October 12, 2019
Gypsy Names
Did you know that each Gypsy had three names?
The first name was a secret name that was whispered into the baby’s ear by the mother immediately after birth and again when the child reached puberty. This first name was never spoken at any other time and never shared with another.
The second name was used only among Gypsies, never to be heard from an outsider.
The third name was a local name that was similar to names of Gadjes (non-Gypsies) in the country where the Gypsy was born. This name the Gypsy was to use publicly with a Gadje or for any official document.