This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Names are a valuable source of information. They can show gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, marital status, birthplace, and position within a family or society. However, naming traditions varies significantly across the globe. The map below shows traditional naming customs around the world.
In the western European and North American notion, nearly all individuals possess at least one given name (first name), together with a family name (last name, surname).
Spanish names contain a given name and two surnames (the first surname of each parent). Typically, the first surname is the father’s first surname, and the second is the mother’s.
The world map below shows the naming customs around the world.
Another naming convention that is used mainly in the Arabic culture and in different other countries of Africa and Asia is connecting the person’s given name with a chain of names, starting with the name of the person’s father and then the father’s father and so on, usually ending with the family name (tribe or clan name). However, the legal full name of a person usually contains the first three names with the family name at the end to limit the name in government-issued ID.
Some counties (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Greece, Bulgaria) also add patronymics or matronymics.
In some nations, many people are known by a single name (Bhutan, Myanmar, Indonesia). In Iceland and Malaysia, nearly all people possess at least one given name, together with patronymics.
In India, Hindu names are primarily based on the child’s raashis, defined by the position of the planets at the date and time of birth. Family and friends often shorten the resulting names.
Chinese names comprise three characters: a one-character family name followed by a two-character given name. The child’s official name is used for the birth certificate and school. Chinese kids usually have different names used among friends, classmates, and colleagues.
Afghan names generally comprise only a first name. Last names are chosen using tribal association, place of birth, occupation, or honorific titles when required.
Somali children have three personal names and no family names. Somali names are a combination of a kid’s personal name, the father’s personal name, and the paternal grandfather’s personal name. All three names must be used to identify someone.
Southern India follows different naming conventions. Oftentimes, a father’s first name will be the kids’ last name.
North India follows the conventional given name + father’s surname. In Gujarati culture, children of both genders take their dad’s first name as a middle name. Same thing goes with wives:
Anita Rajesh Patel (daughter of Rajesh Patel) marries Sanjay Shah. Her new name is now Anita Sanjay Shah.
Let’s not discuss her initials.
Southern India follows different naming conventions. Oftentimes, a father’s first name will be the kids’ last name.
North India follows the conventional given name + father’s surname. In Gujarati culture, children of both genders take their dad’s first name as a middle name. Same thing goes with wives:
Anita Rajesh Patel (daughter of Rajesh Patel) marries Sanjay Shah. Her new name is now Anita Sanjay Shah.
Let’s not discuss her initials.