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A '''name''' is a label for a noun, normally used to distinguish one from another. Names can identify a class or category of [[things]], or a single thing, either [[unique]]ly, or within a given [[context]]. A [[personal]] name identifies a specific unique and identifiable [[individual]] [[person]]. The name of a specific entity is sometimes called a proper name (although that term has a philosophical [[meaning]] also) and is a proper noun. Other nouns are sometimes, more loosely, called names; an older term for them, now obsolete, is "general names".

A '''name''' is a label for a noun, normally used to distinguish one from another. Names can identify a class or category of [[things]], or a single thing, either [[unique]]ly, or within a given [[context]]. A [[personal]] name identifies a specific unique and identifiable [[individual]] [[person]]. The name of a specific entity is sometimes called a proper name (although that term has a philosophical [[meaning]] also) and is a proper noun. Other nouns are sometimes, more loosely, called names; an older term for them, now obsolete, is "general names".

Care must be taken in [[translation]], for there are ways that one language may prefer one type of name over another. A feudal naming [[habit]] is used sometimes in other languages: the French often refer to [[Aristotle]] as "le Stagirite" from one spelling of his place of birth, and [[English]] speakers often refer to [[Shakespeare]] as "The Bard", recognizing him as a [[paragon]] writer of the [[language]]. Finally, claims to preference or [[authority]] can be refuted: the British did not refer to Louis-Napoleon as Napoleon III during his rule.

Care must be taken in [[translation]], for there are ways that one language may prefer one type of name over another. A feudal naming [[habit]] is used sometimes in other languages: the French often refer to [[Aristotle]] as "le Stagirite" from one spelling of his place of birth, and [[English]] speakers often refer to [[Shakespeare]] as "The Bard", recognizing him as a [[paragon]] writer of the [[language]]. Finally, claims to preference or [[authority]] can be refuted: the British did not refer to Louis-Napoleon as Napoleon III during his rule.

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The word "name" comes from Old [[English]] (OE) nama; akin to Old High German (OHG) namo, Latin nomen, and Greek ὄνομα (onoma), possibly from the Proto-Indo-European language (PIE): *nomn-.[2]

The word "name" comes from Old [[English]] (OE) nama; akin to Old High German (OHG) namo, Latin nomen, and Greek ὄνομα (onoma), possibly from the Proto-Indo-European language (PIE): *nomn-.[2]

In multiple and different world mythologies and folklore, knowing the name of a [[thing]] is considered to have [[power]] over a thing (to varying degrees).

In multiple and different world mythologies and folklore, knowing the name of a [[thing]] is considered to have [[power]] over a thing (to varying degrees).

In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthurian_mythology Arthurian mythology], part of the code of honor and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chivalry chivalry] practiced by knights is that a knight who loses a duel must reveal his name to the victor. It is considered a breach of honor or decorum to reveal one's name before combat. A frequent topos is that a defeated knight will, after revealing his name, ask the victor what his name is: if the victor turns out to actually be a much more strong and famous knight (e.g. one of Arthur's knights) the loser actually saves face, because he was beaten by a knight obviously held to already be stronger than him, and thus there is no shame in defeat. However, if a strong and powerful knight is defeated, and the victor turns out to be a [[relative]]ly unknown and not particularly strong knight, it is a grave humiliation. As a result of this [[pattern]], it is considered extremely odd within the rules of Arthurian [[society]] when a knight refuses to take off his helmet or reveal his [[identity]], even after he has won a duel. Sometimes this results from the victorious knight simply not knowing his own name, as was the case with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancelot Lancelot] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival Percival] during their early careers; this inability to reveal their own name even in victory led many to incorrectly assume they were trying to [[intentional]]ly insult the vanquished. A major exception to this rule is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Gawain Sir Gawain]: Gawain considers himself to be the greatest of his uncle Arthur's knights, and he feels that his honor is so great that he does not need to hide from revealing it. Thus at the opening of any duel Gawain will simply openly announce "I am Gawain", as it will not diminish his honor to reveal it.

In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthurian_mythology Arthurian mythology], part of the code of honor and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chivalry chivalry] practiced by knights is that a knight who loses a duel must reveal his name to the victor. It is considered a breach of honor or decorum to reveal one's name before combat. A frequent topos is that a defeated knight will, after revealing his name, ask the victor what his name is: if the victor turns out to actually be a much more strong and famous knight (e.g. one of Arthur's knights) the loser actually saves face, because he was beaten by a knight obviously held to already be stronger than him, and thus there is no shame in defeat. However, if a strong and powerful knight is defeated, and the victor turns out to be a [[relative]]ly unknown and not particularly strong knight, it is a grave humiliation. As a result of this [[pattern]], it is considered extremely odd within the rules of Arthurian [[society]] when a knight refuses to take off his helmet or reveal his [[identity]], even after he has won a duel. Sometimes this results from the victorious knight simply not knowing his own name, as was the case with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancelot Lancelot] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival Percival] during their early careers; this inability to reveal their own name even in victory led many to incorrectly assume they were trying to [[intentional]]ly insult the vanquished. A major exception to this rule is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Gawain Sir Gawain]: Gawain considers himself to be the greatest of his uncle Arthur's knights, and he feels that his honor is so great that he does not need to hide from revealing it. Thus at the opening of any duel Gawain will simply openly announce "I am Gawain", as it will not diminish his honor to reveal it.

==In religious thought==

==In religious thought==

In the ancient world, particularly in the ancient near-east ([[Israel]], Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia) names were thought to be extremely powerful and to act, in some ways, as a separate [[manifestation]] of a [[person]] or [[deity]].[3] This viewpoint is responsible both for the reluctance to use the proper name of [[God]] in [[Hebrew]] writing or speech, as well as the common understanding in ancient [[magic]] that magical [[ritual]]s had to be carried out "in [someone's] name". By invoking a god or [[spirit]] by name, one was thought to be able to summon that spirit's power for some kind of [[miracle]] or magic (see Luke 9:49, in which the [[disciples]] claim to have seen a man driving out demons using the name of [[Jesus]].) This understanding passed into later religious [[tradition]], for example the stipulation in Catholic [[exorcism]] that the demon cannot be expelled until the exorcist has forced it to give up its name, at which point the name may be used in a stern command which will drive the demon away.

In the ancient world, particularly in the ancient near-east ([[Israel]], Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia) names were thought to be extremely powerful and to act, in some ways, as a separate [[manifestation]] of a [[person]] or [[deity]].[3] This viewpoint is responsible both for the reluctance to use the proper name of [[God]] in [[Hebrew]] writing or speech, as well as the common understanding in ancient [[magic]] that magical [[ritual]]s had to be carried out "in [someone's] name". By invoking a god or [[spirit]] by name, one was thought to be able to summon that spirit's power for some kind of [[miracle]] or magic (see Luke 9:49, in which the [[disciples]] claim to have seen a man driving out demons using the name of [[Jesus]].) This understanding passed into later religious [[tradition]], for example the stipulation in Catholic [[exorcism]] that the demon cannot be expelled until the exorcist has forced it to give up its name, at which point the name may be used in a stern command which will drive the demon away.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

*Matthews, Elaine; Hornblower, Simon; Fraser, Peter Marshall, Greek Personal Names: Their Value as Evidence, Proceedings of The British Academy (104), Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 0197262163

*Matthews, Elaine; Hornblower, Simon; Fraser, Peter Marshall, Greek Personal Names: Their Value as Evidence, Proceedings of The British Academy (104), Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 0197262163

*http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/btg/btg41.htm Name and Form - from Sacred Texts Buddhism

*https://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/btg/btg41.htm Name and Form - from Sacred Texts Buddhism

==External links==

==External links==

[http://www.mynameinarabic.com/ My Name in Arabic Names] in Arabic Calligraphy for Free

[https://www.mynameinarabic.com/ My Name in Arabic Names] in Arabic Calligraphy for Free

[http://www.namgyal.org/articles/names.cfm Names in Tibetan Culture] - Namgyal Monastery, Institute of Buddhist Studies

[https://www.namgyal.org/articles/names.cfm Names in Tibetan Culture] - Namgyal Monastery, Institute of Buddhist Studies

[http://www.jimwegryn.com/Names/What%20is%20a%20name.htm What is a Name?]

[https://www.jimwegryn.com/Names/What%20is%20a%20name.htm What is a Name?]

[http://www.behindthename.com/  The entomology of first names]

[https://www.behindthename.com/  The entomology of first names]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]