

Today’s name is Mongo

The name “Mongo” conjures up memories of Blazing Saddles for many of us of a certain age (and thoughts of a hospital for magical maladies for others).  However, it is, in fact, a completely period name. It is a variant form of Mungo, the given name of the Scottish saint who is the patron of salmon and of the city of Glasgow.  As Mongo, it appears in Scots records as a given name dated to 1490 and c. 1592. [1]  In the spelling Mongow, it also appears in Scots records dated to 1579.[1]

Additionally, in one of those odd coincidences that often happens with language, “Mongo” is also a Mongol descriptive nickname meaning “silver.”

[1] “Index of Scots Names in Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue” by Sara L. Uckelman

[2]  “Mongolian Naming Practices” by Linda Miku