The My Name, My Identity Campaign (2024)

FAQs

How does your name impact your identity? ›

Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deep personal, cultural, familial, and historical connections. They also give us a sense of who we are, the communities in which we belong, and our place in the world.

A name is your identity. It's what people call you, it's what you respond to, it's what you understand about yourself.

Some cultures consider names so precious that they are only used during special ceremonies. In everyday life, individuals are referred to based on their role in the family structure: sister, brother, aunt. Some cultures consider names to have mystical powers, bestowed by the gods in dreams, signs, and visions.

Research shows that people hold stereotypes about others based on their names. Names can reveal cultural values and cultural shifts, research suggests. Our names may also influence our personality. Names may also influence important life decisions although this claim is more controversial.

The Name-Letter Effect: Self-Association and Identity

This phenomenon suggests that our names are intimately linked to our sense of self and identity, influencing our preferences, attitudes, and behaviors.

The theme of "My Name" by Sandra Cisneros is one of exterior self versus interior self. The narrator, like many teenagers, does not feel at home in her name. Her name, Esperanza, means "hope" in Spanish, but she does not feel connected to that.

Not only can a name connect each of us to our own identity and individuality, but it can also carry power, responsibility, and blessings.

A name dictionary will often provide an immediate answer to the meaning of the name and often its etymology, but not your family's genealogy. However, your family's genealogy may help you discover the meaning of your surname (Redmonds).

New research suggests that the initial letter of your first name might influence your life choices. From career paths to residential preferences, individuals are slightly inclined towards cities and professions that align with the starting letter of their first names. Earlier studies had hinted at this phenomenon.

Overall, men whose last names appeared earlier in the alphabet were more likely to see greater achievements, especially in school. Researchers say those whose names fell at the end of the alphabet were less likely to be identified by teachers as outstanding students.

Why is a name something so important? ›

More than mere labels, names are deeply woven into our sense of self and the communities we form part of. Names stir emotions, foster connections and promote inclusivity, making them critical pillars of our individual and collective identity.

Using an individual's name when addressing them directly is a powerful relationship-developing strategy. It conveys attention and a wish to engage personally. In formal circ*mstances, it denotes acceptance and admiration. However, undesirable or extravagant use can be looked at as fake and invasive.

Dubbed the 'Dorian Gray effect', academics found that cultural stereotypes associated with names can actually change our facial appearances and our personality to fit. In Oscar Wilde's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, the titular character's oil portrait changes over time to reflect his life.

It can make it easier to register your children for school, open joint bank accounts, and even make travel plans. It can also create a sense of unity and belonging within your family unit. For women who have established careers, changing their name can make it difficult to maintain their professional reputation.

Names accounted for approximately 6% of the variance in subjects' ratings of physical attractiveness. This effect was highly significant for pictures of women (p < . 001), but nonsignificant for pictures of men (p > . 05).