WHAT DOES "Zana" MEAN PLEASE?

[rain]

Hi

I'm expecting a baby and would like to call him "Zana" which I believe is a male Kurdish name. I'm hoping that somebody on this website will be able to tell me what the name Zana means please. I have looked at so many internet sites and can't find the meaning.

What does it mean please?

Thanks

[Diri]

Hello Rain, or "Baran" as your nick would be in Kurdish...

First of all: congratulations - may he be born a beautiful and healthy baby... God bless!


"Zana" is an immensely beautiful, yet simple Kurdish name. It's used for boys/males - and is most accurately translated to "Knowledge" in English, "Bilgi" in Turkish, "Kunnskap" or "Viten" in Scandinavian languages (Norwegian, Swedish & Danish) etc...

It is definetly one of the better Kurdish names - as it's easy to pronounce for non-Kurds while it also sounds melodic and carries a beautiful and powerful meaning...


"Zana" is the surname of one of Kurdistan's most famous children: Leyla Zana... So if you live in Turkey or in North Kurdistan - or often visite either of the two - then you should consider a different name, because I can almost guarantee that your son would face prejudice and hardship at the hands of the Turks... They will immediately associate him with Leyla Zana - which is a negative thing to nationalist Turks - although not to leftist Turks...

Hope this was of help, to you, my brother... Best of wishes from all members of Roj Bash Kurdistan - and I hope you stick around and add flavour to our community...

[rain]

Hello Diri

and thanks so much for your reply. I am actually an Irish woman married to a Turkish man and we live in Ireland. My husband told me that calling our son Zana might be dangerous when we visit Turkey which makes me sad because I still think it's a very beautiful name and I would hate to think that he would experience prejudice from the Turkish Government, just because of his name. I agree that it's a great name for non-Kurds because it's easy to spell and pronounce and has a musical sound. It's such a shame that such a nice name could cause our son trouble - you are not the first person to say that to us, so I suppose we might have to choose another one. I met a Kurdish man called Zana in Turkey once and he had to change his name to a Turkish name which I think is terrible. I'm so sad that I can't choose the name I want so much for my baby.

Anyway, thanks so much for all your help and all your kind wishes and hopefully I will find another nice name for my baby.

Best Wishes

[Piling]

"Zana" is the surname of one of Kurdistan's most famous children: Leyla Zana...

I protest. Leyla has nothing to do with that. It is the name of her husband, Mehdi Zana, the first Kurdish Mayor of Diyarbakir, elected as independant. And there is a story about this name. It is Bedir Khan who called him that. In fact the same day, he gives their names to Mehdi Zana and Kendal Nezan, the IKP Chairman. It was a subtle (and philosophical joke) : Zana for the one who did not study, Nezan for the one who studied.

And yeah, Zana is a nice name.

[Diri]

"Zana" is the surname of one of Kurdistan's most famous children: Leyla Zana...

I protest. Leyla has nothing to do with that. It is the name of her husband, Mehdi Zana, the first Kurdish Mayor of Diyarbakir, elected as independant. And there is a story about this name. It is Bedir Khan who called him that. In fact the same day, he gives their names to Mehdi Zana and Kendal Nezan, the IKP Chairman. It was a subtle (and philosophical joke) : Zana for the one who did not study, Nezan for the one who studied.

And yeah, Zana is a nice name.

So typically European of you... Protesting...

Well - the matter of the fact is that "Zana", although her husbands name, is the name first and foremost associated with her - not with her husband... She also carries the name, anyway... I'm not sure - but they did divorce, didn't they? She's kept the name...

That story about "Zana vs. Nezan" is realy kind of ridiculous - and I know which guy your talking about - but it's just stupid to carry a negative surname like "Nezan"... And on top of that, "Kendal" means "Pit" or "Pitfall" - which in itself is less than "flattering"...

But some say that "Kendal" means "Laughing [one]"... Anyway... Back to "Zana"...

[Diri]

Hello Diri

and thanks so much for your reply. I am actually an Irish woman married to a Turkish man and we live in Ireland. My husband told me that calling our son Zana might be dangerous when we visit Turkey which makes me sad because I still think it's a very beautiful name and I would hate to think that he would experience prejudice from the Turkish Government, just because of his name. I agree that it's a great name for non-Kurds because it's easy to spell and pronounce and has a musical sound. It's such a shame that such a nice name could cause our son trouble - you are not the first person to say that to us, so I suppose we might have to choose another one. I met a Kurdish man called Zana in Turkey once and he had to change his name to a Turkish name which I think is terrible. I'm so sad that I can't choose the name I want so much for my baby.

Anyway, thanks so much for all your help and all your kind wishes and hopefully I will find another nice name for my baby.

Best Wishes

You are more than welcome dear

Such a pleasent surprise... Long live Ireland! Thank you for setting an example for the rest of us oppressed people - by breaking the chains of bondage which held you captive to the British Empire...

Yes, as I've mentioned: it won't be a clever move to call your son "Zana" - when he'll be bothered for it in Turkey...

There are many other beautiful names to choose from too - depending on what you prefere (taste) of course... Are you certain that the infant is a boy? If not - I'd advice you to look at some beautiful Kurdish names for girls... And I know one which is used by both Kurds and Ires: Rosîn / Rojîn = "Sunny" in Kurdish - which also is supposed to be an Irish name (not English - but Gaelic-Irish)...

By the way - I know this because I have an Irish friend who's married to a Kurd from Turkish Kurdistan... You wouldn't by any chance be her, now would you? She's based in Ireland aswell... But I'm not sure if she's moved to the Republic of Ireland - or if she's in Ulster...

Yes - well that Kurdish man you met isn't the first nor will he be the last in a line of many hundreds of thousands of Kurds who suffered and still suffer at the hands of the Turkish assimilation policies...

[Piling]

it's just stupid to carry a negative surname like "Nezan"...

Like the Kurdish Sufi Qaderi branch of kesnezanî ? thanx for them.

[rain]

Diri

Thanks for that.

Yes, I'm certain it's a boy! I had a special scan and saw that it will be a boy. I'm not the Irish woman you know, by the way, my husband is from South West Turkey.

I agree that the Irish people and the Kurdish people have both suffered in a similar way. I suppose we have that in common. I've never met a Kurdish person that I didn't like. In my experience, Irish people have a great affinity with both Kurdish and Turkish people.

Thanks again for all your help with the name "Zana". We didn't want our son to have any trouble with the Turkish Government so we've taken the cowardly approach and decided on another name. I'm sad about it but I suppose it's the best idea.

I probably won't be logging on here again so I'd like to thank you for all your help Diri and best wishes for the future.

Rain

[Diri]

Diri

Thanks for that.

Yes, I'm certain it's a boy! I had a special scan and saw that it will be a boy. I'm not the Irish woman you know, by the way, my husband is from South West Turkey.

I agree that the Irish people and the Kurdish people have both suffered in a similar way. I suppose we have that in common. I've never met a Kurdish person that I didn't like. In my experience, Irish people have a great affinity with both Kurdish and Turkish people.

Thanks again for all your help with the name "Zana". We didn't want our son to have any trouble with the Turkish Government so we've taken the cowardly approach and decided on another name. I'm sad about it but I suppose it's the best idea.

I probably won't be logging on here again so I'd like to thank you for all your help Diri and best wishes for the future.

Rain

You are most welcome, dear... What a pitty that you should leave us...

I wanted to know which name you decided upon instead of Zana... I want to know if it's as beautiful as Zana...

You know - we had the same dilemma (with "Zana") when my nephew was gonna be named... They wanted to call him "Zana" - but then decided to go for "Rênas" instead - because of the obvious negative connotations one has to Leyla Zana (in Turkey)...

Oh well... I hope you picked a beautiful name - and keep in mind: a name forms and molds a person... So make sure it carries a beautiful meaning!

[Barış]

What you think of name Kaya?

[allina]

HI.
I would like give the name for my son Dara,Daravan.
I like it to much,but i dont know what does it mean.I think it must be something like forest or nature.Can you tell me?
Thank you.

[Diri]

HI.
I would like give the name for my son Dara,Daravan.
I like it to much,but i dont know what does it mean.I think it must be something like forest or nature.Can you tell me?
Thank you.

You're absolutely right... Dara can mean two things "Tree" or "The one who has [everything]"...

Darevan/Darewan = Forester

Occupationally, it would mean somebody who cuts/works with trees and wood...

But on a more general note - it simply means "Forester"

And I agre - those are beautiful names... And easy to pronounce for non-Kurds too...

[Sirwan]

Zana = knowledgeful, a ''person'' who knows
Zanist = knowledge, science,
Zanyar= scientist, scholar, informed
Zanko = univercity
Zanyarî= information
Lêzan = specialist,
Karzan= skillful
Pêzanîn = acknowledge
Zorzan = one who knows too much, clever
Nezan= unknowldgeful,
All are from the root : ''Zanîn'' = to know

PS: Zanyar is also a popular and beautiful name in eastern and southern Kurdistan.

[SinekSekiz]

Turkish people does not have a long memory. : ) You could have called you son as Zana. I had the worst name that you could have in Turkey, Mustafa. Man is there any country does not have a joke or is there any country does not have song about this name. I hated it not because of the meaning of the name but people approach to it.

Zana would not be as bad as Mustafa. And actually because of the some weekly serial show in Turkey people has really interest about Kurdish name. But I wont find the right to advice you about this. But you should not worry so much. People still knows different between a name and a surname. : )

[Vladimir]

Sinek, nobody wants to be associated with Shex Zana from Hewler.