The Unconscious Meaning of Personal Names

Abstract

Personal names serve many purposes, both for the namer and for the named. They are conferred, at least in part, in honour of someone who has gone before. Cultural traditions dictate the extent of commemorative name-giving. Names inform about genealogy and geography, and about the circumstances of birth. The etymological and linguistic associations of names are grasped intuitively without conscious knowledge of semantic roots. These unconscious associations frequently emerge in nicknaming and in dreams. Passage from one life stage to another may accompany a change of name, as may religious conversion or new ideological affiliation. Because so many inferences can be drawn from the choice of a given name, it is no wonder that, in some cultures, the personal name is kept secret, a protection against betrayal.