A New Chapter for Personal Names Research: Welcome to the ICOS Family!

We are pleased to announce that the International Network for Personal Names Research (INPNR) has officially joined the International Council of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS) family. This is an exciting milestone for our growing community of scholars dedicated to the study of personal names. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration with ICOS and to strengthening global ties within the field of onomastics.

A Flashback: From PNRN to INPNR

Some of you may remember the People’s Names Research Network (PNRN), founded by Jane Pilcher in 2021. It was a vibrant initiative connecting scholars interested in personal names across disciplines and borders. After Jane stepped away from academia in 2023, the network’s future was uncertain. It became clear that it would be a great loss to let such a promising initiative fade. 

As a member of the original network, Dr. Anna-Maria Balbach has taken over and relaunched the network under a new name and institutional home.

Introducing the International Network for Personal Names Research (INPNR)

The new International Network for Personal Names Research is now hosted at the University of Münster. Their mission remains rooted in the same goals: to connect scholars, foster collaboration, and make personal names research more visible and accessible worldwide.

What makes this network special is its truly international and interdisciplinary character. Researchers from linguistics, sociology, anthropology, history, digital humanities, and beyond are all welcome. The common thread? A fascination with personal names - how they’re formed, used, perceived, and transformed, especially in today’s global and mobile world.

What They Offer

The network aims to be more than just a mailing list or a static website. They’re building an active, living community, where researchers around the world can:

• Get in touch with one another

• Share information about ongoing projects across countries

• Exchange news on conferences, publications, and developments in name research

• Discuss ideas and tackle methodological questions together

• List and upload publications (coming soon!) - with English summaries and keywords to improve accessibility

By participating, every scholar gains more visibility for their work and the opportunity to collaborate internationally - perhaps even launching joint projects in the field of personal names research.

What’s Next?

They are excited to continue the tradition of the online symposium that was started under Jane Pilcher’s leadership. Their first conference under the new name is already being planned for summer 2025 - stay tuned for details!

Want to Join Us?

If you are researching personal names - whether from a linguistic, cultural, historical, or sociological perspective - and would like to join the network, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. They welcome scholars from all backgrounds and corners of the world.

📩 Contact: Dr. Anna-Maria Balbach

Together, we can ensure that personal names research gains the international recognition and scholarly exchange it truly deserves.