Given name

A given name is the part of a personal name that is not inherited but chosen for an individual, distinguishing them from relatives who share a surname. In most cultures it is conferred shortly after birth, often through a formal ceremony such as baptism, aqiqah, or a secular registration. Its primary function is identificatory, but it also carries expressive and social roles: it can honor ancestors, encode religious devotion, mark gender, or signal ethnic or national identity.¹

Unlike surnames, which are typically fixed across generations, given names are more fluid and subject to fashion, legal constraints, and personal creativity. In many legal systems, a given name is recorded on birth certificates and identity documents, and changes require a formal process. The choice of a given name can also reflect parental aspirations, such as names meaning "strength" or "wisdom," or commemorate significant events or public figures.²

Across cultures, the structure and use of given names vary widely. In Western societies, a person typically has one or two given names followed by a surname, while in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, individuals often carry two given names and two surnames (paternal and maternal). In Iceland, a patronymic or matronymic system replaces surnames, so a person's last name is derived from a parent's given name, such as Jónsson or Jónsdóttir.

Historically, given names have been influenced by religion, royalty, and literature. In Christian Europe, names of saints were dominant, while in Islamic cultures, names of prophets and companions of Muhammad are common. In East Asia, given names often carry auspicious meanings and are chosen with attention to the characters' strokes and phonetic harmony with the family name. In many African and Indigenous cultures, names may reflect the circumstances of birth, such as the day of the week or the order of twins, and can be changed later in life to mark significant transitions.

Most jurisdictions regulate the registration of given names, imposing restrictions on length, characters, and offensiveness. For example, Germany requires that a name clearly indicate the child's gender, while New Zealand has a list of prohibited names deemed "unreasonably offensive" or that could cause confusion. In some countries, such as Denmark and Sweden, there are approved lists of names, though parents can petition for exceptions.

Name changes are generally permitted but subject to legal procedures, often requiring a court order or administrative approval. In many countries, a person can change their given name upon marriage, divorce, or gender transition, and some allow a simple declaration for any reason. The rise of digital identity systems has also led to debates about the use of diacritics and non-Latin scripts in official records, with some countries accommodating them and others transliterating or rejecting them.

Given names have been used as a form of protest or political statement. In the 1960s, some African Americans adopted names with African roots, such as Kareem or Aisha, as a rejection of names imposed during slavery. In Nazi Germany, Jewish parents were forced to add "Israel" or "Sara" to their names for identification, a practice that was later repealed.

In some cultures, a person's given name is considered sacred and is not used in everyday address; instead, teknonyms (e.g., "father of X") or nicknames are used. In parts of Indonesia and the Philippines, some people have only a single name, with no surname at all. The longest given name on record is a Hawaiian name of 102 letters, and in the United States, a child was once named "Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Sherman Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Zeus" — a name that was later shortened. Such extremes highlight the tension between personal expression and administrative practicality.³

Patronymic

A name derived from the father's given name, such as Johnson (son of John).

Teknonym

A name that refers to a person by their relationship to another, e.g., "mother of X".

Aqiqah

An Islamic naming ceremony held seven days after birth, involving a sacrifice and hair shaving.