rónym

Rónym is a term occasionally used in discussions of onomastics to refer to a category of proper names. It is not part of the established taxonomy of name types and does not have a single, widely accepted definition. In discussions where it appears, rónym is typically treated as a neologism built from the -nym suffix common to onomastic terms (such as toponym, ethnonym, demonym), with the initial element rón- having no fixed meaning outside a given author’s definition.

Because there is no consensus, the scope of what counts as a rónym, and whether it denotes a class of names or a specific naming phenomenon, varies by source. Some authors have explored rónym as a catch-all for names that function to identify the category of the referent, while others see it as a placeholder term for future, more precise taxonomy.

In practice, if you encounter rónym, the most reliable approach is to consult the author’s definition, since usage is heterogeneous. Relationship to other terms: rónym is conceptually related to other onomastic terms such as toponym, ethnonym, demonym, homonym, and autonym, but it is not synonymous with them. See also onomastics, toponymy, ethnonym, demonym, anthroponym. There are no standard references or widely accepted examples, reflecting its status as a fringe or provisional term rather than a canonical category.