Deadnaming

Deadnaming is the act of referring to a transgender or nonbinary person by the name they used before their transition or before adopting their current name. The term arises within LGBTQ+ communities and is used to describe a practice that may be intentional or inadvertent. Deadnaming can occur in everyday conversation, media reporting, workplaces, and online interactions. In some cases it also involves disclosing a person’s former name or legal history without consent, which can raise privacy concerns.

The practice is generally viewed as disrespectful and potentially harmful because a chosen name is a significant part of a person’s gender identity. Repeated deadnaming can cause distress, reinforce stigma, and contribute to discrimination or safety risks. Many professional and advocacy guidelines advise avoiding deadnaming except in specific, necessary contexts—such as discussions of historical events, biographical work, or where legal documentation requires reference to a former name.

Best practices emphasize using the person’s chosen name and pronouns, and offering corrections when a deadname is used accidentally. If you have deadnamed someone, acknowledge the mistake, apologize, and avoid repeating the former name. Do not disclose a person’s former name unnecessarily. In formal settings, update records and communications to reflect the person’s current name and pronouns to respect privacy and reduce harm. When in doubt, ask for preferred names and pronouns and apply them consistently.