Meaning of Names

In many cultures, much importance is placed on the meaning of names. In the United States, a baby's first name is normally selected by the parents based on either its pleasant sound or on familial significance. The last name, or surname, is usually passed down to the child by the father. This is not universal; some cultures only use a given name, and other cultures may use multiple names that can also identify the child's parents. A last name can sometimes give a clue to a family's past; it may indicate the name or profession of an ancestor, or their town of origin.

Fast Facts

1. First name: Also called "given name"
2. Last name: Also called "surname" or "family name"
3. Many Eastern cultures list surname first
4. Some cultures use only one name
5. Mythology: Knowing a creature's name gives one power over it
6. Unisex names: Not gender-specific

Patronymics

In many cultures, a middle name or last name would use the father's name followed by a suffix, to indicate who the father of the name-bearer was. Some common American last names, such as "Anderson", "Powell", or "Fernandez", were once patronymics. In England and several other countries, the last name "Fitzroy" was in a way a patronymic; it meant the person was an acknowledged son of the king (though not the queen). In Iceland, last names are still patronymics, and in Russia middle names are generally patronymics.

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