On Naming Traditions

Found in the Davies Tahitian and English Dictionary, originally printed in 1851, is this note on the practice of changing/giving names amongst Tahitians.

"Another method of commemorating individual circumstances, as well as public events, was that of taking new names, which has long been very common, and is still practised. These circumstances are, accidents, sickness, death, etc. A father takes the name 'avae mai,' (diseased foot) because his child, or some other member of the family, had been suffering from a bad foot. Another is called 'Iriti,' because some person of the family died of convulsions. Another is named 'Piha-ati,' from the circumstance of a relative having been buried in a coffin made of the ati. The name Pomare, was given to him upon the same principle, illustrated by the foregoing circumstances. Po, signifies night, and Mare, coughing; and as the sovereign had had a severe night of coughing, he adopted the name" (Introductory Remarks, p. v).

While there are many naming traditions in the Pacific Islands region, this references a tradition of renaming after the person has been born and already named. This practice is still used to also commemorate weddings where the newly wed couple will receive a new name, gifted to them by a family member. Though I don't know all of the ways these naming practices are thought about, this was an unexpected find, linking a contemporary practice through time to some historical roots!