Radio Netherlands Worldwide

I was informed by a friend from a certain part of the world where 'official names' do not exist that when people give birth to children, they create names for them. I find this system interesting and quite different from the dominant cultures of the world where people often select names from an official or well-known list to give to their kids.

When my child was born, I gave a name that was meaningful, easy to pronounce and beautiful. While researching the name, I found it had meanings in different cultures of the world -- Russian, Indian, Masai (Kenyan) and American. But I am from none of these cultures.