personnames

Personnames, or personal names, are linguistic forms used to identify individuals in social, legal, and cultural contexts. A typical personal name consists of a given name (or first name) and a family name (surname), and may include other elements such as middle names, patronymics, and suffixes. In many cultures the given name is chosen by parents at birth, sometimes reflecting language, religion, or family tradition, and in others a person may select or change it later in life.

Family names are often inherited and can indicate lineage, clan, or geographic origin. The order of name elements varies by culture; in Western contexts the given name usually precedes the surname, while in East Asian and several other traditions the family name comes first. Some cultures also employ multiple family names or double-barreled surnames.

Patronymics or matronymics are derived from a parent's name and function as a component of a full name in several languages, notably Russian, Icelandic, Arabic, and parts of the Iberian Peninsula. Middle names serve various purposes, from honoring relatives to distinguishing individuals with common given names.

Suffixes such as Jr., Sr., or III identify generational relationships. Hyphenated or combined names are common in many societies, reflecting marriage, blended families, or personal preference.

Names may change through marriage, gender transition, legal reform, or personal choice, and such changes require official processes in many jurisdictions. Pseudonyms or stage names are alternative names used publicly, while legal names are those recorded in government documents.

In data handling and international contexts, names pose challenges due to transliteration, diacritics, and cultural variation. Respectful use of a person’s preferred form is a basic practice in formal and informal communication.