Some people exchange their children for sweets, or offer them to others and purchase them back at a nominal price. Others roll them in the dust and name them Dhulio or dust. This is believed to ensure a long life to the children.[27]
In some places, a relative of the child’s on the mother’s side presents it with a necklace of gold beads shaped like large black ants. When the child attains the age of eight or ten years this necklace is offered to some god or goddess. The child is named Sānkalio as it wears round its neck this sānkal or chain, that is, necklace.[28]
It is held by some that children bearing contemptuous names are not affected by magic.[29]
Some weigh the child against corn and give the name of that corn to the child, e. g., ‘Kodario’, ‘Juvārio’. The corn is then distributed among beggars, which is supposed to ensure a long life to the child.[30]
Some make earthen figures of children, call them Ila Ili or Pithad, and carry them through the village on the Holi day (the full-moon day of Fālgun), with the belief that by so doing they ensure a long life to the children.
It is related that a carpenter’s children used to die in infancy, so he named one of his sons ‘Pithad’ and he lived. Since then, parents whose children do not live name them ‘Pithad’. Some name their children ‘Jivo’ that is ‘Live’ with the hope that they may live long.[31]
The opprobrious and other special spirit-scaring names generally given to boys are as follows:—
| NAME. | MEANING. | NAME. | MEANING. | |
| Amatho | Useless | Gobaro[33] | ||
| Jutho | False | Fakiro | Beggar | |
| Kacharo | Refuse | Mafatio | Worthless | |
| Nathu | Tied | Nāgo | Shameless | |
| Punjo | Refuse | Bocho | Coward | |
| Jivo | Live | Bakor | Noise | |
| Kālo | Black | Bow | Name of a demon | |
| Ghelo | Mad | How | Ditto. | |
| Gafal | Stupid | Limbo | Poisonous | |
| Valu or Vāyali | Eccentric | Gānglo | Stony[34] | |
| Sawo or Siwo | Sewed | Bhikhāri or Bhikho | Beggar | |
| Dungar | Hill | Vaigrāi | Recluse | |
| Ado | Useless | Amar | Immortal | |
| Bhābho | Worthless | Sidio | Negro-like | |
| Mālo | Bower | Vasto[35] | ||
| Velo | Creeper | Polio or Polo | Hollow | |
| Nāno | Small | Kadavo | Bitter | |
| Khodo | Lame | Bero | Deaf | |
| Oghad | Fool | Dipo | Panther | |
| Hakalo | Vāgh | Tiger | ||
| Bhukhan | Cohampalo | Meddlesome | ||
| Uko | Dung-hill | Chindharo | Ragged | |
| Lāvo | Parasite | Chiko | ||
| Jino | Small | Chuntho | Ragged | |
| Doso | Old | Jinthro | Ragged | |
| Rāno | Lord (ironical) | Jalo | ||
| Bāvo | Recluse | Davalo | Not loved | |
| Rupo | Handsome (ironical) | Dendo | The croaking of a frog. | |
| Mor | Peacock | Dhingo | Fat | |
| Popat | Parrot | Bodo | Bald-headed | |
| Jado | Fastened[32] | Rotal | Womanish | |
| Bodho | Radio | Crying[36] |
The contemptuous names given to girls are:—