Akron Zoo snow leopard cubs choose their names

4820015435_29b4610a19_mIn an act of zoological onomastic history-making, Akron, Ohio’s famous snow leopard triplets were given the chance to pick their own names. After collecting almost 7,00 suggestions from the general public, zoo officials announced that the triplets had chosen the names “Altai”, “Asha”, and “Layan” which mean golden, hope, and gentle, respectively.

About the Designation of Official Names and Proper Names for Certain Biological Products

12199077663_d9b56e00e0_mIn the pharmaceutical business, companies hoping to jump on the profit bandwagon of their competitors often release products that have no significant clinical difference to the market leaders. Makers of these “biosimilars” have long argued that their products should be allowed to carry the same generic or non-proprietary names as the name brand leaders. However, many of the major drug franchisors have fought tooth and nail against this practice, claiming territorial rights. Caught in the middle of the billion-dollar onomastic fight has been the US government. Recently, however, the FDA proposed a solution. The generic drug system would be augmented with a random set of four letters. Learn more about the proposed naming rules.

In conservative Utah, naming road for gay leader stands out

6331771638_4bf2593829_mSalt Lake City now has a street named after Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay politicians to run for and win public office in US history. In 1977, the social activist was elected to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors. A year later, he was assassinated along with San Francisco Mayor, George Moscone. Although a few Utah residents fought against the proposed toponym, according to Stan Penfold, Utah’s first openly gay councilman, the majority of the community embraced the move to add “Harvey Milk Boulevard” to the state’s rich toponymic history.

Victories for Transgender Name Changing in South America

8084234163_77e125a9d2_mIn a landmark decision this spring, Brazilian authorities ruled that transgender and transsexual civil servants are allowed to use their newly chosen names at work. Although conservatives have complained about the decision, for now, Brazilian LGBT human rights activists are savoring their victory. This decision was passed just weeks before another historic onomastic ruling in which Bolivian officials also acknowledged the rights of adult transsexuals to legally change their names.