How are incident names connected to the time or circumstances of a child’s birth?

Incident names are personal names suggested by the specific time or circumstances surrounding a child’s birth or pregnancy. Unlike descriptive names, which are rare because a newborn possesses minimal individuality, incident names are common across history and cultures.1

These names connect to birth circumstances in several ways:

• Timing: A child may be named after the season, month, or holiday of their birth, such as April, June, or Christmas.1
• Events: Names may reflect the situation of the birth itself. For example, the biblical name Ben-oni (Benjamin), meaning "Son of My Sorrow," was given to an infant whose mother died during childbirth.1
• Religious Observance: Many names are derived from saints whose feast days coincide with the child’s date of birth, such as the French name Toussaint, meaning "All Saints".1

While these names are often chosen to mark a specific occasion, they are distinct from names chosen for religious feeling, family tradition, or aesthetic preference.1