Names

I

Introduction

Names, words signifying special and tangible things, either living, as in the case of a person or an animal, or inanimate, as in the case of a place or a concept. The study of names and their origins is called onomastics (Greek onoma, “name”).

II

Personal Names

In all languages certain names are traditionally used to designate men and others are used for women. A number of English names, such as Evelyn or Leslie, can be used for either sex. Names in themselves have no psychological significance, unless one associates a memorable experience with someone of a particular name. Names that deviate from custom or that lend themselves to unattractive nicknames or diminutives may have an adverse effect on personality.

III

First Names

Given names—known among English-speaking people as first names, forenames, or Christian or baptismal names—existed before surnames. Christian influence on first names has been especially strong. In some countries, such as Brazil, a child must be given an appropriate Christian name before he or she can be issued a birth certificate.

Modern names often are derived from sources such as the names of the months (June), precious stones (Ruby), popular contemporary personalities (Franklin Delano, Liza), flowers (Blossom), places (Georgia), or figures in classical legend (Diana, Jason). New names are frequently coined from variant spellings (JoEtta, Beverleigh, Randi).

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IV

Last Names

Before the development of last names, or surnames, one personal name was generally sufficient as an identifier. Duplications, however, began to occur so often that additional differentiations became a necessity. Thus, in England, for example, a person living near or at a place where apple trees grew might be called John where-the-apples-grow, hence, John Appleby. Regional or habitation names, such as Wood or Woods, Moore, Church, or Hill, constitute the majority of English surnames.

Surnames reflecting medieval life and occupations also form an enormous group, Smith being the foremost with its equivalents in Spanish (Ferrer), German (Schmidt), or Hungarian (Kovacs). Among other English last names denoting an occupation are Chapman (merchant or trader), Miller, and Baker.

Descendant surnames, or names indicating parentage, are often indicated by prefixes such as Mac- or Mc- in Scottish or Irish names or Ap- in Welsh names; or by suffixes such as -son in English names or -sen in Scandinavian names. Thus occur the names Johnson or Jensen, “son of John,” or Jakobsdottir, an Icelandic name meaning “daughter of Jacob.”

In surnames can be detected a desire for immortality; succeeding generations tend to venerate the family name as a symbol of permanence. The maternal grandfather's surname is often used as a child's first name, and women now often retain their maiden names after marriage, or hyphenate maiden and married names.

Compound names also occur in some countries where retaining both family names has long been the custom. Thus, in Spain, Juan the son of Manuel Chávez and Juanita Fernández would be named Juan Chávez (y) Fernández.

The order of names differs from country to country. In Western Europe and the United States, the tendency is to use a threefold pattern of given name, middle name, and surname or family name. In China the first name is the surname, the second is the generation name, and the last is the given name. In Hungary, the same order holds, with surname first and given name or names following.

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