personal name
Quick Summary
A personal name is a name used to identify an individual. It can be a given name, also known as a first name or Christian name, which is typically bestowed shortly after birth. This is often used in conjunction with a surname or family name, which is usually inherited.123
In many Western cultures, the order is given name followed by surname (e.g., John Smith). However, some cultures, like Chinese and Hungarian, place the family name first (e.g., Mao Zedong). Personal names can be derived from religious figures, family history, or even descriptive words, and their usage has evolved over centuries with influences from religion, culture, and historical events. Legal regulations also play a role in naming conventions, with some countries having stricter rules than others regarding name changes and choices.3425
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North AfricaReligion and cultureThe great majority of Carthaginian personal names, unlike those of Greece and Rome, were of religious significanceāe.g., Hannibal, āFavoured by Baal,ā or Hamilcar, āFavoured by Melqart.ā
Read MoreThe great majority of Carthaginian personal names, unlike those of Greece and Rome, were of religious significanceāe.g., Hannibal, āFavoured by Baal,ā or Hamilcar, āFavoured by Melqart.ā
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ancient Italic peopleOrganizationā¦or nomen, derived from a personal name or perhaps the name of a god or a place. This system was in use by the second half of the 7th century, replacing the use of a single name (as in āRomulusā and āRemusā) and reflecting the new complexity of relationships developingā¦
Read Moreā¦or nomen, derived from a personal name or perhaps the name of a god or a place. This system was in use by the second half of the 7th century, replacing the use of a single name (as in āRomulusā and āRemusā) and reflecting the new complexity of relationships developingā¦
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Mesoamerican IndianSocial, political, and religious institutionsā¦ (Otomanguean) communities, a manās first name becomes the surname of his offspring.
Read Moreā¦ (Otomanguean) communities, a manās first name becomes the surname of his offspring.
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Syrian and Palestinian religionGods, mythology, and worldviewā¦the divine names used in personal names, those of literary myths and epics, and those of more official pantheons, as found in cultic and political texts.
Read Moreā¦the divine names used in personal names, those of literary myths and epics, and those of more official pantheons, as found in cultic and political texts.
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