DiscoverLinguistics Behind the ScenesWhat’s in a name? | How naming customs differ around the world
What’s in a name? | How naming customs differ around the world

What’s in a name? | How naming customs differ around the world

Update: 2025-11-02
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In this episode, Christina and Dominic tackle the fascinating – and sometimes funny – ways names reflect identity, culture, and even fashion trends.


- Can names have meaning, or do they just point to people?

- Are you allowed to name your kid “Superman” or “Snow White” in Germany?

- How do naming customs differ across languages and decades?

- Why may a hyphen in “Mary-Jane” or “Sanchez-Stockhammer” matter more than you think?


Whether you're a Jennifer, a Phoenix, or an Emma, this episode has something for anyone with a name (aka: all of us).


Full episode transcript available here:

https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/english/sections/edling/sciencecommunication/podcast-transcripts.php#Episode17


Full article available to read for free here:

Hello Mary Lou (and Mary-Lou and Marylou, too)! Exploring the applicability of English compound spelling strategies to composite names. By Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer. https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/67201/gupea_2077_67201_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (p. 325-335)


Mentioned in this episode:

www.thinkbabynames.com: information on the origin and popularity of names

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What’s in a name? | How naming customs differ around the world

What’s in a name? | How naming customs differ around the world

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