We are currently on a swing through Botswana and Zimbabwe - safaris, guided walks dug-out canoe trips, that kind of thing - and, amid all the other delights, one thing that has struck me is some of the names that people luxuriate in here.
In among Ronald, Sisa, Mia and Jonathan, our guides, helpers and drvers have rocked names like Precious, Gift, Blessing, Peace and Law.
At first, I thought these were Christianity-derived names, along the lines of common female names from Victorian England and America like Faith, Hope and Charity, Grace and Joy, Chastity and Mercy., Constance and Prudence. But these are strapping guys, from twenty-somethings to middle-aged. And apparently, religion doesn't come into it.
The names are inspired by events, situations and stories occurring around their births or before, or the circumstances of the family. There are southern Africans with names like Lovemore, Enough, Smile, Honour, Energy, Godknows, Wind, Passion - even Hatred and Funeral - and many more. And, arguably, they are better, and more appropriate, names than choosing something from a "1,001 Baby Names" book.
