INTRODUCTION. 



In order to properly understand the translation and significance 

 of H6pi names, it will be necessary to make and bear in mind some 

 general explanations. When the child is twenty days old it receives 

 its first names from the grandmother, or, in case she be not living, 

 from some aunt or other close relative on its mother's side, and 

 from other women.* All of these must belong to the clan of the 

 mother and child. Of the different names that the child receives 

 on this occasion, only one is usually retained, or "sticks," as the 

 Hopi express it. This name is called the "child-name," and is 

 retained until the child is initiated into some order or society, when 

 it receives a new name from the godfather or godmother who initiates 

 it, or rather presents it for initiation. On some occasions a new 

 name is also given at these initiations by the leaders of the ceremony 

 of which the initiation forms a part. Such initiations, however, are 

 by no means confined to the age of childhood, but may take place at 

 any time. I have seen men and women of mature, even of old age, 

 initiated. These, however, were invariably, I believe, already mem- 

 bers of other societies. At every initiation they receive a new name. 

 The one of these various initiation names that usually "sticks" is 

 the one received at the so-called Wuwuchim initiation. Every male 

 H6pi is supposed to belong to one of four societies, the Wuwuchim, f 

 Kwan (Agave), Al (Horn), Tdo (Singer) Society. Into one of these 

 the H6pi youth is initiated at the age of from fifteen to eighteen 

 years, and the name he receives on that occasion he keeps, as a rule, 

 through life. By this initiation he is supposed to have passed from 

 childhood to manhood. He has laid aside the "child-name" and 

 assumed the name of manhood. 



The H6pi girl and maiden keeps her "child-name" until she par- 



* See "The Oraibi Natal Customs and Ceremonies," by H. R. Voth, 

 Vol. VI.. No. 2, Anth. Ser. F. C. M. Publications. 



t The exact meaning of this name has not thus far been ascertained, as 

 the ending "chim" seems to be archaic. It seems to designate the age of 

 manhood in contradistinction to youth and childhood. When the youth 

 joins the WdwQchim society he has become of age, as it were. The word may 

 be an obsolete form of wowOyom, the aged, old men, forefathers, ancients. 



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