anthroponyms

Anthroponymy is the branch of onomastics that studies personal names, known as anthroponyms. It examines how names function in societies, how they are formed, transmitted, and used, as well as their social, linguistic, and historical significance.

Traditional categories include given names (forenames), family names (surnames), and, in some systems, middle names. In many cultures, names can be augmented by nicknames, sobriquets, or professional names. Some naming practices include patronymics or matronymics, derived from a parent’s name, as well as toponyms, occupational names, or descriptive epithets.

Origins: Given names are often rooted in language, religion, and ethnicity, with meanings tied to qualities or circumstances of birth. Surnames arise from lineage, residence, occupation, or characteristic. The study also addresses linguistic changes, transcription variants, and phonological adaptation across languages.

Cultural variation: In Western countries, the usual order is given name followed by surname; in East Asian contexts the reverse is common; Iceland uses patronymics or matronymics instead of fixed family names; Russian and other Slavic traditions use patronymics as a form of address. Name forms may reflect gender, religious tradition, and social status, and can change over time due to cultural contact and policy.

Legal and social aspects: Names are legally registered and may be changed for marriage, gender transition, or personal preference. Government statistics rely on standardized forms, and researchers study anthroponyms to understand migration, cultural contact, and naming fashions.

Contemporary trends: Globalization and migration bring cross-cultural names and hybrid forms. There is increasing use of gender-neutral names, and recording practices must handle variations, transliterations, and diacritics.