Naming a rarámuri baby

Against my better judgment, I recently adopted two kittens from Oasis. About three weeks ago, I found a little gray kitten left to die outside by a rarámuri family. They said its mother had abandoned it, so they decided to adopt it; but when the kitten got an eye infection, the rarámuri mother refused to have it in the house and ordered it out, she didn't care where. I brought the kitten and began nursing him back to health, feeding him with an eye dropper every three hours since he was only about four weeks old when I found him. He began looking good after just a few feedings and has been stronger ever since.

One week later I ran across a similar situation with a black kitten. Abandoned by his mother, unwanted by any rarámuri family, I figured it was no skin off my back to take him home, nurse him back to health, and find a happy home for him. Of course, after only two days with him I began thinking of him as mine, so now I am keeping both.

I have been struggling to come up with names for these kittens. Friends have tried to help me, but I don't like anything that has been suggested so far. Several people have suggested I give them rarámuri names, but most of the rarámuri use names in Spanish--no rarámuri has been able to give me a name in their language. Finally, I gave Julissa the task of naming the gray one, so that I would only have half the work. "So I'm going to be the godmother?" she asked ("madrina" is godmother in Spanish). I laughed, understanding exactly what she was referring to. In rarámuri culture, parents typically do not name their own babies. They choose godparents, and one of the godparents' responsibilities is to choose a name for their godchild. However, rarámuri babies are not named until they are baptized, which usually occurs (based on what I have seen in Oasis, not what I have read) between months 7 and 12. So it is completely normal for a baby to be carried around for an entire year and not have a name.

Jiovanna has agreed to be the godmother for the black kitten. They have told their mothers, friends, and friends' mothers about our deal, and of course the women think it's odd and hilarious. It has been three weeks and the kittens still do not have names--Julissa and Jiovanna are considering their options very carefully and taking their time to make a decision. The rarámuri mothers are slightly exasperated that the kittens don't have names yet, but I just respond "they can't be named until they have been baptized," to which they laugh. I have heard many chabochis comment on how exasperating it is to meet a baby almost a year old that has not yet been named. Julissa, Jiovanna and I are not at all hurried to name the kittens. It could be weeks before they have names, but that's okay. Another responsibility that godparents have is to give their godchildren gifts, so several times I have teasingly asked the girls what they are going to gift my kittens. They tell me they are making toys for them, which they will give to me in a bunch when they are done.

The kittens

The godmothers