Young parents are increasingly choosing Albanian names for their children, returning to their roots, while for decades foreign names were the ones that prevailed. According to data from the General Directorate of Civil Status, Edua for girls and Kren for boys are the two most common Albanian names.
There are a number of other names, mainly with different meanings in the Albanian language, that are finding widespread use.
"Especially names from the Gheg Albanian language because they sound more beautiful. While the more modern names, but which are Albanian: Edua, Ajër. Previously they used to use Ajra according to the Italian, now they prefer Ajër, an Albanian name. Bora which symbolizes whiteness. For men, the names of rivers are more common. They continue to use Drin, it is very widespread. While the northern part uses names like Flamur, Dren, Kroi. The trend is also the combination of two names: Sihana, Sidrita, Siar. They combine the name with a hyphen", says Dolores Rrapollari, Specialist at the General Directorate of Civil Status.
Sociologists describe this new phenomenon as a return to identity, following the desire for foreign names, often without knowing their meaning, that has prevailed since the '90s.
"The time has come to come and it seems it has begun. The new generation, perhaps a little fed up with these foreign names, is searching for itself. If the parents of these young parents have given them foreign names, this came after an isolation and closure, from the desire for integration and adaptation. The desire for modernity has been the desire for the West. Films have also played a role in different periods," says sociologist Entela Binjaku.
Despite the change in preferences, a list of banned names still exists in the civil registry offices.
"Cemeteries, Govate, Groshë, Mbarime... because when many girls were born, they ran out," says specialist Rrapollari.
With the change in legislation in Albania, changing names is prohibited./ Tv Klan
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