Synonymnamn

Synonymnamn is a linguistic term used to describe a set of names that share the same referent. It refers to naming variants—official names, historical forms, translations, and ordinary nicknames—that can be used interchangeably in certain contexts to denote the same person, place, organization, or work. The term combines synonym and namn (Swedish for name) and is used mainly in discussions of onomastics and lexicography to focus on the naming aspect rather than the referent itself. The term is not widely standardized and is primarily used in academic discussions of naming.

In practice, whether different names are true synonymnamn depends on context. Some variants are nearly interchangeable in everyday use but carry different connotations, registers, or risk of ambiguity. For example, New York City and New York are commonly used interchangeably in casual speech, even though they can refer to the city or the state; nicknames such as The Big Apple or Gotham function as synonymnamn with a strong cultural resonance. Historical names—like Paris and the City of Light in certain contexts—may also serve as synonymnamn when used to evoke the same entity.

Applications include lexicography, branding, translation, and onomastic research, where tracking synonymnamn helps explain how audiences perceive and refer to the same referent across languages and media. Related concepts include alias, pseudonym, epithet, nickname, toponym, and the broader study of synonyms and naming conventions.