essays about names and identity

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26 Names and Identity

Emilia Aldrin is Senior Lecturer at Halmstad University, Sweden. She received a PhD in Scandinavian Languages from the University of Uppsala in 2011. She has published a monograph on the choice of first names as an act of identity, Namnval som social handling [Naming as a social act] (Uppsala University Press, 2011), as well as a number of articles on the subject. Her research interests also include socio-onomastics and anthroponyms.

Published: 07 March 2016
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The notion that names and identity are closely intertwined has long been seen as self-evident in onomastic literature, and during recent decades, the identity approach has become increasingly popular. However, although a close relationship between name and identity is often stated as a fact, it is seldom further substantiated, critically examined or scientifically proved. The aim of this chapter is to provide the reader with such a resource. It gives an overview of theoretical and methodological tools for the study of names and identity, outlines current trends and gaps within the field, and gives key references for further reading. The focus is on names in contemporary times, primarily personal names; but other name categories are also included to some extent.

26.1 Introduction

One of the main functions of a name is to single out and identify its referent (cf. chapter 3 of this handbook). Therefore, naming is always a question of assigning identity. However, does this necessarily mean that names have an actual impact on the formation or perception of identity? If this is the case, how and why is this effect achieved? Which parts of identity would this concern? Furthermore, what happens when names are changed? These are some of the questions that this chapter will address.

The notion that names and identity are closely intertwined has long been seen as self-evident in onomastic literature. However, although it is often stated as a fact, it is seldom further substantiated, critically examined, or scientifically proved. During recent decades, the identity approach has become increasingly popular in onomastic studies. This development is in line with general linguistics; as well as with other fields, and can be seen as part of a widely spread scientific paradigm of identity ( Edwards 2009 : 15–18). This calls for a deeper understanding of theories of identity and how they can be put into practice in onomastic studies. Although the topic of name and identity is not new, there are still many questions that are yet to be addressed and areas that need further empirical examination. This chapter will provide an overview of theoretical and methodological tools for the study of names and identity, outline current trends and gaps within the field of research, and give key references for further reading. The focus will be on names in contemporary times, primarily personal names; however, other name categories will also be included to some extent. Due to the expected international group of readers, only research reported in English in internationally available channels (until 2013) will be referred to; although this will limit the scope of attention and likely excludes certain interesting contributions.

The chapter is divided into four sections. This introduction ( 26.1 ) will be followed by a theoretical section ( 26.2 ), which explores and compares different concepts of identity. The third section ( 26.3 ) is more empirical and outlines current research as well as suggesting directions for future research within some major areas. The final section ( 26.4 ) provides an overview of methodological approaches, and points out their connections to different theoretical concepts of identity.

26.2 Theoretical Approaches to Identity

Theories of identity have been widely used and each scientific field has developed its own understanding of the concept and its significance for different aspects of human behaviour (for a concise overview of the history of the identity-concept, see Bemwell and Stokoe 2006 : 18–24). As a result, identity can be defined and used in many different ways. However, a common denominator of most theoretical approaches is the notion that identity is a complex concept, which contains aspects that are to some extent contradictory. Depending on how these contradictions are viewed, different theories tend to emphasize certain aspects of identity over others.

26.2.1 What is Identity?

When we think about our own identity, we often do this in terms of ‘who we really are’, which is a deep, personal, and sometimes even mystical sense of one’s self. But identity is also related to ‘identification’, that is, how others look upon us and are able to single us out from a group ( Joseph 2004 : 1–3). These two perspectives, the inside-perspective and the outside-perspective of identity, may overlap, but may also stand in sharp contrast. They may influence one another, but are rarely the same. In onomastic studies, this means that the name-giver, name-carrier, and name-user may hold different views of identities connected to a certain name. It also means that identity seen from the perspective of name-users, and identity seen from the perspective of researchers, are not the same thing. As a consequence, researchers must decide upon whether or not identity should be given prominence in a certain situation in order to be of significance for participants and relevant to analyse (cf. Bemwell and Stokoe 2006 : 84–5; Omoniyi and White 2006 : 2).

Furthermore, identity contains both an aspect of ‘sameness’ and an aspect of ‘distinction’. We partly identify ourselves (and others) on the basis of the similarities we see in other people, for example female, young, and foreign. However, we also identify ourselves on the basis of what makes us unique and what differentiates us from those whom we do not want to align with, in terms of for example personality traits or group membership. Based on this distinction, researchers sometimes differentiate between personal and social identity. Personal identity signifies an individual’s personal and unique experience of his or her own self in terms of all the individual traits he or she possesses ( Edwards 2009 : 19). Social identity focuses on how this sense of self is based on the social relations and social groups that the individual engages in. 1 However, most theories see them as co-dependent and intertwined ( Joseph 2004 : 5; Edwards 2009 : 19–20).

Chryssoschoou (2003: 229) sees identity as the unified answer to the questions: Who am I? Who are they? and What is our relationship? She concludes that identity research can focus on any one of these questions. First, research can focus on how self-knowledge is constructed, developed, and anchored in previous self-knowledge. Secondly, it can focus on how self-knowledge is communicated to others in dialogue between one´s self and others. Thirdly, it can focus on how self-knowledge is used to create future change in terms of, for example, impact on the actions of others or promoting particular political and social projects or versions of society. Any of these approaches could be applied in studies of names and naming. It has also been observed that identity has further fundamental aspects, including authenticity (in contrast to deceitfulness) and authority (in contrast to powerlessness) ( Bucholtz and Hall 2005 : 598), which may be of great relevance for the analysis of certain names.

A third complicating factor is that over a life-time and when interacting in different contexts and with different people, our identities tend to change and differentiate. At the same time, it is possible for most of us to perceive ourselves as being one and the same ( Edwards 2009 : 19; cf. Coupland and Nussbaum 1993 ). This raises questions of durability and change, which are also relevant for the field of names and identity.

26.2.2 Essentialism and Social Constructionism

Some theories view identity as an essence, a personal property belonging to an individual or a personal dimension within an individual. Identity, therefore, is who we are . This understanding implies identity being something given and stable. It is one coherent unity, or includes a core that always remains the same (cf. Krogseth 2012 : 162). Most early theories of identity are of this kind, as well as many psychological approaches (for an overview and further references, see Widdicombe 1998 : 192–4; Omoniyi and White 2006 : 16–18). Other theories view identity as a social construct, something that is socially created and contextually flexible. Identity, therefore, becomes something we do ( Taylor and Spencer 2004 : 4; Bucholtz and Hall 2005 : 587) or even a continuous process ( de Fina et al. 2006 : 2). People are seen to have multiple identities and these may even be contradictory ( de Fina et al. 2006 : 2). Most postmodern and linguistic post-structural theories are of this kind. Within constructionist approaches, there is an ongoing debate regarding to what extent identity is freely chosen by individuals, or rather mediated by varying contextual and societal factors ( Omoniyi and White 2006 : 2) or a result of negotiation with others in interaction ( Widdicombe 1998 : 202–3). A different approach altogether is used within ethnomethodology, which disregards the debate regarding what identity is, and instead focuses on how identity is treated by people ( Widdicombe 1998 : 202–3).

26.2.3 Identity, Language, and Names

Most theoretical approaches acknowledge language as being important for identity creation. Some theories view language primarily as a medium which enables the expression of identity to themselves and to others ( Taylor and Spencer 2004 : 3). Other theories claim that identity is actually constituted in language ( Bemwell and Stokoe 2006 : 17). It has even been argued that identity is a major function of language (alongside communication and representation) ( Joseph 2004 : 20). An important mechanism underlying the relationship between language and identity is indexicality, that is, the creation of semiotic links between linguistic forms and social meanings through making use of cultural, linguistic, and social conventions and norms ( Bucholtz and Hall 2005 ; Eckert 2008 ).

Regarding name and identity, there is to date no coherent onomastic theory. Some researchers view the relationship between name and identity as primarily symbolic. For example, vom Bruck and Bodenhorn (2006b : 27) see naming as ‘the recognition, rather than the imposition of personhood’. Other researchers argue that names have a real impact on identity formation and perception. Alford (1988 : 36) describes naming as a way to help shape identity. Longobardi (2006 : 190) regards a name as a suit in which people are born: ‘a reality in which we emerge, progressively assimilating the characteristics contained in it’. He asks which conditions exist that enable people to accept and reflect themselves in a name that has been chosen by others. From the perspective of the name-giver, naming can be seen as ‘a communicative act that serves an identity function’ ( Laskowski 2010 : 84). From this point of view, the question arises of whose identity is communicated and towards whom it is directed. Aldrin (2011 : 251) views naming of children as ‘a resource for contributing to the creation of different identities’ and suggests that they are both identities for themselves and for the child. Frändén (2010 : 22–33, 264) has concluded that in cases of name-change, identity is communicated both towards the self, towards groups of which the person is a member (such as an ethnic group), and towards society as a whole (cf. Alford 1988 : 51). However, names and identity have also been discussed within other fields such as philosophy, psychology, anthropology, sociology, and economy. Renowned theorists from Plato, Mill, Searle, Kripke to Mead, Freud, Piaget and Levi-Strauss, Bourdieu, Derrida, Lacan, and Butler have approached the topic (for further references and an overview of some of their conclusions, see vom Bruck and Bodenhorn 2006b ).

26.3 Linking Names and Identity

This section will outline some of the major areas within the field of names and identity. However, as anthropologists vom Bruck and Bodenhorn (2006b : 26) have pointed out, it must be remembered that names are part of cultures and specific social contexts, and their meaning and significance for identity must be expected to vary.

26.3.1 Names and Personal Identity

The link between name and personal identity seems to be constructed from early on. Psychological studies show that, as children, we often consider names to be actual parts of objects, carrying the same characteristics. Many children even believe that things cannot exist without their names ( Dion 1983 : 249). From the point of view of parents, the link between name and identity begins even before the child recognizes it. Layne (2006) has analysed naming practices among parents who lost their child before birth, and found that, in the absence of bodies, names enable parents to talk to and about their babies and hence recognize them as persons. A much investigated topic is the relationship between name and self-esteem. Numerous studies show that people´s assessment of their names is related to how they view themselves. People who like themselves generally also like their names (and vice versa) ( Joubert 1993 ). A recent onomastic study ( Wikstrøm 2012 ) has shown that not only first names, but also surnames, are connected to personal identity, since a common motivation for liking one’s surname is that ‘it is me’. Furthermore, nicknames are connected to personal identity, in terms of who the name carrier is expected to be within a certain group ( Starks et al. 2012 ).

However, correlation does not prove causation. These studies do not answer whether names actually influence or merely mirror identity. The causation behind the correlation could go either way, or be caused by a third, unknown variable. For example: it has been suggested that the underlying mechanism is a so called mere-ownership effect ( Gebauer et al. 2008 : 1346), that is a tendency to evaluate objects that are related to oneself (such as a name) more positively than other objects. On the other hand, Wikstrøm (2012 : 266) has found that people with uncommon surnames show stronger identification with their names than others, which suggests an impact of name type. Alford (1988 : 59) has shown that the etymology of a name also sometimes has an effect on name-bearers. In order to confirm either of these theories, there is a need for further research exploring how different kinds of names (for example: common/unusual, culturally marked/unmarked, etc.) correlate with different degrees of self-esteem and identification, depending on whether they are liked or disliked by the name-bearer.

As identity is created in relation to others, the perception of names may also be of importance for identity formation. This is supported by psychological studies that show people liking their own names more when they believe that others like the name as well ( Longobardi 2006 ). One way to theoretically approach this matter, is through a model of a self-fulfilling prophecy ( Erwin 1995 : 42–3). Another approach is the name-based interpersonal neglect hypothesis ( Gebauer et al. 2011 ), according to which names influence interpersonal treatment, which in turn influences the identity formation and self-esteem of the name-bearer.

Research on names and personal identity has often been conducted within psychology and through experimental tests that are quantitatively analysed. Therefore, there is a need for complementary qualitative approaches. Furthermore, there has been little investigation into how the relationship between name and identity evolves over time, different situations, and different parts of life (cf. Nicolaisen 1999 ). There is also a need for further investigation into the relationship of names to other aspects of identity than self-esteem.

26.3.2 Names and Social Identity

A common notion is that personal (individual) identity is primarily expressed through first names; whereas social identity (related to group or family) is primarily expressed through nicknames and surnames (cf. Alford 1988 : 144). However, we have already seen that both first names, nicknames, and surnames may express personal identity, and all three name types may also express social identity. Research in this area is often conducted through qualitative approaches; either through interviews or survey questionnaires.

Surnames often constitute an important part of a person’s social identity in terms of feeling connectedness to a certain family. According to Finch (2008 : 713), surnames can be tools for constituting and managing family relationships. A shared surname can provide a cross-generational linkage with a persons’ parents and the previous history of the family, as well as creating a sense of connectedness with partners, spouses, children, and others in a current kin network ( Finch 2008 : 711, 721). However, as individuals move through different relationships and may have children with different partners, the relationship between a shared (or not shared) surname and a sense of kinship becomes quite complex ( Finch 2008 : 722; cf. de Stadler 1999 : 276–7). This raises questions of the significance of surnames for the construction of family identity in current society. Nevertheless, Davies (2011) has shown that children still view surnames as an important part of the construction of family and kin identities. This is an important area in need of further research.

Nicknames, on the other hand, are connected to a person’s social identity within the group where the name is given. The meaning of the nickname may express the position of the name carrier within the group ( Harré 1980 ). Nicknames can also contribute to the social identity of the name giver, expressing who has the status and power to decide how others should be identified ( Adams 2009 ). Since the uses of nicknames vary according to contexts, these names may be more suitable than official names for exploring the flexible nature of identity, which is an interesting area for further studies.

First names may also create or express social identity. This may occur when children are named after relatives ( Finch 2008 : 719) or are given names to express the cultural background of the family (cf. section 26.3.3 below). According to Longobardi (2006 : 91), a child’s relationship to its name is a reflection of his or her relationship to the care-givers who chose the name. Aldrin (2011) has shown that, from the parent’s point of view, the choice of first name for a child is always part of the creation and display of social identities, including local identities as being, for example, a more or less traditional name-giver, or acting in accordance with certain macro-societal groups.

Regarding social identity in terms of a shared identity within a collective group, it has been noted that the use of specific names within a group can help to provide cohesion and reinforce the sense of a shared identity ( Ashley 1996a : 1748; Rymes 1996 : 252). According to Ashley, ‘the knowledge of those names bespeaks the full-fledged member; failure to follow the rules of names and naming within the group betrays ignorance or signals disrespect’ (1996a: 1748). Generally, there is a need for further investigation into naming as part of collective identities and how these processes come into practice in different kinds of groups.

26.3.3 Names and Cultural Identity

It is evident from anthropological studies of naming that the relationship between name and identity can be viewed very differently in different cultures of the world (cf. Alford 1988 ; vom Bruck and Bodenhorn 2006a ). It is also evident that the choice of name can act as an expression or construction of cultural identities. Research in this area is often conducted through surveys and interviews that are analysed using either quantitative or qualitative methods. Several studies have shown that the naming of children among immigrants and couples of ‘mixed’ cultural backgrounds is often handled through mixing names (or name components) from different cultural spheres in order to create a complex and flexible identity, or through the use of international names ( Sue and Telles 2007 ; Edwards and Caballero 2008 ; Reisæter 2012 ).

Naming and name change in minority groups (see de Stadler 1999 ; Gerritzen 2007b ; Frändén 2010 ) and in former colonies (see Neethling 2007 ; Reed 2010 ) have also been studied, in order to provide insights into the handling of multiple cultural identities and identity creation in situations of suppression, stigma, and revitalization. Name changes among recent immigrants, on the other hand, as well as their consequences for cultural identity, have attained very little scientific attention. Many immigrants do change their own names on arrival in the new country, or later; as a result of, for example, misspellings, mispronunciations, or discrimination based on the name, and this is an interesting topic for further investigation.

While it is sometimes taken for granted that name choice in a multicultural environment reflects the degree of cultural assimilation, Bursell (2011 : 482–3) argues that it can also serve other functions, such as a pragmatic passing strategy in order to provide anonymity and facilitate public interaction. An important topic that would need further investigation is the observation that the creation of cultural identity through name choice is often intersectionally related to social and gender related issues (cf. Sue and Telles 2007 ; Becker 2009 ).

An unexplored topic is the perspective of the named children/adults and their own views on their names as contributing to certain cultural identities (exception, Thompson 2009 : 203). Important questions that are yet to be investigated here include the perceived interplay between the perspectives of the name-giver and name-bearer, as well as the interplay between the inside-perspective of cultural identity and the outside-perspective of cultural identification and their coherence or change throughout different contexts (cf. Bursell 2011 : 485).

In an increasingly globalized world, the choice of domestic vs. international names among non-immigrants is another theme that could be fruitfully analysed in terms of how this affects the development of different local or global identities.

26.3.4 Change of Name and Identity

Providing that names and identity are closely linked together, what, then, happens when names are changed? Do name changes reflect changes in identity, or do they bring them about? Alford (1988 : 158) considers name change to be a strategy for leaving an old, unwanted identity. It has also been observed that name changes may reflect a wish to declare a new political, religious, or sexual identity ( Falk 1975–6 : 653–4; Reed 2010 ). However, in the case of political refugees and others who need to remain invisible in order to survive, a change of name can provide a way to improve one’s chances in society without having to change identity ( Duchaj and Ntihirageza 2009 ). Similarly, Emmelheinz (2012 : 159) describes the process of name change as a manifestation, not of identity change, but of identity elasticity.

Although voluntary changes of first names among adults are possible in most cultures, they are generally not very common (although in some cultures they are the rule rather than the exception, see Alford 1988 : 81). This pattern may be due to the fact that first names are so closely linked to one’s identity, so that although one may be dissatisfied with one’s name, a change of name would mean too great a cost in terms of identity loss (cf. Humphrey 2006 : 166–7). Surprisingly, this matter has hardly been investigated.

Regarding surnames, name changes are much more common and have also been more analysed. Much research has been done on women’s change of surname when entering marriage. Early studies of this kind often argue that marital name-change implies defining the self in relation to the husband at an expense to self (see further references in Stafford and Kline 1996 : 86). This means that a changed identity is a more or less unavoidable consequence of a changed name. However, later studies have concluded that marital name choice includes negotiations of far more complex identities. It seems to be related to personal identity, including questions of autonomy and professional identity ( Laskowski 2010 : 81), as well as establishing an identity as a couple ( Kerns 2011 : 105). It also seems to be related to social identity, including the handling of social values, norms, and social pressure ( Mills 2003 : 101). There is some disagreement regarding whether the handling of these different identities creates any conflict for the individual ( Laskowski 2010 ), which calls for further investigation. There is also a need for deeper qualitative analyses to complement the available quantitative studies. Furthermore, men’s experiences of different kinds of marital choices (their own as well as those of their spouses) have so far been largely neglected within the field.

Change of name among children is an almost unexplored area. One interesting aspect here is parents’ treatment of names of internationally adopted children. As many of these children already carry a name when adopted, parents have a choice: either to keep the full birth culture name or to change it in some way. Suter (2012) has found that identity-concerns are highly important for parents when making this choice, including the handling of both the child’s cultural and personal identity as well as a new family identity. Further studies in this area, including studies on adoptees’ own views on name-change as a basis for identity construction, would be highly interesting.

26.3.5 Names and Identity in Digital Environments

The growing use of digital environments poses specific questions regarding meanings, constructions, and consequences of identity. According to Gatson (2011 : 232), ‘selves are constructed, constituted, enacted, and negotiated through multiple mediums, on multiple levels, and with connected and disconnected others’ in contemporary society. Since text production is often regarded as being more deliberate than speech production, the creation of online identities may become even more important than offline identities as representations of the self ( Gatson 2011 : 224, 226).

Names in digital environments enable researchers to explore questions of authenticity vs. deceitfulness, unity vs. multiplicity, and anonymity vs. publicity of identities, as well as the general relationship between online and offline identities. Recent studies show that online names are often self-related and disclose some kind of information about the personal identity of the name-bearer ( Bechar-Israeli 1995 ; Gatson 2011 ; Hassa 2012 ). They can further contribute to strengthening solidarity and group identity among participants, as well as attracting contacts ( Hagström 2012 : 89; Hassa 2012 : 206). In some cases, it has been found that they enable people to display a congruent sense of self with a strong link between online and offline identities, rather than fragmentized parts of identity separate from the offline self ( Gatson 2011 ). However, in order to confirm or disregard these initial results, further research is needed where consideration is paid to differences between various digital contexts.

26.3.6 Names and Perceived Identity

Following an outside-perspective on identity, the question of how others perceive identities through names is also important. Existing research related to this area is the topic of name-based stereotypes, that is, the idea that names ‘in general arouse widely-held images’ in terms of positive or negative generalizations about individuals ( Erwin 1995 ; Lawson 1996a : 1744; cf. Hagström 2012 ). However, most of this research focuses on stereotype patterns, rather than on the mechanisms behind their creation, or the consequences for individuals’ identity formation. Gebauer et al. (2008) have made an interesting attempt to elucidate how the impact of unjust treatment based on name-based stereotypes influences personal identity in terms of self-esteem. Another interesting new topic in this area concerns how people may try to avoid such unjust treatment through selective presentation of identity and to what extent such a strategy may also affect their own sense of identity ( Kaplan and Fisher 2009 ).

Research on names and perceived identity has primarily been conducted through experimental tests. Thus, studies using qualitative approaches would be of benefit to further explore these topics. There is also a need for more studies on the perception of surnames and identity.

26.3.7 Names and Identity in Interaction

During interaction, the choice of name is closely linked to choice of identity, both in terms of how we want to be perceived in a certain situated context, and in terms of how others perceive us. There is a range of possible onomastic appellations (i.e. first name, surname, nickname) as well as non-onymic appellations (i.e. title, pronoun, kinship term) to choose from in order to create various identities. As a result, the use of names in interaction presents an opportunity to explore how identity is negotiated from moment to moment in relation to others (cf. Alford 1988 : 97–8, 159–65; Humphrey 2006 ; McConnel-Ginnet 2006 ). The study of names in interaction is a rather new area within onomastics (cf. chapter 4 and chapter 29). Further research on names and identity in interaction spreading across cultures, social groups, and varying situations, might illuminate the relationship between flexible identities and the sense of being ‘one and the same self’ over time, including the issue of possible role conflict. It could also give valuable insights into the relationship between the inside-perspective and outside-perspective of identities.

26.3.8 Identity and Non-anthroponomical Name Categories

Identity theory is naturally most easily applied to anthroponomy, and has also been mostly used in studies of personal names (although see chapter 28 ). However, studies of other name categories may also benefit from an identity perspective. Since all human actions can constitute part of identity creation, in theory, all names that are chosen by humans could potentially constitute part of the creation, expression, and perception of identities. This is acknowledged by Neethling (2009a) , who has studied individualized registration plates of vehicles and found that they express a link to the preferred identity of the vehicle owner in terms of lifestyle, worldview, values, political affiliation, and religious belief. Similarly, it would be possible to study names of pets and horses, as well as nicknames for cars, ships, and other belongings as expressions of identity, with potentially interesting outcomes regarding both personal and social identities of the name-giver; as well as desired or displayed identities of the name-bearers. Object specific and situational variation should also be accounted for. Furthermore, commercial names (cf. chapter 31) could be interesting to explore from an identity perspective. For example: Boerrigter (2007) stresses that the name is a key element of a company’s identity and points to the strategic importance of people perceiving the same company identity or image through the name as the one that the company wants to communicate.

26.4 Studying Names and Identity—Methodologies

As should be evident from previous sections of this chapter, there is a multitude of possible methods for studying names in relation to identity. Currently, the most commonly used methods for data collection include written surveys, interviews, and experimental tests. Further methods that are less common, but may have great potential for some topics, include observations and analyses of web-based chat-fora. Every method has benefits as well as disadvantages, and the choice of method should take into consideration factors such as the purpose of the study, name category in focus, theoretical approach to the concept of identity, and, when appropriate, ethical concerns. Regardless of the chosen method, researchers should also consider to what degree the collection of data will enable reliability and generalization.

26.4.1 Interviews

Interviews provide the researcher with in-depth information on participants’ own views and experiences of a phenomenon (see for example Laskowski 2010 ; Aldrin 2011 ; Suter 2012 ). As such, they have great value for qualitative studies and approaches to identity from an inside-perspective. Researchers who argue that identity must be prominent in the analysed situation in order to be a relevant theoretical tool might especially consider using this method. It is quite suitable for a constructionist concept of identity, but it is also adequate for research based on a more essentialist concept. Furthermore, interviews can be used to explore a great variety of topics regarding names and identity, including formation, expression, and perception of identities, both personal and social identities, as well as questions of durability and change, unity and multitude, and any name categories. Interviews conducted with groups of people enable analyses of identity negotiation and identity in interaction as well as social identity in terms of a common identity of a group.

A disadvantage of interviews is that they are time-consuming to conduct. If the researcher has an interest in the changing nature of identities in interaction, it is also important to calculate time for careful transcription of the recorded interviews. Another aspect that must be taken into consideration is the so-called observers’ paradox. This is the notion that participants may unconsciously alter their answers as a result of, for example, perceptions of what kind of answers are expected, attitudes toward the topic, the behaviour and reactions of the interviewer (and other participants), discomfort with the chosen environment, as well as possible embarrassment at being interviewed by someone of the same or different sex, age, ethnicity, social group, and religion as themselves.

26.4.2 Written Surveys

Written surveys provide the researcher with extensive data and enable an overview over large-scale patterns and conventions, as well as correlations between different intersectional variables (see for example Becker 2009 ; Aldrin 2011 ; Kerns 2011 ; Wikstrøm 2012 ). They are, therefore, primarily suitable for quantitative analyses; although it is possible to include open-ended questions that can be qualitatively analysed. Furthermore, written surveys are especially appropriate for questions that do not demand long answers. Both personal and social identities can be studied. The method is especially suitable for studies of social identities (in terms of engagement in or a sense of belonging to social groups), correlation between different kinds of identity, and perception of identities and connected norms and values. Written surveys are most easily used when agreeing with an essentialist identity concept. They can be used from a constructionist point of view, but such an attempt needs careful consideration as to what kind of data will be collected in terms of social constructs, how the situational impact can be understood, and to what extent it is possible to regard answers from different respondents as comparable. Negotiation and variability of identities are difficult to capture with this method. A benefit is that written surveys are relatively easy to distribute and collect, but they demand careful planning and testing to ensure that the choice and formulation of questions function satisfactorily. In order to enable proper statistical analysis and measures of signification, researchers also need to master suitable computer programs.

26.4.3 Experimental Tests and Observations

Experimental tests and observations can provide the researcher with information, not only on what people think they do, but on what they actually do in a specific situation (see for example Gebauer et al. 2011 ; Hagström 2012 ). Hence, they may be of great value for researchers interested in an outside-perspective of identity. Topics for which these methods are suitable include names and perceived identities, self-assessment in relation to name-assessment, and expressed identities through name use in interaction. While experimental tests are used to study human action in one specific situation that is created and highly controlled by the researcher, observations can be used to compare human action in different situations that are naturally occurring. The methods demand careful planning including consideration of possible ethical issues. As with interviews, the observer’s paradox may influence the results. Since neither experimental tests nor observations provide insight into individuals’ own view of identity and identification, they cannot be used to study identity formation.

26.4.4 Analysis of Web-based Chat-fora

Web-based chat-fora constitute a new way to collect data (see, e.g., Gatson 2011 ; Matthews 2011 ; Hagström 2012 ; Hassa 2012 ). Discussions on the internet may provide insights into people´s views on names, identity, and identification, without the restraints of a scientific context and a present researcher. Both essentialist and constructionist concepts of identity can be analysed. This method is naturally suitable for studies of names and identity in digital environments, but can also be used to study names in relation to, for example, social and cultural identities, as well as perceived identities, providing that suitable chat-fora are found. It is only possible to analyse name categories that are used or discussed on the internet. A disadvantage of this method is that it is often impossible to gain any background information about the participants. There are also ethical limitations, regarding what kind of analyses it is appropriate to make, considering that people may not always be aware of the fact that what they write in web-based chat-fora is available to a wider public.

Social (collective) identity can also signify norms, values, goals, and ideologies that are common within a group ( Krogseth 2012 : 163).

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How our names shape our identity

What's in a name? A lot.

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Sometimes we try to live up to our names. Sometimes we try to run away from them. But either way — and for all the options in between — your name is a crucial factor in developing your sense of self, and thus helps propel you forward on various paths of life and career.

The term nominative determinism was coined in a 1994 issue of New Scientist to describe this phenomenon. The magazine's editors noticed two instances of scientists gravitating toward subjects that were strangely linked to their last names. "We recently came across a new book," they wrote: " Pole Positions — The Polar Regions and the Future of the Planet , by Daniel Snowman. Then, a couple of weeks later, we received a copy of London Under London — A Subterranean Guide , one of the authors of which is Richard Trench."

Maybe it's just a coincidence. Or maybe these scientists' names really did influence their career paths.

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Research on the influence of names appears to stretch back at least a half century. A 1996 article called " Name and Behavior " by H. Edward Deluzain and describes a famous 1954 study published in the British Journal of Psychology :

One of the classic pieces of research on the relationship between names and behavior was conducted in Africa by G. Johoda of University College of the Gold Coast. In discussions with teachers and social workers on the formation of character in young people, Jahoda discovered that the people he was working with — all of whom were Ashanti — sincerely believed that the day of the week on which a person was born has a lot to do with the kind of character traits and behavior the person will show throughout life. Specifically, Jahoda learned that the Ashanti believe that boys (but apparently not girls) who are born on Monday will be mild mannered and peace loving, but those born on Wednesday will be violent and aggressive. [Behind the Name]

As a result, the Ashanti community has a long-held custom of including the day a person was born in the person's name. After discovering the Ashanti's custom, Jahoda then took his research to the records of the local juvenile court to see if males born on Wednesday committed more crimes.

"The number of violent acts committed by the boys born on Wednesday was significantly higher than would be expected through mere chance, and it showed that Wednesdays tended to live up to the reputation," wrote Deluzain . "When this figure was compared to the number of Mondays in the population… it bore out the superstition that boys born on that day would lead more peaceful and law-abiding lives."

Though stereotyping can't definitively dictate future behavior, it does provide a spring-board for making assumptions about a person. When a new person introduces himself to you (let's call him "Spencer"), your first instinct is to assemble a rough mental sketch of everyone you have ever known named Spencer. Maybe someone named Spencer bullied you in second grade. Maybe Spencer was the name of your first kiss. Perhaps Spencer is the name of your father. You subconsciously judge this new Spencer, at least a little, based on all the other Spencers you have ever known.

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Gender dynamics, socio-economic status, and unusual spelling can also play a role in determining the behavior of a child. That's why it's perfectly fine for parents to spend a few months fretting over the potential drawbacks of choosing a child's name. Sometimes, parents desire strong names for boys, and more feminine names for girls. Most parents, it would seem, take it a step further and ask if the name they choose could be interpreted a certain way, or rhymed with a certain word that get their child teased in school.

Research psychologist David Figlio of Northwestern University in Illinois showed how a baby's name can have leave a long-lasting imprint on their lives — for better or worse, reports LiveScience . Figlio started by studying millions of birth certificates. He then further broke each name down into thousands of phonemic components, and started to find behavioral patterns.

Boys with names traditionally given to girls are more likely to misbehave than their counterparts with masculine names, research suggests… When in elementary school, boys named Ashley and Shannon, for instance, behave just like their more masculine-named classmates named Brian and other boyish names. "Once these kids hit sixth grade, all of a sudden the rates of disciplinary problems skyrocket [for those boys with girlish names], and it was much more the case if there happened to be a girl in the grade with that same name," Figlio [said]. [LiveScience]

Self-esteem may also play a factor. "People who particularly dislike their name and also if other people think it's an odd and unlikeable name, that can cause some problems," psychology professor Jean Twenge of San Diego State University told LiveScience . "[They] tend not to be as well-adjusted."

"People draw subconscious cues all the time about people," Figlio said. "You meet a person for the first time and without thinking about it on an explicit level you're looking at the way they're walking, what their accent sounds like, how they're dressed, whether they smell… and you're developing these immediate reactions," said Figlio . "I think there's probably an evolutionary reason behind that. We're hardwired to try to figure out in a heartbeat whether or not we want to trust somebody, whether we want to run from somebody."

To answer the age-old question: What's in a name? A lot of stuff, apparently.

Michael Hedrick is a writer and photographer in Boulder, CO. His work has appeared in Salon , Thought Catalog and various other places across the web. His book, Schizophrenic Connections, is available here .

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The Big Ideas: What do we believe?

Julia Alvarez: What We Believe About Identity

Unearthing the many layers of a self can take a lifetime.

By Julia Alvarez

Ms. Alvarez is the author of “Afterlife,” a novel.

This personal reflection is part of a series called The Big Ideas , in which writers respond to a single question: What do we believe? You can read more essays by visiting The Big Ideas series page .

One of the baffling things that happened when my family arrived in the United States in 1960 was having to find a term for ourselves. No one seemed to know where the Dominican Republic was. Back then there weren’t that many Dominicans in the United States — the dictatorship made it difficult to emigrate. So when my family was asked where we were from, we couldn’t just say, “We’re Dominican, you know, like Sammy Sosa or Alex Rodriguez.” Our classmates often mistook our country for the other Caribbean nation of Dominica. “Oh, you lucky dog! We went there for spring break!” At least Dominica was in the same neighborhood of islands.

The hyphenated nationality (Dominican-American, Chinese-American, even African-American) hadn’t yet been invented. If we had to check a box, the sorry options we were given (“Negro,” “Eskimo,” etc.) didn’t include us. We were vaguely of “Spanish origin,” which was better than the more deprecating slurs of the playground: “spic,” “wetback,” “greaser.”

I was born in Nueva York, but my parents returned to their homeland when I was a month old. They immigrated again when I was 10. I was American, but not American. I was an immigrant but not really. From the get-go, my identity wasn’t easy to untangle. I didn’t know how to talk about who I was, but I knew what made me uncomfortable. The two models of Spanish origin in popular culture were Miss Chiquita Banana and Ricky Ricardo — one, an over-the-top Latina “bombshell” touting her wares, both her bananas and her curvaceous self, and the other the butt of jokes, who brought on an outpouring of canned laughter whenever he opened his mouth. (Needless to say, I did not love “I Love Lucy.”) The whole idea that I could be in charge of the nuances and complexities of my identity never occurred to me. All I knew were the either/ors.

There was no vocabulary to light up the margins where my outlier selves were camped, waiting for the borders to open and let more of my selves in. “To thine own self be true,” we read in my Shakespeare class, a mantra of my hippie friends. But which self? I wondered. I was large; I contained multitudes, like Señor Whitman. How to say so? English was still a tongue I was trying to negotiate, and I had yet to find a term for myself that felt exactly right.

A term like “female,” which described one aspect of myself, didn’t allow for the differences, contingencies and modifications that came from being the Latina variety of female. “Intersectionality” wasn’t a word anyone used, though the place it maps was where I was living. Only when I started writing did I find the space to explore, qualify and give nuance to the many selves of my self, the stories of my story.

In the 1980s, like Columbus “discovering” America, editors suddenly discovered ethnic writers, though many of us had already been writing for several decades, our work published by regional magazines and small presses. But with our literary green cards came new identity challenges and assumptions for us to contend with. Did my characters always have to be Latinx? Did my plots always have to circulate around Latinx issues? Why were most of the books sent to me to blurb by Latinx or other ethnic authors? (“You’ll love it,” editors promised.) It’s not that I didn’t want to claim my ethnicity; it’s that I didn’t want to take on others’ limiting assumptions and scripts.

On top of this was the ongoing quandary of what to call ourselves. “Spanish origin” had morphed into “Hispanic,” which became stigmatized as a census-driven colonized term, one that ignored our Indigenous and African selves. Many of us, uneasy with those erasures, shifted to “Latino/a” (although that term recalled no bigger colonizer than the Roman Empire); then came “Latin@,” a more inclusive, gender-neutral description; and more recently “Latinx,” each term an effort to define ourselves and assert control over our journeys. And so by trial and many errors, putting my foot in my boca any number of times, I struggled to articulate what it meant to be a lived identity, not a performed or assigned or co-opted one.

Recently, a fellow ethnic writer and I reflected on coming of age in a world before multiculturalism. “And yet we’re still writing!” she crowed. The undefeated. It was such a relief to let my hair down with someone who felt the same bemusement and weariness at having come through the fire to yet more fire.

I was left wondering what it meant to have survived all these changes in the zeitgeist and in myself? What core principle of being had come through the fires of rejection, neglect and erasure? The triumph I most want to claim as I move into old age is surviving with that core intact.

One of the gratifications of growing older is hearing from younger Latinas that reading my work and that of my fellow contemporary Latina writers helped them understand their lives in all their complexity and variety. We all needed vocabularies, stories and testimonials, and over the 50-year stretch of my writing and publishing life, I’ve increasingly seen those needs satisfied. The borders have opened, at least on paper, for many of us.

But now as I enter my 71st year, I find myself in a shifting relationship with the identities I’ve spent a lifetime fighting for, shaping and claiming. Call it old age — or the result of years of practicing meditation, where the focus has been on letting go of the ego and embracing emptiness — but these days I’m more interested in shedding selves. In returning to a core self, the mother root.

More and more I’m drawn to the aesthetic of Japanese haiku, in which the extraneous and unnecessary is stripped away, leaving behind something charged and vital. I’m in awe of short, poetic novels that reside in the borderlands and liminal spaces of genre. I ache for fictional companions, older characters, especially older Latinas, accurately portrayed, not airbrushed into clichés (the wise abuelita, the once-beautiful señora of the autumnal patriarch, the red-hat-purple-shawl viuda alegre, the cantankerous gruñona — all the lite inhabitants of crone lit). How to report accurately on this stage of the journey, on the selves left behind, on what identity looks and feels like at this later stage of life?

The struggles are still necessary to fight. The layers still have to be lived through. You can’t shed an identity you never had the chance to claim and live out. As the gentle and brilliant Ocean Vuong writes, “Sometimes you are erased before you are given the choice of stating who you are.” We have to go back and help those who cannot get out, as my veteran compañera Sandra Cisneros reminds us at the end of “The House on Mango Street.” Nobody gets to be excused from the transforming work of love.

In one of his later poems, “The Layers,” Stanley Kunitz writes of the many lives and layers he has lived and left behind. And yet, “some principle of being / abides, from which I struggle / not to stray.”

Being a member of an ethnic “minority” has meant living in and through the many definitions and layers that a new language and culture provided. How do we understand a core self that survives intact from these assaults to its full diversity? (Finally in older age, I understand Toni Morrison’s defiant statement that she was not writing for the white gaze, which starts with not living in the blinding light of that othering gaze.)

Near the end of “The Layers,” a voice directs the old poet, overwhelmed by the wreckage a life inevitably leaves behind, to “live in the layers, / not on the litter.” Why dwell on the grievances, on the litter of bitterness, the distortions of others, the restrictive boundaries of smaller selves? I want, instead, to live with an awareness and appreciation of all the layers. Doing so involves accepting my own diversity, forgiving myself, seeing myself with perspective, humor, generosity and tolerance, and extending all of the above to others and to their struggles, which have also been and continue to be my own.

That might be the core principle that guides me, what I believe: not content or credo, but a way of being in the world — a life lived in kindness and kindredness, in abiding love.

Meanwhile, there is work still to do. As Kunitz writes in the final line of his poem: “I am not done with my changes.” The territory of identity in later life needs to be explored and articulated. Just as our earlier stories helped younger Latinas and other readers understand themselves, our elder stories today may help them in later life. What does it mean to be an elder not only in the ongoing struggles of our communities of color but also in the hugest civil rights struggle facing us all, that of saving the planet? As I grow old, I might only be able to show up on the front lines in the lines I write.

That would be a satisfying close: to disappear, like Walt Whitman, under boot soles — to be the ground others can stand on.

Julia Alvarez is the author, most recently, of “Afterlife,” a novel, and “Already a Butterfly,” a picture book for young readers. She was awarded a National Medal of Arts in 2014.

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Names — Name and Identity: Significance of Names in African Society

Name and Identity: Significance of Names in African Society

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Published: Aug 4, 2023

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Introduction, importance of name and identity in african culture, processes and traditions of name giving, impact of language and names on identity, works cited.

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Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.

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Essays About Identity: 18 Writing Prompts for Students

Get inspiration for your essays about identity with these 18 inspiring writing prompts.

There are many times when a student needs to write an essay. Many colleges will ask for a personal essay when entering college, and the topic may be open-ended for these projects. You may also be asked to write a “who am I” essay for this.

Who am I essays are a great opportunity for self-reflection. You can delve into what makes you tick and what actions have defined your character over the years. Writing these essays also allows you to showcase your writing skills. However, this is one place where you have to do the writing yourself, not ask for help from a writing service with professional writers because you need to write about your own life and your experiences. Someone else cannot do this for you.

Essays about who am I can be challenging to write because they are so open-ended. Unless you have a clear direction from the assignment, you may need to get a little creative with the direction you take this essay. Here are some sample essay topics that deeply explore “who am I.” Consider using one to start your ideas flowing as you create an excellent personal essay.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

1. I Am a Good Leader

2. exploring my future, 3. who i want to be, 4. who i am and how i change, 5. my likes and dislikes, 6. my worldview, 7. how i am similar to my father/mother, 8. who i am in three words, 9. i am a survivor, 10. my ethnicity, 11. i am more than just good grades, 12. my bravest moment, 13. how my childhood experiences made me, 14. i am a good friend, 15. why i will succeed, 16. i am a product of my choices, 17. i am a failure (and what i learned from it), 18. i am my role in the family.

Depending on the purpose of your who am I essay, describing your leadership skills could be a great option. You could explain how your life experiences have transformed you into someone with strong leadership potential. You could explore the character traits that lend themselves well to leadership.

This essay topic has a lot of room for interpretation. For example, even if you don’t see yourself as a leader, you might have much leadership potential when you dig into your character. So, pull out that leadership and build it into a personal essay.

This personal essay topic allows you to explore what you anticipate for your future. If you are writing an essay in high school as part of the college application process, you can incorporate why you are a good fit for the school into this essay to help your essay stand out.

When exploring your future in an essay, be sure to explore who you are as a person and why your future goals make sense based on your character traits and passions. This self-reflection will make for a powerful essay.

Not all who I am essays need to be about who you currently are. Instead, you can write a powerful essay about the person you hope to become. Every human being has tremendous potential, and you can showcase that potential in an essay sample.

Think about your character traits and life goals. What could you do with those traits to reach those goals? Exploring these ideas could create a strong essay example.

The human experience is all about change. We change as we grow and develop into more mature individuals. You could explore how you change in an essay that would talk about how your growth and development make you into a better person.

Exploring things that are the catalyst for change in your life can be a good starting point for a personal essay. Since you are unique, your changes will come from a different place than other people. There is quite a bit to talk about with this topic.

Essays About Identity: My Likes and Dislikes

Your likes and dislikes are what make you who you are. If you are focused on personal essay writing, this can be a good place to start. Because you have many things that you like or do not like, this can be a lengthy essay topic idea.

Go beyond the surface here. While you could talk about foods you like and dislike, is there something deeper you could explore? Are there particular topics that inspire you and others that turn you away? The answers to these questions will help you explore this essay topic.

A worldview is a platform through which you view the world, politics, and social concerns. It could be religious, sociological, or even ethical. Spending time figuring out your worldview helps you understand your way of relating to the world.

Once you know what your worldview is, you will be able to expound on it in your essay. Explain what you believe, but also explain why. Being able to support your reasons with self-reflection and logic will make your final essay exceptional.

Do you take after one of your parents? Compare your character traits to theirs to see how you connect. Seeing yourself in another person is a great way to reflect on what makes you, you.

Again, this is a place to dig deep. Look beyond the surface like physical characteristics and look at your character traits and how they are similar to your parent. You might find that you have quite a bit in common as you start analyzing the answer to this question.

Can you describe yourself in just three words? This essay topic is an exercise in brevity, giving you the chance to hone in on who you are. But, of course, an essay is not just three words.

Once you decide what your three words are, you can expound on them. For example, if one of your words is “student,” you can explore what that means. Likewise, if you choose to state your race, you can discuss why that is a defining feature.

Have you survived something traumatic in your life? If so, you could write an engaging essay about how you are a survivor. Many people who go through traumatic circumstances suffer a victim mentality, but you could focus on how you are choosing to be a survivor, not a victim.

Focus on the trail a little, but discuss how the trial has grown you as a person. You can show in your essay how you can move past difficulties and embrace the change that they bring. This essay can clearly show your resistance as a human being.

A person’s ethnicity is an important part of who they are. This can be an engaging essay topic, as it gives you the chance to celebrate your ethnicity, beliefs, and family history.

This topic is quite fascinating to delve into, but be careful. You do not want to come across as being fully defined by your race alone. Be sure to weave other character traits into this particular essay topic so that you come across as a well-rounded, balanced person. Remember, your ethnicity is just a portion of who you are as a whole person.

The academic world often gets too focused on grades and reports. While grades are important, you should be more than just a grade card. Hard work should matter just as much as the actual score, especially if you have some challenges that make learning and test-taking more difficult.

If you are more than just good grades, what does define you? When writing this essay, make sure you define your character traits in a positive light. Keep the essay upbeat and show how your hard work will define you even when grades do not.

Is there a time when you expressed a significant amount of bravery? It does not have to be a mountaintop rescue or a near-death experience. It could be as simple as standing up in front of a class for the first time to deliver a speech.

Find an example of bravery from your life and expound on it in your essay. Explain what made you feel afraid and how you overcame the fear to do something truly brave. Use this exploration to showcase some characteristics that help you act bravely in frightening situations.

Most people have quite a bit of development from their personal childhood experiences. Can you find some of these and point to specific ways they influenced your character as an adult? This idea could be a great way to explore who you are today.

Are you a social person because you spent a lot of time with people when you were young? Are you more introverted because you did not? You might find that your childhood significantly impacts your character, giving you an engaging essay topic to explore.

If you are a good friend to others, it says quite a bit about your character. Can you showcase how you are a good friend to others in your essay? What makes you someone people want to spend time with?

Character traits that make you a good friend can also make you a good student. Are you trustworthy or particularly friendly? These traits will help you in the classroom and your social life, so highlight them in your essay.

Do you picture yourself as a success in the future? If so, explain why in your essay. For example, you may think that you will succeed in starting your own business . Or maybe you have specific skills that make you confident of your abilities in the classroom.

Showing your confidence in your essay is helpful as you try to promote yourself to your potential college or your high school teacher. First, spend some time evaluating what it is about you that means you are likely to succeed, then compile that into an essay that shows your skills in the best possible light.

Our choices define us. Can you turn that into an essay topic? Can you showcase how your choices have created the person you are today, or can you write about one particular choice that was defining in your life?

This essay topic gives you quite a bit of time for self-reflection. You can easily highlight a particularly good choice you made or focus on a mistake and how you overcame the consequences of that mistake. Either way, you can use the choices in your life to outline who you are and why.

We all have failures in our life. This essay topic shocks the reader and gets their attention, which can make it powerful, but it also gives room to discuss failure positively. Talk about one of the biggest failures you have had in life and what you learned from it.

You can use this essay topic to transform something negative into something positive. First, think about how that monumental failure defined you and how the lessons you learned from the failure have made you a better person today.

Are you a parent, sibling, or child? Are you the only child or one of many? These family dynamics can significantly impact who you are as a person, so consider exploring them as part of your essay.

Discuss how your role within your family has defined you and what it means for your future. Focus on the strengths that your role gave you rather than any drawbacks. Remember, your essay promotes you as a person and a writer, so keep it positive.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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The Namesake

Jhumpa lahiri, everything you need for every book you read..

The Indian Immigrant Experience Theme Icon

As its title suggests, at its core The Namesake tackles the question of forming one’s own identity, and explores the power that a name can carry.

Gogol’s decision to change his name to Nikhil before leaving home for college demonstrates his desire to take control over his own identity. The name Gogol, which “Nikhil” finds so distasteful, is a direct result of the literal identity confusion at his birth, when the letter sent from India that contained his “true name” was lost in the mail. “Gogol” is also a name that holds deep meaning for Ashoke , since it was a book of short stories by Gogol, the Russian author, that saved his life during a fateful train crash —but this meaning is not conveyed to Gogol/Nikhil during his childhood.

As the other theme outlines make clear, the main tension that drives Gogol/Nikhil’s identity confusion is the divide between his family’s Indian heritage and his own desire for an independent, modern American lifestyle.

The episodes in Gogol/Nikhil’s development on display in the novel reveal a constant striving for a clear identity, a struggle which is made difficult by the divided world in which he grows up. Many of the choices that he makes seem motivated by a desire to live life as a “normal” American, and to escape the influence of his family. Gogol’s relationship to Maxine , for example, an upper class New Yorker who lives at home with her stylish and modern parents, evolves to the point of offering Gogol an alternative home. He vacations with Maxine’s family instead of returning home to visit his own, and embeds himself in their rituals. The identity that she and her family represent is clearly a very seductive one.

However, there are also moments—like after the death of his father, or when he decides to marry Moushumi —that Gogol seems to be reaching back toward his roots. Although his marriage to Moushumi ends in divorce, the book’s conclusion, as Gogol sits down to finally read the book of his namesake’s short stories that his father had given him long ago, suggests a new acceptance of his past, and a willingness to allow his background to become a part of his identity.

Naming, and nicknames, are also a symbol of the bonds shared by different characters throughout the novel, and they carry weight as markers of those bonds. When Ashoke and Ashima return to Calcutta on family vacations, they become “Mithu” and “Monu,” and are transformed into more confident versions of themselves. Sonia calls Gogol “Goggles,” Maxine is “Max” to Gogol—whom she knows as Nikhil—and to Dimitri , Moushumi is known as “Mouse.” This abundance of names is also a sign of the various worlds that the main characters of Lahiri’s novel inhabit simultaneously—often in a way that causes internal division, but which can also provide a form of comfort.

Identity and Naming ThemeTracker

Identity and Naming Quotes in The Namesake

When she calls out to Ashoke, she doesn’t say his name. Ashima never thinks of her husband’s name when she thinks of her husband, even though she knows perfectly well what it is. She has adopted his surname but refuses, for propriety’s sake, to utter his first. It’s not the type of thing Bengali wives do. Like a kiss or caress in a Hindi movie, a husband’s name is something intimate and therefore unspoken, cleverly patched over. And so … she utters the interrogative that has come to replace it, which translates roughly as “Are you listening to me?”

Family, Tradition, and Ritual Theme Icon

Ashima had never heard of Boston, or of fiber optics. She was asked whether she was willing to fly on a plane and then if she was capable of living in a city characterized by severe, snowy winters, alone. “Won’t he be there?” she’d asked, pointing to the man whose shoes she’d briefly occupied, but who had yet to say a word to her.

But Gogol is attached to them. For reasons he cannot explain or necessarily understand, these ancient Puritan spirits, these very first immigrants to America, these bearers of unthinkable, obsolete names, have spoken to him, so much so that in spite of his mother’s disgust he refuses to throw them away.

Independence, Rebellion, and Growing Up Theme Icon

Ashima, now Monu, weeps with relief, and Ashoke, now Mithu, kisses his brothers on both cheeks, holds their heads in his hands. Gogol and Sonia know these people, but they do not feel close to them as their parents do. Within minutes, before their eyes Ashoke and Ashima slip into bolder, less complicated versions of themselves, their voices louder, their smiles wider, revealing a confidence that Gogol and Sonia never see on Pemberton Road. “I’m scared, Goggles,” Sonia whispers to her brother in English, seeking his hand and refusing to let go.

There is only one complication: he doesn’t feel like Nikhil. Not yet. Part of the problem is that the people who now know him as Nikhil have no idea that he used to be Gogol. They know him only in the present, not at all in the past. But after eighteen years of Gogol, two months of Nikhil feel scant, inconsequential. At times he feels as if he’s cast himself in a play, acting the part of twins, indistinguishable to the naked eye yet fundamentally different.

The family seems to possess every piece of the landscape, not only the house itself but every tree and blade of grass. Nothing is locked, not the main house, or the cabin that he and Maxine sleep in. Anyone could walk in. He thinks of the alarm system that now is installed in his parents’ house, wonders why they cannot relax about their physical surroundings in the same way. The Ratliffs own the moon that floats over the lake, and the sun and the clouds. It is a place that has been good to them, as much a part of them as a member of the family. The idea of returning year after year to a single place appeals to Gogol deeply.

He returns to bed, squeezing in beside Maxine’s warm, sleeping body, and drapes his arm around her narrow waist, fits his knees behind hers. Through the window he sees that dawn is creeping into the sky, only a handful of stars still visible, the shapes of the surrounding pines and cabins growing distinct. A bird begins to call. And then he remembers that his parents can’t possibly reach him: he has not given them the number, and the Ratliffs are unlisted. That here at Maxine’s side, in this cloistered wilderness, he is free.

She passes over two pages filled only with the addresses of her daughter, and then her son. She has given birth to vagabonds. She is the keeper of all these names and numbers now, numbers she once knew by heart, numbers and addresses her children no longer remember.

Now, sitting together at the kitchen table at six-thirty every evening, the hour feeling more like midnight through the window, his father’s chair empty, this meatless meal is the only thing that makes sense. There is no question of skipping this meal; on the contrary, for ten evenings the three of them are strangely hungry, eager to taste the blandness on their plates.

It strikes him that there is no term for what they once were to each other. Their parents were friends, not they. She is a family acquaintance but she is not family. Their contact until tonight has been artificial, imposed, something like his relationship to his cousins in India but lacking even the justification of blood ties. Until they’d met tonight, he had never seen her outside the context of her family, or she his. He decides that it is her very familiarity that makes him curious about her, and as he begins to walk west, to the subway, he wonders when he might see her again.

“I had it engraved,” she says, and when he turns the flask over he sees the letters NG. He remembers poking his head into Sonia’s room years ago, telling her about his decision to change his name to Nikhil. She’d been thirteen or so, doing her homework on her bed. “You can’t do that,” she’d told him then, shaking her head, and when he’d asked her why not she’d simply said, “Because you can’t. Because you’re Gogol.”

He’d confessed to her that he still felt guilty at times for changing his name, more so now that his father was dead. And she’d assured him that it was understandable, that anyone in his place would have done the same. But now it’s become a joke to her. Suddenly he regrets having ever told Moushumi; he wonders whether she’ll proclaim the story of his father’s accident to the table as well. By morning, half the people in the room will have forgotten. It will be a tiny, odd fact about him, an anecdote, perhaps, for a future dinner party. This is what upsets him most.

And then the house will be occupied by strangers, and there will be no trace that they were ever there, no house to enter, no name in the telephone directory. Nothing to signify the years his family has lived here, no evidence of the effort, the achievement it had been. It’s hard to believe that his mother is really going, that for months she will be so far. He wonders how his parents had done it, leaving their respective families behind, seeing them so seldom, dwelling unconnected, in a perpetual state of expectation, of longing.

It is as if a building he’d been responsible for designing had collapsed for all to see. And yet he can’t really blame her. They had both acted on the same impulse, that was their mistake. They had both sought comfort in each other, in their shared world, perhaps for the sake of novelty, or out of fear that that world was slowly dying. Still, he wonders how he’s arrived at all this… His time with her seems like a permanent part of him that no longer has any relevance, or currency. As if that time were a name he’d ceased to use.

Without people in the world to call him Gogol, no matter how long he himself lives, Gogol Ganguli will, once and for all, vanish from the lips of loved ones, and so, cease to exist. Yet the thought of this eventual demise provides no sense of victory, no solace. It provides no solace at all.

99 Cultural Identity Essay Topics & Examples

Our experts have gathered identity essay topics that you can research or discuss in a class. See the list and find the perfect title here!

🏆 Best Cultural Identity Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

💡 interesting identity essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on cultural identity, ❓ research questions about cultural identity.

In high school or college, you might be assigned to write a cultural identity essay. Topics on the subject are quite easy to find, given that culture surrounds us everywhere we go. However, choosing one relevant idea can become an issue. Are you going to discuss an American or Canadian identity essay title? Or are you willing to talk about the history of pop culture around the globe? In either case, this article will be helpful for you.

Cultural Identity Theory: “How to Be Chinese” by Celeste Ng Thus, while recognizing the role that the specified cultural signifiers have for Asian American people in their attempts to retain their cultural identity, Ng also demonstrates the urge to introduce immediate change to prevent the […]
How Does Culture Affect the Self Identity Personal Essay The economic background, family relations and ethnic distinctions have contributed significantly to the personality trait of being a low profile person who is considerate of others.
Cultural Identity: Problems, Coping, and Outcomes The intensification of the processes of globalization, cultural integration, and expansion of contacts between representatives of different countries led to the gradual blurring of boundaries between national cultures and the loss of cultural identity.
Hall Stuart: Questions of Cultural Identity Hall states that it is important to theorize the notion of identity to make it more applicable. However, Hall still claims that it is important to understand what identity is.
Cultural Identity and Heritage in the “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker In the broad context, Walker designs the story to underscore the conflict that African Americans faced concerning their cultural identity and heritage after the abolition of slavery.
Racial and Cultural Identity Development Model At the stage of dissonance, a person is in a conflict between group-appreciating and depreciating within the attitude toward self as well as in a conflict between the emotions of shared experiences and group-depreciating views […]
What Role Does Food Play in Cultural Identity? From the point of view of cultural studies, such a model of nutrition speaks more about the absence of global roots, the absence of deep moral guidelines, and not about the convenience of the process.
Cultural Identity in “White Teeth” by Zadie Smith Exploring the thematic significance of the novels title “White Teeth” it would be instrumental to argue that the title touches on the aspects of cultural identity.
Cultural Borrowing: Ethnic Fashion Obscures Cultural Identity I write this article from the larger perspective of what kind of cultural items can be borrowed and the benefits of the same and at the same time the tendency to obviate the subtext.
Cultural Influences on Personality The basis of Indonesian culture and its ability to comply with a fixed standard, regulation, or requirement of societal norms is the importance put on honor and respect for the individual. This is a keystone […]
Cultural Identity: the Position in Society Here, the answer is “yes, I am” and the answer to this question is quite accurate in terms of the majority of the Arabic people.
Australia: Being a Multicultural Society It is reported the between 2000 and 2005, there was significant public concern within the country due to the role of detention centers in the country.
Cultural Identity: “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker One of the instances of elements of life associated with identity is music. As such, blues music is not particularly popular throughout America, yet it remains a significant part and a distinctive aspect of the […]
Cultural Identity and Justice in Early Learning Space One of the myths that interfere with the ability to talk about race and racism in early care and education settings is associated with the position that children do not see races.
Transcending National and Cultural Identity Despite the Odds The success of Shakira in terms of her music is the first real evidence that a single individual can maintain multiple cultures and nationalities.
Art Education Preserving Ethno Cultural Identity The image presents a fantasy of how sweet their fries and chicken are, and for some reason, some customers visit the place for the first time due to the visual art available.
The Crisis of Cultural Identity of Luxembourg Due to Massive Immigration The possibility of a city-wide display exhibiting the workmanship and specialties of Luxembourg could be a method for opening the secret of the nation’s way of life. There is an incredible blend of individuals who […]
Strong Cultural Identity Importance in Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks” She communicates with her audience in a playful manner, with the use of rhetorical techniques such as irony and hilarious analogies, to better illustrate her point.
Arabic Cultural Identity: Sonallah Ibrahim His writing is also a constant reminder of the failures of the governments in standing up to the expectations of the Egyptian citizens.
Malay Muslim Traditions and Cultural Identity First I clearly expected that it if the parents and close family members who convey the identity to their children stayed together, then the conflict between mainstream expectations in the American way of life and […]
Gendered Cultural Identity and Globalization in Canada It should be well understood that the escalation of politics of cultural identities in Canada is a result of the background of the cultural nationalism that came before it.
Cultural Identity vs. Ethnic Fashion A part of the modern lifestyle that looks hip and very happening without actually understanding the real meaning of the cultural item as it pertains to the ethnicity of the person.
Asian Cultural Identity: Interview It will explore the individual’s definition of cultural identity, his family origin, most important cultural values, factors that contributed towards the development of cultural identity, and the interaction between the self and cultural identity.
African-American Cultural Identity’ and Values’ Critique Despite the high levels of discrimination, they got themselves out of the slavery of writing for the whites by mastering the Anglo-American traditions.
Cultural Differences: Individualism vs. Collectivism The understanding of the relevant cultures helps in knowing where the people around us originate. The religion types are unique to the areas where they are found and exemplify the culture of people who participate […]
Cultural Diversity in Society: Reforms to the Way a Society Is Conducted The concepts of the diversity of the US culture that are shared in this article are important as they are address different elements of a culture that are important when it comes to determining how […]
Social Identity in Social Psychology This essay shall use the movie, Grand Illusion to identify and explore three bases of group categorisation and apply social identity theories in order to explain whether the characters transcend or exposed to illusion in […]
Culture and Self: Cultural Specifics Although both authors provide a fairly detailed account of the way in which cultural background and the development of self are intertwined, the latter research seems to focus on the application of the findings related […]
Social Constructionism and Its Impact on Cultural Identity in a Society Ruled by a Strong Rhetoric of Risk and Health and Safety Regulations These include social constructionism, namely the development of this theoretical framework and how it relates to the view of the self using accountability as an example; the rise of the dominant discourse on health and […]
Multicultural Psychology: Cultural Identity and Racism It is a branch of psychology that tries to comprehend and represent the psychology of different people, groups and organizations adequately for the purpose of equal treatment due to the fact that there is a […]
Migration, Identity and Multiculturalism Equity in Ethnic Policy In the earlier years, discriminative policies had been enacted but the mid of the last century saw the eradication of these policies and the establishment of better ones that addressed the […]
Influence of Cultural Identity the Way Middle School Students Learn The activities which students participate in and the interactions they have with peers, adults, and the physical characteristics of their learning environment all contribute to their motivation to learn and desire to engage.
Issues of Japanese Cultural Identity The other way the anime productions deal with the issues of the Japanese and their cultural identity is by presenting the aspects and ideas that define the people of Japan.
The Influence Of Modernity And Globalization On Cultural Identity
The Family Tradition of Making a Huge Batch of Ravioli as a Cultural Identity
Cultural Identity Of The Black Native, And Their Subsequent
Racial Cultural Identity Developement Model
The Importance of Cultural Identity and Socialization in Education
Cultural Identity, Mobility, and Decentralization
Maintaining Cultural Identity in the Face of Adversity
The Effects Of Perceived Brand Globalness And Local Iconness On Brand Prestige And Perceived Quality: The Role Of Consumers’ Cultural Identity
Cultural Identity and Intercultural Communication
The Importance of Positive Cultural Identity
Changes of Cultural Identity
An Analysis of the Difficulties of Establishing a Cultural Identity for the United States of America
The Cultural Identity Within Asian Writing Systems
Cross-Linguistic and Cross-Cultural Identity
The Connection Between Food Study and Cultural Identity
Individuals Learn Of Cultural Identity Through The Acculturation Process
An Exploration of Cultural Identity in Hamlet by William Shakespeare
The Impact of Globalization to Cultural Identity
The Effects of Language Extinction on Cultural Identity in Third World Countries
The Harlem Renaissance and a New Cultural Identity
Intercultural Communications and Cultural Identity
Maintaining Cultural Identity In Design
Importance Of Cultural Identity And Diaspora
Multicultural Counseling and Cultural Identity Analysis
Meaning of Life and Australian Cultural Identity
Popular Music, Gender, Sexuality, and Cultural Identity
A Look at the Cultural Identity in The Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
The Influence of Cultural Identity on Willingness to Pay Values in Contingent Valuation Surveys
Self Awareness and Cultural Identity
The Era Of New And Improved Cultural Identity
An Interpretive Ethnographic Perspective on Negotiating and Leveraging Cross-Cultural Identity
The Confiscation of Cultural Identity in North America
The White Power Structure And Cultural Identity
Cultural Identity Through Local Advertisement
What Are The Most Important Parts Of Cultural Identity?
An Analysis of Cultural Identity in Genre Films
The Cultural Differences Between China and America
The Differences (or Similarities) Between Ethnic identity, Cultural identity, and Acculturation
Evaluating Cultural Identity Using Caryl Phillips Cambridge
The Formation of Nation-State and Cultural Identity: A Georgian Perspective
An Analysis of the Issue of Cultural Identity and the Cinematic Representation
Did Americans Find Their Cultural Identity on the Eve of the Revolution?
Do Cultural Identity and Understanding Influence Health Equity?
Does Heritage Impact Culture Identity?
Does Social Media Influence Cultural Identity?
How Do You Maintain Your Cultural Identity?
How and Why Does Culture Identity Affect the Idea of ‘Beauty’?
How Cultural Identity and Understanding Influence Health?
How Not Lose Your Cultural Identity While Living in a New Country?
How Does Cultural Identity Impact American Culture?
How Many Types of Cultural Identity Are There?
How Does Art Embody Cultural Identity?
Who Created the Cultural Identity Theory?
Why Is Cultural Identity Important to Us?
Why Is Cultural Identity Hard to Define?
What Defines India’s Cultural Identity?
What Is the Main Idea of Cultural Identity?
Where Does Cultural Identity Reside?
What Are the Most Important Parts of Your Cultural Identity?
What Are the Different Types of Cultural Identity?
What Is Cultural Identity Development?
What Are the Three Different Types of Identity?
What Are Aspects of Cultural Identity?
What Does Culture Identity Mean in Literature?
What Are the Levels of Cultural Identity?
What Is the Difference Between Cultural Identity and Identity?
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Chicago (N-B)

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Home / Essay Samples / Sociology / Names / Name As A Part Of Identity

Name As A Part Of Identity

Category: Life , Sociology , Philosophy
Topic: About My Name , Names , Personal Identity

Pages: 4 (1887 words)

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26 Names and Identity

26.1 Introduction

26.2 Theoretical Approaches to Identity

26.2.1 What is Identity?

26.2.2 Essentialism and Social Constructionism

26.2.3 Identity, Language, and Names

26.3 Linking Names and Identity

26.3.1 Names and Personal Identity

26.3.2 Names and Social Identity

26.3.3 Names and Cultural Identity

26.3.4 Change of Name and Identity

26.3.5 Names and Identity in Digital Environments

26.3.6 Names and Perceived Identity

26.3.7 Names and Identity in Interaction

26.3.8 Identity and Non-anthroponomical Name Categories

26.4 Studying Names and Identity—Methodologies

26.4.1 Interviews

26.4.2 Written Surveys

26.4.3 Experimental Tests and Observations

26.4.4 Analysis of Web-based Chat-fora

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Name As A Part Of Identity

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