Guwahati: Long before modern baby-name trends and mobile apps entered everyday life, Meitei families in Manipur were already choosing names that grew from their surroundings - drawn from flowers in the courtyard, plants in wetlands, and trees revered in sacred groves.
A new scientific study has now documented this deeply rooted tradition, showing how the Meitei community continues to name children after plants, quietly preserving ecological knowledge through language and identity.
The research, published in the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, was carried out by scientists from CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR).
Based on field surveys across valley districts of Manipur, the study records 85 personal names derived from 56 plant species, making it one of the most detailed documentations of plant-based naming traditions in the state.
These plants are not rare or distant species but part of everyday Meitei life - lotus from ponds, jasmine from home gardens, orchids, marigold, sunflower, banyan, and even screwpine found along wetlands and forest edges.
The researchers note that such naming practices reflect the Meitei worldview, where nature is not separate from human life. Sacred groves are protected, forest spirits are worshipped, and plants are closely observed - not only for food or medicine but for meaning.
One of the most striking findings of the study is the gender pattern in naming. Around 70 per cent of plant-based names are given to women, while about 28 per cent are used for men. Flowers and plants are culturally associated with beauty, resilience, and grace - qualities traditionally linked with femininity in Meitei society.
Names such as Thambal (sacred lotus), Kaboklei (gardenia), Leihao (champak), Sanarei (marigold), and Ketuki (fragrant screwpine) remain widely used, each carrying layered meanings tied to colour, fragrance, strength, or endurance.
The sacred lotus alone has inspired 11 different names, referring to its petals, roots, pollen, or colour. According to the authors, this reflects how closely plants are observed and how botanical knowledge is embedded in everyday language.
Some names also carry strong social meaning. Leibaklei, derived from a plant that blooms directly from the soil, is traditionally given to women known for enduring hardship with quiet strength - turning a plant's growth pattern into a metaphor for survival.
Interestingly, plants associated with tragic folklore or painful memories are rarely chosen as names, showing how collective memory and emotion influence naming choices.
While the tradition continues, the study warns that plant-based naming is slowly declining, particularly among younger generations who increasingly prefer modern or "vintage" names disconnected from local ecology.
In Manipur, facing rapid urbanisation, shrinking wetlands, and cultural change, the researchers suggest that such traditions once acted as everyday reminders of seasons, landscapes, and plants - a connection now at risk of fading.
By naming children after plants, Meitei families have long passed on ecological knowledge across generations, often without written records or formal education. The study argues that recognising these practices could help strengthen both cultural identity and environmental awareness in the state.
At a time when conversations around conservation and heritage are growing louder, this research offers a quieter reminder - in Manipur, the bond between people and nature often begins at birth, carried forward through a name.
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