadu, Fojay, Sankoh, Sorie, Unisa | Aminata, Fatmata, Kadiatu, Mabinty, Mbalu |
| Tajikistan | Alisher, Ergash, Khakim, Safarboy, Sayfiddin | Bahtier, Gulnora, Matluba, Nabieva, Zainura |
| Tanzania | Abdallah, Agust, Jafari, Kimangano, Nassor | Arafa, Dotto, Evodia, Rajubu, Zainabu |
| Togo | Kodzo, Kossi, Siakou, Yaovi, Yawo | Abla, Ayémiahé, Beauty, Chérifatou, Yawa |
| Uganda | Charles, Kibirige, Mathius, Morris, Peter | Agnes, Annet, Halimah, Lovisa, Night |
| Ukraine | Gennadyi, Mamuka, Vitalyi, Vladimir, Yuryi | Ibolya, Ludmila, Raisa, Tatyana, Yelena |
| Viet Nam | Cao, Nghiep, Nhanh, Phong, Thuan | Giao, Khong, Phung, Thanh, Thi |
P.S. – Kiva means “unity” in Swahili. Might not be a bad name itself, eh?
3 Comments
I found the name Kadiatu on your site. We are adopting a girl named kadiatu from Sierra Leone and I was wondering if you knew the meaning of that name
thank you
I can’t find a meaning in any of my books or online, but I’ll keep looking and come back to update if I find anything for you…
P.S. Congrats on adopting! I hope everything goes smoothly!
My fiance is from Mali and the name Kadiatu is a very common one in West Africa. When I asked him, he couldn’t come up with a specific meaning but thought it was a version of the name Kadija who was a wife of the prophet Mohamed.
Incidentally, if/when we ever have a girl, I would like to name her Rokia. Not only is it a pretty name but it was the name of my fiance’s late mother.