Personenonyms

Personenonyms is a term used in linguistics to denote linguistic forms that function as names for people. The category spans a range of forms that identify individuals by name rather than by a description of their attributes, including personal names, nicknames, titles, epithets, stage names, and pseudonyms that function as primary identifiers. It also covers placeholder or fictional names used to refer to people in discourse, such as John Doe or Jane Roe.

The primary function of personenonyms is to establish identity and reference within a discourse. They can convey information about social status, familiarity, or affection and may reflect power dynamics or cultural norms. Epithets like “the Great” or “the Iron Lady” are examples of descriptive personenonyms that become primary identifiers for individuals.

The term combines person and onym and is used in some linguistic discussions as a broad label for names that refer to people. It is not uniformly standardized; some scholars prefer more established terms such as anthroponyms, nicknames, or epithets.

Related concepts include anthroponyms, stage names, pseudonyms, and epithets.