ontnomen

Ontnomen is a proposed framework for standardized naming of entities within ontologies to improve interoperability across domains. The term combines ontology and the Latin nomen for name. Proponents argue that consistent naming and stable identifiers facilitate mapping, reasoning, and data integration in heterogeneous knowledge graphs.

Core principles include stable, language-neutral identifiers; human-readable labels; prefix-based reference schemes such as CURIEs; hierarchical categorization; explicit deprecation policies; and governance processes to approve changes. The framework is described as a set of best practices rather than a formal standard.

Usage spans ontology engineering projects in life sciences, geography, cultural heritage, and other areas where multiple ontologies must be aligned. The framework is intended to complement existing standards rather than replace them, offering a common naming approach that can be adopted incrementally.

A typical pattern uses a structured namespace such as ontnomen:Term:GeologicalEvent:Earthquake to denote a term for an earthquake event. It is designed to be compatible with existing practices like OWL, IRIs, and CURIEs, while providing a unified naming convention that aids automated reasoning and cross-ontology search.

Criticism centers on added complexity, governance overhead, and the potential for fragmentation if competing naming schemes proliferate. Advocates argue that clear naming reduces ambiguity and makes automated integration more robust.

See also: ontology engineering; semantic web; knowledge graph; ontology alignment.