anthroponym

An anthroponym is a personal name given to a human being. In onomastics, anthroponyms include given names (forenames), surnames (family names), middle names, nicknames, and sometimes honorifics or pseudonyms used in ordinary life or in performance. The term distinguishes human names from other classes such as toponyms (place names) and hydronyms (water names).

Origin and composition: The word derives from Greek anthropos "human" and onoma "name." Across languages, anthroponyms reflect linguistic, cultural, and historical factors, with meanings often tied to virtues, nature, or religion, and with forms shaped by the phonology and morphology of each language. Naming practices vary widely: some cultures emphasize family names, others rely on patronymics, matronymics, or clan-based identifiers; the order, diacritics, and orthography may change with migration and legal reform.

Legal and social aspects: Many jurisdictions maintain laws governing name changes, gender markers, and the use of surnames, with implications for identity documents, civil registration, and inheritance. Anthroponymy also intersects with social trends, such as the popularity of given names, the revival of traditional names, or the adoption of modern or invented forms.

Usage and significance: Researchers study anthroponyms to understand history, migration, and culture; anthroponyms are documented in onomastic corpora, aiding genealogy, demography, and linguistic analysis. In fiction and journalism, anthroponyms help convey character, setting, and realism. The study of anthroponyms thus illuminates how human societies name their members and express identity.