propername

Propername, usually written as proper name or proper noun, is a linguistic term for a word or phrase that designates a specific entity rather than a class. In English and many other languages, proper names are typically capitalized to signal their reference to a unique individual, place, organization, or other identifiable entity.

Proper names contrast with common nouns, which name a class of objects rather than a single item. Examples include Paris (a city), Shakespeare (a person), and Mount Everest (a particular mountain). Some names are multiword phrases, such as New York City or United Nations, and these function syntactically as noun phrases.

In semantics and philosophy of language, proper names are often treated as rigid designators that refer to the actual entity across possible circumstances, regardless of descriptive information. Debates in this area address how names connect to meanings, with Kripkean theories emphasizing causal referral and Fregean theories highlighting sense and descriptive content.

Grammar and usage considerations vary by language. In English, proper names usually do not take indefinite articles and often alternate with determiners only in specific cases (for example, the United States). They can serve as subjects, objects, or complement positions and are typically unanalyzed for plurality when referring to a single entity.

Classification and study of names fall under onomastics, with subfields such as toponymy for place names and anthroponymy for personal names. Name choice and variation can reflect cultural, historical, and political factors, including changes due to marriage, sponsorship, or territorial shifts.

See also: proper noun, common noun, referent, onomastics, Kripkean rigid designation.