neonym

Neonym, from neo- meaning new and onym meaning name, is a term used in onomastics to refer to a newly created or adopted name that replaces an older name for a person, place, organization, or concept. A neonym may arise through official renaming, branding, social convention, or linguistic change, and it often signals political, cultural, or identity shifts.

In practice, neonyms appear in several domains: toponymy (new place names or renamed locations), anthroponymy (new personal names or preferred forms), corporate or organizational naming (rebrands or new corporate names), and conceptual or terminological changes (new terms that replace outdated or stigmatizing labels). The term denotes the name itself, rather than the entire process of renaming, and it is used to discuss how names function within social and cultural contexts.

A neonym is distinct from neologism, which denotes a newly coined word in a language, and from eponym, which designates a name derived from a person or thing that inspired it. It is related to renaming and toponymy but should not be conflated with broader social or political processes of nickname adoption or language reform.

Acceptance of a neonym varies; some become widely used and accepted, while others remain ephemeral or contested, reflecting debates over history, memory, and social values. The study of neonyms intersects with naming practices, identity construction, and linguistic change.

See also: onomastics, toponymy, renaming, neologism, eponym.