As a rule, not only the parents of the child are interested in the choice of the name but also relatives and friends.
Reason of choosing personal names (anthroponomy) can be various. They were connected with cattle-breeding phenomena, names of wild animals and birds, house animals, names of different non-ferrous metals and jewels, plants, names of fruit, relations, place of living, identification of house implements, food. For example, Bota (young camel), Akkozy (white lamb), Boran (snow-storm), Sholpan (Venus), Arystan (lion), Burkit (golden eagle), Karlygash (swallow), Altyn (gold), Bolat (steel), Zhibek (silk), Kyzgaldak (tulip), Raikhan (red flower), Alma (apple), Meyiz (raisin), Atabek (grandfather), Zhienbay (nephew), Tuganbay (relative), Oral (Ural river), Edil (Volga river), Alatau, Shara (big bowl), Tabakbay (dish), Airanbay (curdled milk), Sheker (sugar), etc.
In those days people were also naming their children with unattractive names in order to keep away evil spirits. For example, Itbay, Kushikbay (dog, rich), Zhamanbay (bad).
One of the most spread ways to name a child was to give a name with some numbers. Birzhan (one person), Besbay (five), Elubay (fifty), Seksembay (eighty), Mynbay (thousand).
But there are no such women names. The choice of personal name among Kazakh people is not limited, comparing to other names. It was noted by Vladimir Dal in his time.
Personal names also reflect different wishes:
1) Let the newborn be rich, well-to-do: Baybol (be rich), Dauletbay (own wealth), Malbay (have much cattle);
2) Let him be observant, brave and strong: Batyrbek, Batyr (hero, athlete), Alpamys, Targyn, Koblandy, Kambar (names of the Kazakh epic heroes);
3) Let her be beautiful, polite: Nursulu (beauty), Asem (graceful), Botagoz (camel eye);
4) Let him be long living and healthy: Uzak, Umirzak (living long years);
5) Let him/her be clever: Akylbay (rich in intellect), Esbol (be reasonable), Dana (wise).
Sometimes, names were given owing to some circumstances, superstitions, signs: Amanzhol (all the best, have a safe journey), Zholshibay (born in a trip), Karzhaubay (rich in snow and rain).
Often names were given based on folk’s traditions and rites. In families, where children were often dying of something, the newborns were given such names as: Toktar Turar, Toktasyn (let it stop, let him live), Otegen, Tolemis, Tolendy (compensated, reestablished), Ultuar, Ultusyn, Ulzhan (let it be a son).
