antroponimi

Antroponimi, or anthroponyms, are the personal names used to identify human beings. The study of these names—encompassing given names, surnames, and other forms of address—belongs to onomastics, with a specific focus on anthroponymy. In Italian contexts the term antroponimi is used to denote this field of inquiry.

Etymology: The word derives from Greek anthropos “human” and onoma “name.” The concept is parallel to other naming domains such as toponyms (place names).

Types and structure: Given names (forenames) identify individuals within a family; surnames (family names) indicate lineage. Middle names, patronymics, and matronymics reflect parentage or ancestry. Hypocoristics are informal or affectionate forms derived from longer names. The order of names, spelling, and the use of diacritics vary across languages and cultures, as do practices surrounding legal name changes and gender-based naming rules.

Cultural and historical significance: Anthroponymy encodes linguistic, religious, ethnic, and social information. Naming practices reflect history, migration, colonization, religious traditions, and political change, and they adapt to legal regimes and social norms. Names can signal status, belonging, or personal identity, and they often evolve with globalization and cultural contact.

Study and sources: Onomastics, and specifically anthroponymy, analyzes name formation, meaning, frequency, and distribution. Researchers use civil registers, censuses, literary sources, and historical documents to trace naming trends and regional differences. See also onomastics and toponymy.