namegiving

Namegiving is the act of giving a name to a person, place, or thing. In human societies it most often refers to selecting a forename for a newborn, but it also applies to adoption, changes of name, and naming ceremonies. The practice is studied in onomastics, the linguistic and cultural examination of names, and in anthroponymy, the subfield focused on personal names.

In many cultures, names carry meaning and social significance. They can reflect language, lineage, religion, geography, or aspirations for the individual. Naming may be performed by parents, elders, or religious authorities and can be accompanied by a formal ceremony. Examples include Hindu Namakarana, Christian christening or baptism, and various community naming rites that occur at birth or during rites of passage. Some traditions name children after relatives or ancestors to preserve lineage, while others use combinations designed for auspiciousness or favorable traits.

Legal and administrative aspects vary by jurisdiction. Most countries require that a chosen name be recorded in civil or vital records, and many place restrictions on form, meaning, or content. Names can be changed through official processes, often to reflect gender transition, marriage, religious conversion, or personal preference. In some societies, surname formation follows patrilineal, matrilineal, or patronymic rules and may change with marriage or adoption.

Sociolinguistic considerations include identity construction, assimilation or resistance to cultural change, and the dynamics of nicknames versus official names. Namegiving thus intersects language, law, religion, and social structure, shaping how individuals are recognized and remembered.