Autonyms

An autonym is a name used by a group to identify itself. In social and linguistic contexts, autonyms (self-designations) are the terms a community or language group adopts for itself, while exonyms are names given by outsiders. The distinction helps scholars understand identity, language, and culture, and the same group may have different self-designations for people, language, or territory. The word autonym comes from Greek roots meaning “self” and “name.”

Ethnolinguistic autonyms include self-designations such as the Navajo name for themselves, Diné, meaning “the People,” and Basque groups that identify themselves as Euskaldunak, the speakers of Basque. These self-names reflect how communities view themselves and their language, history, and social structures. Exonyms are terms used by outsiders to refer to the same groups. The use of autonyms can be sensitive and culturally important, and respectful documentation often prioritizes local self-designations.

In zoological nomenclature, autonym has a distinct technical meaning. When a species is divided into subspecies, the original population receives a trinomial name that repeats the species epithet, creating the nominate subspecies, such as Canis lupus lupus or Panthera tigris tigris. This automatically created name is called an autonym and designates the subspecies that contains the type specimen. Autonyms are governed by the relevant codes of nomenclature and do not require a separate naming act.