Why is Nama also called Khoekhoegowab?

The Nama language is also known as Khoekhoegowab because it is the primary language spoken by the Khoekhoe people. The term "Khoekhoe" itself is the name the people use for themselves, meaning "men of men".12

While the language is frequently referred to as Nama or Nama/Damara, the name Khoekhoegowab (sometimes spelled Khoekhoegowap) reflects its identity as the language of the Khoekhoe. It is a member of the Khoekhoe languages, a subgroup of the Khoe family within the Khoisan languages. Historically, the term "Hottentot" was applied to these speakers by European settlers, but this label is now considered pejorative and is no longer used in respectful discourse.12