Honoring Katharina Leibring for Her Contributions to Onomastics

 On May 5, 2025, Katharina Leibring was awarded the prestigious Erik Wellander Prize for her outstanding contributions to Swedish language care, with a particular focus on onomastics - the study of names. The award was presented by Professor Björn Melander at the annual Språkrådsdagen conference.

                                                   Photo: Kristoffer Henrysson/Isof.

Katharina Leibring, Associate Professor of Nordic Languages at Uppsala University and Senior Research Archivist at the Institute for Language and Folklore (Isof), has dedicated her career to researching Swedish names in a social perspective, both historically and in today’s multicultural society. Her work spans from personal names in 17th-century Sweden to modern naming practices shaped by migration and multilingualism.

Beyond academic research, Leibring has actively contributed to practical name care in Sweden. She has served on the Name Day Committee (Namnlängdskommittén) and frequently shares her expertise in media, helping the public navigate questions about names and their meanings. Notably, her research extends beyond personal names, offering valuable insights into animal names and their cultural significance.

The Erik Wellander Prize, established by the Erik Wellander Foundation, recognizes excellence in language care research and aims to support Swedish linguistic scholarship. This year’s award not only honors Leibring’s scholarly achievements but also highlights the vital role of onomastics in preserving and understanding Sweden’s linguistic heritage.

In a world of evolving identities, naming practices remain a powerful lens for studying culture, language, and belonging. Leibring’s work reminds us that names are more than words - they are carriers of history, identity, and community.

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🇸🇪 (Svenska): Katharina Leibring tilldelas Erik Wellanders pris för sin namnforskning

Den 5 maj 2025 tilldelades Katharina Leibring det prestigefyllda Erik Wellanders pris för sina framstående insatser inom svensk språkvård, med särskild betoning på onomastik-läran om namn. Priset delades ut av professor Björn Melander under den årliga konferensen Språkrådsdagen.

Katharina Leibring är docent i nordiska språk vid Uppsala universitet och förste forskningsarkivarie vid Institutet för språk och folkminnen (Isof). Hennes forskning har fokuserat på svenska personnamn ur ett socialt perspektiv, både historiskt och i dagens mångspråkiga samhälle. Hon har studerat allt från 1600-talets namnbruk till samtida namnval präglade av migration och kulturell mångfald.

Förutom sin akademiska forskning har Leibring gjort viktiga insatser inom personnamnsvård i Sverige. Hon är medlem i Namnlängdskommittén och har regelbundet deltagit i media för att sprida kunskap om namn och deras betydelser. Hennes forskning omfattar också andra namnformer, särskilt djurnamn, där hon bidragit med viktiga insikter.

Erik Wellanders pris, instiftat av Stiftelsen Erik Wellanders fond, delas ut till forskare som gjort betydande insatser inom språkvårdens område. Årets pris belyser inte bara Leibrings akademiska meriter utan också den viktiga roll som onomastiken spelar för att bevara och förstå Sveriges språkliga och kulturella arv.

I en tid där identiteter och namnbruk ständigt förändras påminner Leibrings arbete oss om att namn är mer än ord - de bär på historia, identitet och gemenskap.

Leo XIV: A Pontifical Name Bridging Tradition, Reform, and Global Outreach

 The election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, represents a historic milestone: the first American-born pontiff ascending the papal throne. His choice of the name "Leo" invites theological, historical, and philological reflection, pointing deliberately to powerful precedents in
Catholic history.

A Name Steeped in Tradition and Reform

"Leo" has been adopted by thirteen prior popes, most notably Leo I (Leo the Great) and Leo XIII. Leo I (440–461 AD) is revered for his theological clarity and for persuading Attila the Hun to spare Rome, embodying both doctrinal authority and diplomatic skill. Leo XIII (1878–1903) is best known for his groundbreaking encyclical Rerum Novarum, which established the foundations of Catholic social teaching and addressed workers’ rights and social justice (NY Post, 2025).

By choosing the name Leo XIV, the new pope signals a desire to align with these legacies: upholding doctrinal integrity, engaging contemporary socio-political challenges, and guiding the Church through turbulent times with courage and compassion. His name choice echoes a desire to merge strength with pastoral care, theological wisdom with social advocacy.

Echoes of Augustinian Spirituality

Pope Leo XIV’s roots as an Augustinian friar and alumnus of Villanova University, the only Augustinian Catholic university in the U.S., suggest an intellectual framework shaped by the writings of St. Augustine. Augustine’s synthesis of faith and reason, communal responsibility, and the primacy of charity may deeply influence Leo XIV’s pastoral and theological priorities (Villanova University, 2025).

This Augustinian foundation is likely to emphasize humility, reflection, dialogue, and a commitment to seek truth across diverse voices within the Church. His experience as a teacher, canon lawyer, and bishop adds an additional layer of legal-theological competence to his pontificate.

A Global Lens Shaped by Missionary Experience

Leo XIV’s extensive ministry in Peru, including his roles as bishop of Chiclayo and apostolic administrator of Callao, places him within a Latin American context marked by poverty, inequality, and vibrant popular religiosity. These experiences likely deepened his sensitivity to the marginalized, aligning with the social justice legacy of Leo XIII and Pope Francis. His missionary service signals a pope attentive to the global South and committed to addressing economic and structural injustices worldwide (Associated Press, 2025).

The name Leo may thus signal not only continuity with Leo XIII’s social vision but a renewed call to global solidarity and ecclesial accompaniment for the poor.

Continuity with Francis’s Synodal Vision

Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural remarks, emphasizing building bridges and an open, welcoming Church, directly resonate with the themes of Pope Francis’s pontificate. His stated desire to “pick up where Francis left off” underscores continuity with synodality, pastoral accompaniment, and a Church that listens and walks with the faithful (AP News, 2025).

His choice of "Leo" over a new or symbolic name may suggest a balance between continuity and tradition rather than rupture or radical innovation, reinforcing a leadership style that values institutional memory while remaining pastorally dynamic.

Why Leo, Not Francis II?

While some observers speculated he might honor Pope Francis directly, Leo XIV’s selection implies a preference for honoring a figure like Leo XIII whose papacy engaged structural reform, social teaching, and global engagement without directly replicating his predecessor’s name. By evoking both Leo I and Leo XIII, the new pope situates himself within a lineage of papal figures known for theological clarity, courageous leadership, and social commitment.

Choosing Leo thus allows him to reference multiple historical models, uniting doctrinal strength, reformist vision, and pastoral diplomacy in a name that bridges historical eras.

Conclusion

The name Leo XIV embodies a multifaceted papal vision: doctrinal orthodoxy rooted in tradition, pastoral sensitivity shaped by missionary service, and a commitment to social justice in dialogue with contemporary challenges. It signifies a pope who seeks to balance continuity with adaptation, strength with humility, global outreach with theological depth.

As the first American pope, an Augustinian friar, and a bridge-builder between continents and ecclesial traditions, Leo XIV’s papacy promises to carry forward legacies both ancient and modern while navigating the complexities of a global Church in the 21st century.

References

• NY Post (2025). "Pope Leo XIV: The Pontiff’s New Name Explained." 

• Villanova University (2025). "Villanova Celebrates Election of Pope Leo XIV." 

• Associated Press (2025). "American Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV."  

International Symposium “Names in the Economy VIII” in Mainz (2026)

 

AI-generated poster 

Have you ever wondered how names shape our world - not just names of people and places, but names of companies, products, museums, and even trains? How does multilingualism influence branding, identity, and cultural perceptions in a globalized society?

We are delighted to invite researchers, scholars, and enthusiasts to the 8th International Symposium “Names in the Economy”, hosted by the Department of Romance Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz from 25–27 June 2026.

This year’s theme, “Ergonyms and Multilingualism”, explores the fascinating interplay between names in public spaces, branding strategies, and linguistic landscapes. The conference will address topics such as:

🔹 The role of foreign-language elements in product and company names
🔹 Naming strategies in multilingual and multicultural markets
🔹 How names contribute to cultural identity and communication
🔹 Ergonyms in advertising, transport, institutions, and the arts

We welcome oral presentation proposals from across disciplines. To apply, please submit an abstract (max. 500 words) by 31 October 2025 to nite8@uni-mainz.de. Selected papers will have the opportunity to be published in the conference proceedings after peer review.

The conference language is English. If your presentation is in another language, please provide English slides.

Join us for stimulating discussions, new insights, and a vibrant exchange at the crossroads of linguistics, marketing, and cultural studies!

Stay tuned for further details about registration, accommodation, and the social program.

👉 Submit your abstract by 31 October 2025 and be part of this exciting event!

For more information, contact the organizers: Antje Lobin and Holger Wochele.

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Einladung zum internationalen Symposium „Names in the Economy VIII“ in Mainz (25.–27. Juni 2026)

Haben Sie sich schon einmal gefragt, wie Namen unsere Welt prägen – nicht nur Personen- und Ortsnamen, sondern auch Unternehmens-, Produkt-, Museums- oder sogar Zugnamen? Welche Rolle spielt Mehrsprachigkeit in Markenbildung, Identitätskonstruktion und kultureller Wahrnehmung in einer globalisierten Gesellschaft?

Wir laden Forscherinnen, Wissenschaftlerinnen und Interessierte herzlich ein zum 8. Internationalen Symposium „Names in the Economy“, das vom 25.–27. Juni 2026 vom Institut für Romanistik der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz ausgerichtet wird.

Das diesjährige Thema, „Ergonyme und Mehrsprachigkeit“, beleuchtet die spannende Wechselwirkung von Namen im öffentlichen Raum, Markenstrategien und sprachlichen Landschaften. Die Tagung behandelt unter anderem folgende Themen:

🔹 Die Rolle fremdsprachiger Elemente in Produkt- und Unternehmensnamen
🔹 Namensstrategien in mehrsprachigen und multikulturellen Märkten
🔹 Der Beitrag von Namen zu kultureller Identität und Kommunikation
🔹 Ergonyme in Werbung, Verkehr, Institutionen und Kunst

Wir freuen uns auf Vorschläge für mündliche Vorträge aus verschiedenen Disziplinen. Bitte senden Sie Ihr Abstract (max. 500 Wörter) bis spätestens 31. Oktober 2025 an nite8@uni-mainz.de. Ausgewählte Beiträge haben die Möglichkeit, nach Peer-Review in den Tagungsbänden veröffentlicht zu werden.

Die Konferenzsprache ist Englisch. Bei Präsentationen in anderen Sprachen bitten wir um Folien in englischer Sprache.

Seien Sie dabei, wenn es darum geht, Namen aus der Perspektive von Linguistik, Marketing und Kulturwissenschaften neu zu entdecken und zu diskutieren!

Weitere Informationen zu Anmeldung, Unterkunft und Rahmenprogramm folgen in Kürze.

👉 Reichen Sie Ihr Abstract bis zum 31. Oktober 2025 ein und werden Sie Teil dieses spannenden Events!

Kontakt: Antje Lobin und Holger Wochele

What to Expect at the XXI All-Ukrainian Onomastic Conference

 

AI-generated Poster

The upcoming XXI All-Ukrainian Onomastic Conference, held on May 22–23, 2025, at Volodymyr Vynnychenko Central Ukrainian State University in Kropyvnytskyi, promises to be a vibrant gathering of leading scholars in the field of onomastics - the study of names and naming practices. This year’s conference is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Professor Vasyl V. Luchyk, a renowned linguist and influential figure in Ukrainian onomastics.

👉 Key highlights to look forward to:

• A plenary session featuring insights into Ukrainian and Slovakian onomastics, language policy on place names, and Professor Luchyk’s scholarly contributions.

• Five specialized sections focusing on anthroponymy, toponymy, literary onomastics, names in public and political discourse, and derived names in Ukrainian naming practices. Each session brings together top experts from across Ukraine and international contributors from Slovakia and Poland.

• A roundtable of the Ukrainian Onomastic Commission, discussing projects such as a proposed Encyclopedia of Ukrainian Onomastics and updates on the commission’s ongoing work.

• A final day with presentations of new publications, reports from session chairs, and adoption of the conference resolution.

Participants can join in person or online via Google Meet links provided for each session, ensuring accessible participation. With discussions ranging from historical name records to contemporary naming trends in media, politics, and branding, the conference will offer rich insights into how names shape identity, memory, and culture.

Stay tuned for groundbreaking research, interdisciplinary debates, and networking opportunities at this scholarly celebration of names!

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🌍 Чого очікувати від XXI Всеукраїнської ономастичної конференції

XXI Всеукраїнська ономастична конференція, що відбудеться 22–23 травня 2025 року у Центральноукраїнському державному університеті імені Володимира Винниченка (м. Кропивницький), обіцяє стати яскравою подією для дослідників ономастики — науки про імена та назви. Цьогорічна конференція присвячена 70-річчю від дня народження професора Василя В. Лучика, видатного українського ономаста.

👉 Основні події конференції:

• Пленарне засідання, на якому обговорюватимуть спадщину професора Лучика, мовне законодавство щодо топонімів, українську та словацьку ономастичну термінологію.

• П’ять секцій за напрямами: антропоніміка, топоніміка, оніми в художній літературі та фольклорі, оніми в інформаційному та політичному дискурсі, власні назви та відонімні утворення. У кожній секції виступатимуть провідні науковці з України, Словаччини, Польщі.

• Засідання Української ономастичної комісії, де обговорюватимуть створення енциклопедії «Українська ономастика» та підсумки роботи комісії.

• Останній день присвячений презентаціям нових видань, підсумковим звітам та ухваленню рішення конференції.

Участь можлива очно або онлайн через Google Meet. Конференція об’єднає актуальні дослідження, дискусії про роль імен у суспільстві, медіа, культурі, політиці та рекламі.

Не пропустіть можливість долучитися до наукової спільноти, яка досліджує імена як важливий елемент нашої ідентичності та культурної пам’яті!

Sorbian and Wendish women can now officially carry traditional female surname forms

Sorbische und Wendische Frauen dürfen jetzt ihre traditionellen Nachnamen offiziell tragen

Seit dem 1. Mai gibt es eine historische Änderung im Namensrecht in Brandenburg: Sorbinnen und Wendinnen dürfen endlich die weibliche Form ihrer Familiennamen auch amtlich führen. Bisher waren nur die männlichen Varianten erlaubt, sodass viele Frauen ihren echten, traditionell weiblichen Nachnamen nur privat nutzen konnten, während in Ausweisen eine andere Form stand.

In der sorbischen Kultur werden weibliche Nachnamen durch spezielle Endungen gekennzeichnet: -ojc / -ic für unverheiratete Frauen, -owa / -ina für verheiratete. Aus „Nowak“ wird dann „Nowakojc“ oder „Nowakowa“. Auch für Kinder gibt es nun die Möglichkeit, einen geschlechtsspezifischen Namen zu bekommen, der später nach Wunsch angepasst werden kann.

„Der eigene Name ist ein wesentlicher Teil der Identität“, betonte Brandenburgs Beauftragter für sorbische/wendische Angelegenheiten Tobias Dünow. Mit der Reform wird ein wichtiger Schritt zur Selbstbestimmung und kulturellen Anerkennung gemacht. Gleichzeitig wurde das deutsche Namensrecht insgesamt liberalisiert – mit mehr Flexibilität für Doppelnamen bei Paaren und Kindern.

Diese Reform ist ein Erfolg für alle, die sich für die Rechte der Sorben/Wenden starkmachen, und ein Signal, dass kulturelle Vielfalt auch im Recht sichtbar sein darf.

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(English): Sorbian and Wendish women can now officially carry traditional female surname forms

A historic change has taken effect in Brandenburg as of May 1: Sorbian and Wendish women are now legally allowed to carry the female form of their family names on official documents. Until now, only the male versions were permitted, forcing many women to use their traditional female names privately while official records listed a different surname.

In Sorbian culture, female surnames are marked by special suffixes: -ojc / -ic for unmarried women, -owa / -ina for married women. For example, “Nowak” becomes “Nowakojc” or “Nowakowa.” Children can also now be registered with gender-specific surnames and later choose to adjust their name upon adulthood.

“The personal name is a key part of one’s identity,” said Tobias Dünow, Brandenburg’s Commissioner for Sorbian/Wendish Affairs. This reform is an important step towards self-determination and cultural recognition. At the same time, German name law has been made more flexible in general, allowing more options for double-barrelled names for couples and children.

This reform marks a victory for advocates of Sorbian/Wendish rights—and a signal that legal systems can honor cultural diversity.

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(Niedersorbisch): Serbske a Łužiske žony móža něnto swoje tradiciske mjena oficielnje nosyś

Wót 1. maja płaśi w Brandenburgije nowy zakon: serbske a łužiske žony směju něnto oficielnje žonske formy swójich rodowych mjenow nosyś. Do něnto su byly jano mužske formy dowólowane, tak že žony muse su w pasportach jadnu formu měś, a w priwatnem žywjenju drugu tradicisku formu wužywaś.

W serbskem kulturnem kontekśe se žonske rodowe mjena z -ojc / -ic za njezwate a -owa / -ina za zwate žony kóńcujo. Na pśikład z “Nowak” wótpada “Nowakojc” abo “Nowakowa”. A teke źiśi směju něnto rodowe mjeno dostawaś, kótarež su pó pótwardujo swójo dorosłosć mógu změniś.

„Swójske mjeno jo wažna źěl swójske identity,“ groni Tobias Dünow, komisar za serbske a łužiske pšašanja. Reforma jo wažny krok k samorědowanju a kulturnemu poznanju. Též pśeměnijo se němski zakon o mjenach, aby dale wjace fleksibelnosći za dwomjenowe kombinacije za koparje a źiśi dowólił.

To jo wjeliki wuspěch za wšykne, kótarež se za pšawa serbow/Łužiskow stara a znak, až kulturna róznota móžo teke w zakonje widobna byś.

Discovering Scotland Through Place-Names: A Preview of the 2025 Rhind Lectures

 If you have a passion for Scotland’s rich history, language, and landscapes, then the 2025 Rhind Lectures hosted by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is an event you won’t want to miss. Held annually since the 19th century, the Rhind Lectures are a cornerstone of Scotland’s scholarly calendar, bringing together leading researchers and the curious public for a deep dive into topics that help us better understand Scotland's past and present.

This year's theme? “Scotland’s Place-Names” - a journey into the fascinating world of toponymy, where every name tells a story.

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🏛️ What Are the Rhind Lectures?

The Rhind Lectures were established through a bequest by Alexander Henry Rhind (1833–1863), a pioneering archaeologist and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. His vision was to foster public understanding of archaeology, history, and heritage through accessible scholarship. Since then, the lectures have evolved into a multi-day annual event featuring expert speakers on a specific theme.

Delivered by top-tier academics, these lectures are known for their depth, clarity, and public appeal, drawing both professional researchers and interested laypeople alike.

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📆 What to Expect from the 2025 Edition

🗓️ Date: June 20, 2025
📍 Location: Details will be announced via the Society's website
👥 Capacity: 160 attendees
🎟️ Registration: Free but essential – spaces are limited

This year’s lectures will focus on Scotland’s Place-Names - examining the layers of language, culture, and history behind the names of towns, rivers, hills, and more. Why does Edinburgh mean "fort of Edwin"? What Norse traces linger in the coastal names of the Hebrides? What can Gaelic and Pictish roots reveal about migration and settlement? Expect these and many other questions to be unpacked with scholarly rigor and engaging storytelling.

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🧭 Format and Flow

The Rhind Lectures typically unfold across a weekend, with six linked lectures presented over two or three days. Here's how a standard Rhind weekend looks:

• Friday Evening: Opening lecture, setting the stage for the theme

• Saturday: Two morning and two afternoon sessions, often followed by informal discussion

• Sunday: Final lecture and closing reflections

Between sessions, participants often enjoy lively Q&As, browsing books or Society publications, and networking with others equally passionate about history and heritage.

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🗣️ Who Should Attend?

Whether you're a:

• Linguist fascinated by how language changes across landscapes

• Historian tracing settlement patterns

• Archaeologist mapping ancient communities

• Local history buff curious about the name of your hometown

• Or simply a lover of Scotland's cultural richness this event is for you.

The Rhind Lectures are particularly well-suited for those who enjoy learning in a relaxed yet intellectually stimulating environment. No prior expertise is needed - just curiosity!

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🌍 A Glimpse Into Scotland's Soul

Place-names are more than labels - they are living records of how people saw the land, interacted with it, and built their identities around it. They preserve ancient languages, tell of conquests and kinships, and continue to evolve even today. The 2025 Rhind Lectures will help peel back these layers, offering a deeper understanding of Scotland not just as a place, but as a tapestry of human experience.

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📝 How to Join

👉 Visit the official event page here:
🔗 Rhind Lectures 2025 – Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

🎟️ Reserve your spot early - seats are limited, and the Rhind Lectures tend to fill up quickly!

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📣 Final Thoughts

The Rhind Lectures are a testament to the enduring importance of public scholarship. If you're eager to explore how words shape worlds - and how names shape nations - join us this June and uncover the stories hidden in plain sight on Scotland’s map.

Onomastics and Bureaucracy: A Mismatch in Kazakhstan

 In Kazakhstan, the delicate art of onomastics - the naming of streets, places, and institutions - has become a battleground between historical justice, national identity, and bureaucratic inertia. A recent expert meeting in Astana, organized by the Institute of State History, the Jochi Ulus Research Institute, and the National Academic Library, shed light on this pressing issue, as well as broader reflections on historical research and heritage preservation.

At the heart of the discussion was President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s call for pragmatic, rational approaches to national memory. He urged historians to move beyond historical grievances and empty nostalgia, focusing instead on truth, academic integrity, and fairness in shaping Kazakhstan’s collective consciousness.

Yet, as historian and MP Erkin Abil noted, implementing this vision requires deep reforms - not just in academia but in state policy, including the field of onomastics.

A Naming System Caught in Bureaucracy and Nepotism

According to Dr. Marat Absemetov, director of the Saken Seifullin Museum and member of Astana’s onomastic commission, the process of naming and renaming places in Kazakhstan has been plagued by favoritism and informal networks. Names have at times been assigned based on personal ties, regional loyalties, or clan affiliations rather than historical merit or public interest.

This leads to bizarre outcomes: streets named after obscure local figures of dubious legacy, while deserving national heroes remain unrecognized. Absemetov highlights the case of Rasul Yesetov, a native of Turkistan, Hero of the Soviet Union and participant in the 1945 Victory Parade. Despite years of petitions from citizens, local authorities have failed to name a street after him - symbolizing bureaucratic paralysis and neglect.

This contradiction is especially poignant given President Tokayev’s own words: at a recent Assembly of People of Kazakhstan session, he unequivocally supported renaming streets to honor unsung WWII heroes, emphasizing the moral obligation to preserve their memory.

The International Parallel: When Naming Becomes Political

Kazakhstan is not alone in facing politicized or bureaucratized onomastics. Around the world, naming practices have been entangled with corruption, power plays, and identity politics:

• In India, renaming cities and streets - such as Bombay to Mumbai or Allahabad to Prayagraj - has sparked accusations of political agenda-setting and erasure of multicultural heritage.

• In Russia, the post-Soviet period saw fierce debates over restoring pre-revolutionary names (like St. Petersburg), while others argued for preserving Soviet-era names, revealing deep ideological rifts.

• In South Africa, the renaming of apartheid-era streets and towns became both a necessary act of redress and a bureaucratic minefield, sometimes leading to protracted legal challenges and political disputes.

These cases highlight a universal dilemma: naming is never neutral. It reflects power, history, and identity—and when left to opaque bureaucracies or corrupt systems, it risks undermining public trust and historical truth.

Toward Transparent and Just Onomastics

The Astana meeting underscored an urgent need to de-bureaucratize and professionalize onomastic policy in Kazakhstan:
✅ Simplify and clarify the approval process
✅ Prioritize public input and historical expertise
✅ Establish safeguards against nepotism and favoritism

Meanwhile, cultural institutions like the National Center for Manuscripts and Rare Books face their own challenges. Director Zhandos Boldykov raised concerns about Kazakhstan’s fragile manuscript heritage, much of which is dispersed abroad or poorly preserved. He called for an integrated effort to recover, restore, and centralize historical manuscripts, further reinforcing the nation’s cultural foundations.

A Call for Action

Kazakhstan’s struggle with onomastics is more than a technical administrative issue—it is a question of how a nation remembers, honors, and tells its story. Bureaucracy and nepotism have no place in this process. If names are to inspire, educate, and unite, they must be chosen with integrity, transparency, and respect for history.

As Kazakhstan navigates its path toward a mature national identity, reforming the politics of naming is not just desirable - it’s essential.

Surveying the Widespread Practice of Renaming in Response to Physical Illness

ANS 2025, February 22, 2025

"A Change of Name during Sickness": Surveying the Widespread Practice of Renaming in Response to Physical Illness by Russell Fielding

This paper synthesizes and summarizes a selection of literature—largely anthropological and ethnographic, published between the early 18th and early 21st centuries—that describes the practice of renaming a person who is physically ill in order to affect their recovery. In none of these publications is this particular practice central; rather, it is often mentioned alongside myriad other cultural and naming practices. While no claim is made as to the exhaustive nature of the literature review, this analysis reveals patterns and similarities related to the reasoning behind such a practice and the special relationship between personal names and physical health in a wide variety of world cultures.

Mapping Digital Discourses of the Capital Region of Finland

ANS 2025, February 22, 2025

Mapping Digital Discourses of the Capital Region of Finland: Combining Onomastics, CADS, and GIS by 

Jarmo Jantunen (University of Jyväskylä, Finland),

Tehri Ainiala (University of Helsinki, Finland),

Salla Jokela (Tampere University, Finland),

and Jenny Tarvainen (University of Jyväskylä, Finland)

This article discusses the three Finnish city names Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa, and the urban discourses that surround them. The study reveals patterns of socio-spatial differentiation by examining what meanings people attach to these capital region cities and investigating how these

meanings are expressed in online discourses. Using the methodological approach of corpus-assisted onomastics (CAO), this study incorporates onomastics, geographical information systems (GIS), and corpus linguistics. This interdisciplinary research also examines how corpus-assisted discourse studies (CADS) and GIS can be combined to reveal and visualize the  contextual information and discursive patterns of toponyms. For this investigation, a data set of 2.7 billion words was collected from the Suomi24 Corpus, one of the biggest discussion fora in Finland. The use of social media corpus as a data source increases the authenticity of this research, as the data was not collected specifically for this study. The analysis reveals that the most frequent digital discourses about the cities refer to places and directions, housing, and mobility. The occurrences differ quantitatively and qualitatively between each city. This paper paves the way for future onomastic studies to research actual name usage using this new methodology. Knowledge gained from such research may not only enrich the field of onomastics, but also facilitate more socially sustainable urban planning.

Mapping place names

ANS 2025, February 22, 2025

Mapping place names by Lennart Chevallier (Kiel University, Germany) and Sören Wichmann (Kiel University, Germany)

Toponomastics is a well-established branch of humanities which has a history of more than two centuries of practice based on sound, scientific principles and which is of interdisciplinary importance (Eichler 1982: 8). It is useful to distinguish between what we may call particularistic and pattern-finding approaches: The former include a focus on the etymologies of individual place names and what they can tell us about histories of ethnic groups. The latter are mainly concerned with the identification of morphemes recurring across numerous place names and what the distributions found may reveal. Since around 1990, the personal computer began to play a decisive role in some toponymic studies of the pattern-finding kind (e.g., Campbell 1991), and the availability of GIS software have made such studies more common. Nevertheless, the particularistic approaches are still vastly dominant in the literature on toponyms (cf. Tent 2015), and it is symptomatic that the recent textbook by Cacciaforo and Cavallaro (2023) is almost devoid of distributional maps. We believe, however, that the possibility to process and map large amounts of place names using dedicated software has a great potential to boost toponomastics. For this reason, we have developed the package toponym within the computational environment of R, an environment that enjoys a wide popularity. R allows for the integration of countless tools from statistics, linguistics, geography, etc. The package provides an interface to the data at https://www.geonames.org/, which contains around 12.5 million entries for toponyms pertaining to 253 countries and 9 feature classes (populated places, water bodies, mountains, etc.). Our software facilitates the search for specific strings (sequences of letters) in the entire database and instantly produces maps of toponyms filtered in a number of different possible ways. The various functionalities are described in Chevallier and Wichmann (2024). After a brief introduction to the package we illustrate its scientific utility through two case studies, one involving the small Xincan linguistic family of southeastern Guatemala, and one involving varieties of Slavic languages formerly spoken in eastern Germany.

The fear of saying personal names

ANS 2025, February 22, 2025

The fear of saying personal names by Thomas Ditye (Sigmund Freud University, Austria)

The fear of saying personal names has recently been established under the term alexinomia. Alexinomia is characterized by knowing a name but being unable to say it in everyday communication. The problem is not related to memory or the production of language but is instead rooted in unpleasant emotional responses (i.e. anxiety) preventing affected individuals from saying other people’s names. The behaviour can affect all relationships and occurs in all forms of communication but seems to be strongest in close (i.e. romantic) relationships and in direct verbal communication. Being unable to call others by their name heavily impacts social interaction in many situations and negatively affects the quality of the affected relationships.

Affected individuals can cope with the impairment by making use of compensation strategies helping them to avoid using names. Our research shows that alexinomia is a major burden in those affected and quite common, at least in the German and English speaking world. It is linked to increased levels of social anxiety, attachment-related anxiety and an impaired sense of personal identity. The behaviour might be strongly affected by culture and is likely to be associated with the social mechanisms of name avoidance known from anthropology and socio-onomastics. I will be giving an introduction on this rarely discussed phenomenon and present findings from qualitative and quantitative psychological research on the topic, discussing the main attributes, current research, and future directions of this new field of study across various disciplines.

Biography:

Dr. Thomas Ditye is a psychologist and psychotherapist. He studied at the University of Vienna and University College London. Thomas is now an assistant professor at Sigmund Freud University Vienna. His research interests include topics on consciousness (e.g. sleep and meditation) and clinical psychological topics including addiction and social anxiety.

(9th meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

Updates from Day 4 at the 2025 Session of UNGEGN

The day kicked off with a special presentation from Norway on geographical names education, showing how interactive engagement can foster awareness and respect for place names as both cultural heritage and tools for sustainable development.

We then explored strategies for building effective work programmes, including recommendations for constructing inclusive and sustainable geographical names authorities—a key theme for many Member States.

Side events included “The World Geographical Names Database and a Unique Identifier for Cities”, which took a deep dive into the tables proposal for a Global Unique Identifier for Cities and detailed how the Secretariat is working with Member States to enhance the management of geographical names globally.

The Group also reviewed the evaluation of the implementation of UNGEGN resolutions and recommendations, and considered the social and economic benefits of supporting sustainable development through toponymy.

We heard updates to toponymic guidelines from Norway, Poland, Finland, Czechia, Austria, and Estonia, and discussed other key issues such as:
• Legal frameworks for geographical names standardization in Norway
• Monitoring and evaluation practices in Indonesia
• The use of awards to recognise excellence in geospatial data and innovation—also from Indonesia

These examples highlight the diverse approaches being taken around the world to strengthen the visibility, governance, and impact of geographical names.

Name Changes and Name Co-existence in Deaf Signing Communities in Germany

ANS 2025, February 22, 2025

Name Changes and Name Co-existence in Deaf Signing Communities in Germany" by Maria Kopf (Universität Hamburg, Germany)

Changing one’s personal name is, typologically speaking, a rather common phenomenon (Nübling 2021). Germany though, has very strict laws about naming and name changes (Schmidt-Jüngst 2020). Within deaf signing communities, this strict name continuity does not seem to be reflected. Signers use personal signs to refer to one another, called name signs. The customs for giving name signs show cultural norms and shared history within deaf communities (McKee 2016). Signers report different occasions where new personal name signs arise, replacing old name signs or coexisting with them (Mindess 1990, Day & Sutton-Spence 2010, Van Mulders 2005). For example, the German former chancellor Merkel is known by several co-existing name signs (see examples in video). However, an extensive investigation of naming customs in respect of name changes and co-existence is still missing.

Based on data from the task ‘Sign names’ in the DGS corpus (Nishio et al. 2010) – a comprehensive collection of German Sign Language (DGS) – this study investigates (i) the act of naming, (ii) name changes and (iii) co-existence of names for personal name signs of deaf signers in Germany. Preliminary results indicate that name changes appear mostly when signers enter a new social group, e. g. at school, work, clubs or in regional deaf communities and families. Name givers seem to be the peer group as a collective, persons in authority, friends or relatives. While most name changes go along with the former name disappearing, there are cases where several names co-exist in different settings.

Biography:

Maria Kopf is a PhD candidate in the field of sign language research at the Universität Hamburg and member of the DGS-Korpus project team. She works on sign language data and comparability and methods for corpus building. Her interests lay in onomastic studies, the interplay of gender and language and sign languages in general.

Anthropomorphism in puppy and kitten names in Holly Webb’s children’s book

ANS 2025, February 22, 2025

Anthropomorphism in puppy and kitten names in Holly Webb’s children’s books and their translations by F. Nihan Ketrez (Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey)

There has been a growing trend to give human names (e.g., Max, Bella) to pet or companion animals in the US and the other western countries (Safir 1986; Abel 2007; Bergien 2016; Leibring 2016; Herzog 2018, Dorety 2020, among others). This pattern is interpreted as a result of anthropomorphism of dogs and cats in modern lives. In other cultures, other factors play significant roles on the degree of humanization. Ketrez (2024) reports that dogs and cats have different status in the society in Turkey. While cats have free access to homes, dogs have restrictions due to their impure status in Islam and were kept at home only by secular people who adopt a more western life style. This is reflected on the naming practices of the dogs: Dogs are observed to have more modern and foreign names while cats are granted more traditional Turkish human names.

In this study, we examine puppy and kitten names in English children’s literature and Turkish translations to see whether puppy and kittens are different in terms of whether they have human names or not and whether this pattern is reflected in the translations of the books in the same way. 78 of Holly Webb’s books that have puppy and kitten characters were analyzed. The results showed that puppies had more human names than kittens in the original English versions. In contrast, puppies are less likely to have Turkish human names in translation, which is consistent with the pattern observed in pet-naming practices in Turkey.

Biography:

F. Nihan Ketrez is a linguist working on Turkish morphosyntax and child language acquisition. She is interested in pet and infant-/child-directed speech, in particular, address terms and address patterns. As a part of this research agenda, she is studying pet names and sociolinguistic motivations behind them.

Этнографические чтения о горско-еврейской ономастике

6 апреля в ОГЕ прошли историко-этнографические чтения о горско-еврейской ономастике.

Темой стали фамилии и родословные. Вела встречу Дарья Буцева (РГГУ, Еврейский музей).

Данил Данилов (СТМЭГИ) рассказал о запросах на помощь в поиске корней.

С лекцией выступил Евгений Власов, эксперт по генеалогии из ВШЭ.

(8th meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

Summary

UNGEGN-2025 will take place at UNHQ in New York from 28 April to 2 May 2025. Theme: Advancing geographical names standardization through inclusive, culturally-informed and evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development

(7th meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

UNGEGN sessions provide a forum where experts from the interrelated fields of geography, cartography, geospatial information, linguistics and history, from across the world come together to learn and share best practices and norms, new developments in geographical names administration and standardization.

The session also highlights the Group's role as an enabler in preserving cultural heritage and where appropriate support relevant aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This session will address the theme "Advancing geographical names standardization through inclusive, culturally-informed and evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development".

This theme conforms with General Assembly resolution 70/1, which called for ECOSOC inter-governmental bodies and forums to reflect the integrated nature of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as the interlinkages between them. The 2025 theme was therefore created based on ECOSOC's SDG theme for 2025, 'Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind' which focuses on the review of SDG goals 3, 5, 8, 14 and 17. Therefore, it is beneficial to encourage focus on this topic and create a platform through the 2025 session to explore inclusive, culturally-informed and evidenced based solutions are being employed by Member States to achieve their goals, and in turn support the Sustainable Development Goals.

(6th meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

UNGEGN sessions provide a forum where experts from the interrelated fields of geography, cartography, geospatial information, linguistics and history, from across the world come together to learn and share best practices and norms, new developments in geographical names administration and standardization.

The session also highlights the Group's role as an enabler in preserving cultural heritage and where appropriate support relevant aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This session will address the theme "Advancing geographical names standardization through inclusive, culturally-informed and evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development".

This theme conforms with General Assembly resolution 70/1, which called for ECOSOC inter-governmental bodies and forums to reflect the integrated nature of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as the interlinkages between them. The 2025 theme was therefore created based on ECOSOC's SDG theme for 2025, 'Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind' which focuses on the review of SDG goals 3, 5, 8, 14 and 17. Therefore, it is beneficial to encourage focus on this topic and create a platform through the 2025 session to explore inclusive, culturally-informed and evidenced based solutions are being employed by Member States to achieve their goals, and in turn support the Sustainable Development Goals.