Muuntuminennimen

Muuntuminennimen is a coined term used in onomastics and fictional linguistics to describe the deliberate alteration of a proper name to signal a new identity or social function. The term combines Finnish muuntuminen 'transformation' with nimen, the genitive form of nime, 'name', and is typically used in discussions of naming practices within multilingual or constructed-language contexts. It is not an established technical term in mainstream linguistics, but appears in essays, world-building guides, and role-playing game lore to label name-change processes.

Mechanisms include transliteration into another script, phonological adaptation to a language’s phonotactics, or translation of meaning into a corresponding name. It also covers the addition of epithets or honorifics (for example, turning 'Mikael' into 'Mikael the Wise'), and morphological changes that align with a language’s naming conventions, such as surname or patronymic formation. In ceremonial or narrative contexts, a character may receive a muuntuminennimen during rites of passage, allegiance swearing, or after achieving a notable deed.

In fiction and world-building, muuntuminennimen serves to mark shifts in status, allegiance, or identity without altering the core personal name. It is related to epithet naming, alias creation, and the cultural translation of names across languages.

Overall, muuntuminennimen is a descriptive label for name-changing practices in imagined or multilingual contexts rather than a fixed linguistic category.