Naming in Ethiopia

An Ethiopian child takes her/his father's name as her/his surname (i.e. second or family name) but is always known primarily by her/his own first name. Traditionally, parents and children do not share a last name. Most kids take their father's first name as their last name. An Ethiopian is living abroad has to first write his/her name, then his/her father’s name and his/her grandfather’s name if need be. First names, surnames, middle names, family names and all that are rather baffling to an Ethiopian. However, much family affinities are tight in Ethiopia people’s names stand by themselves the first one denotes the subject while the second denotes the father. Some names give a clue of ethnic identity. This of course does not mean that names are strictly ethnic. The contemporary generation be it any ethnic group that identifies himself more as Ethiopians, prefers to name his or her child in any way he or she likes as long as the name contains the desired meaning. There are rural names and urban names so to speak. Ethiopians are also known to give their children Christian names or Biblical names.
The equivalent of Mr. is Ato, Mrs. is Woizero (Wzo.), and Miss is Woizerit (Wzt.). Therefore, a man called Abebe Bekele would be referred to and introduced as Ato/Mr. Abebe. Women do not change their names when they get married, but simply take the title Woizero. For example, if Ato Abebe marries a woman by the name of Lia Abera, she will be referred to as Woizero/Mrs. Lia or Mrs. Abera but not as Mrs. Abebe or Mrs. Bekele.