Cloud, Wind, Sun, Moon, and the End.

Coming to the states, and marrying in the states, my mother had hope to give her children typical American English names.  Being one of the first born for my father, my grandfather insist that our names are to be as traditional as could be.  "Mai" would be traditional, but fortunately my mother named us according to Mother Nature. 

She gave my twin Fuab (cloud) and named me Cua (Wind).  I remember hearing the elders say "the wind pushes the clouds", that why Fuab was born first.  In all honesty, the doctors pulled her out first (via C-section).  A year later, my sister Hnub (sun) was born.  Two years after that, my sister Hli (moon).

After four girls, my two brothers joined our family.  My father wanted just one more boy, and *BAMM* .. my little sister was born.  My mother didn't want children after my baby sister, thus naming her Nkauj Ntshiab, meaning "the end".

A lot of the younger generation still carry the tradition of giving our children Hmong names.  We either just call them by their traditional name, or legally put it as their middle name.  One day, I hope to carry on the tradition of giving my children Hmong names.