ABSTRACT

Names both single us out and link us in. They are a symbol of our individual identity and yet also of our collective identity, with first names usually chosen by others, sometimes in honour of others or for a particular meaning, and last names representative of family, history, and genealogy. Geographical, ethnic, cultural, or other ties may be made clear through names; they have both specific and general resonances. They are an important part of cultures and are not given, taken, or shared randomly; they are understood within cultures and their specific boundaries. Without names, we cannot address one another or make it clear whom we are discussing; without names, we become a mass with no public individuality. Names are a part of delineation, organisation, collectivity, and individualism. They act as an identity ‘hook’ and are therefore a part of the process of calling ourselves selves and thinking of ourselves as individuals with significant and important life stories, tied up by the public (and private) symbol of that life – the name.