To commemorate WWI, the Guild of One-Name Studies, in cooperation with the Imperial War Museum, will be holding a series of digital events designed to document the lives of the millions of soldiers and civilians who lost their lives.
Name News
Motorola Brand Changed to Moto
In an effort to breathe new life into one of its problem-children, Lenovo executives have decided to sacrifice the brand name Motorola and replace it with the sleeker, shorter name Moto. According to the company, the decision to doff the 83-year-old brand name was not easy. However, executives are convinced that the new brand name will attract new customers and bring back some old ones.
Winners in Naming the Exoplanets
There are planets that orbit our sun (e.g. Mercury, Saturn, and or beloved Earth) and there are planets that orbit around a star that is not our sun. These celestial bodies are called “exoplanets.”
This past spring, registered clubs and non-profit organizations were invited to suggest names for several exoplanets and stars. Among the winning bids came from the Kamagari Astronomical Observatory in Japan. This organization received the honor of bestowing the planet Ain b (epsilon Tauri b) the name Amateru, a common appellation for shrines devoted to the Shinto Sun goddess, Amaterasu. Learn about these onomastics winners.
Don’t name your dog Bella
Chances are if you think you have found the perfect name for your dog, there are at least 10 thousand other dog-owners who have made the same discovery. Pet names, like baby names, follow strong national and generational trends.
Whereas pooches in the past carried names like Rex, King, and Lady, today the most popular names for dogs in English-speaking countries are Max, Charlie, Lucy, and Bella. In fact, according to dog experts, the name Bella has become so popular, that it has become a real problem.
In a January 2016 interview for Animal Life, Toni Perling, founder and CEO of DoggieNames.com explains that the increasing number of Bellas has caused serious chaos, ranging from “grooming mishaps” to “medication mixups”.
Zica Car Will Be Renamed
In light of the international virus scare, executives at India’s largest automobile company, Tata Motors, have decided not to name their newest tiny car “Zica”. According to Tata insiders, the name “Zica” had nothing to do with the insect-born virus, but was a word-blend of the word “zippy” and “car”.… Read More
Kayden Clarke and Transgender Naming Issues
Early this month, Arizona police responded to an emergency call about a suspected suicide attempt. When the officers entered the home, they found a distressed individual in a darkened room with a knife. In what the police have described as an act of self-defense, at least one shot was fired and the individual, who was later identified as transgender internet star, Kayden Clarke, was officially pronounced dead.
Public attention to this tragedy has been fueled not only over the questionable actions of the officers, but also over the police department’s repeatedly referring to the shooting victim’s “dead name”, the name used before transitioning.
Tasmania’s Aboriginal heritage recognized with more dual place names announced
In an effort to pay homage to Tasmania’s rich Aboriginal heritage, the Nomenclature Board of Tasmania has progressively introduced a dual English/Indigenous naming system for landmarks of great cultural significance. As Will Hodgeman, New Zealand’s Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, explained in an interview with ABC news, “The names are applied in the reconstructed palawa kani language following extensive research by the Aboriginal community language revival program.” Three examples of dual toponyms are
- Mount William/wukalina
- Great Lake/yingina
- Sundown Point/laraturunawn.
Dwan Shipley [1947-2016]
The American Name Society is very sad to report the death of one of our cherished members, Professor Dwan Shipley. Dwan passed away on the 12th of February 2016 after battling a long-term illness. An expert in anthroponymy, toponymy, and the preservation of indigenous languages of the Pacific Northwest, Dwan was a faculty member of the Linguistics Department at Western Washington University (WWU). In a recent interview featured in the Western Front, retired WWU Linguistics Director, Rudolf Weiss, stated that Dwan’s combined passion for people and languages is the reason why so many WWU students picked linguistics as their major field of study. According to Dr. Shaw Gynan, a fellow Linguistics Professor at WWU, Dwan’s devotion to academic excellence was a source of perpetual inspiration for both students and colleagues alike. “One of the things I loved most about Professor Shipley was his office,” Gynan revealed in an email interview with the Western Front. “It was a scholar’s den, filled to the rafters with references.”
It was exactly that rare combination of intelligence and kindness that made Dwan such a cherished colleague and friend within the ANS family. As former ANS President Donna Lillian shared, “He was a scholar and a gentleman […] He welcomed new and returning members alike with his kind and supportive presence, and I was proud to count him among my ANS friends.” Similar sentiments were echoed by the current ANS Vice President, Dorothy Dodge Robbins, who wrote, “I always looked forward to seeing Dwan at our gatherings. He was a great onomastician and a genuinely decent human being.”
Indeed, at a time when academia can feel very cold and uninviting, Dwan’s gentle spirit and sincere warmth were a welcomed and powerful reminder of what true integrity and strength are. As the current ANS President, Iman Nick, said upon receiving the news of Dwan’s death, “I felt sick to my stomach when WWU told me what had happened. He was always so incredibly generous with his time and his knowledge. He was the kind of person who made everyone around him feel completely at ease. His soft smile and his gentle laughter will be terribly missed.” Saundra Wright, ANS member-at-large, expressed a similar sense of loss and appreciation. “Dwan,” she related, was not only “an incredible scholar, but also such a genuine and thoughtful person […].”
In celebration of Dwan’s life, the WWU Linguistics Program has established a special scholarship fund in his name. Please type “Dwan Shipley Memorial Scholarship” into the gift designation box. Alternatively, check donations can be sent to the following postal address: WWU Foundation, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225-9034. Please be sure to include the name “Dwan Shipley Memorial Scholarship” in the memo line of the check. A special memorial service was held on Wednesday, the 24th of February 2016 at the Dakota Creek Christian Center in Blaine, Washington. Dwan is survived by his wife, Nita.
We at the ANS wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the Shipley family as well as the students and staff of the Linguistics Department of Western Washington University.
Zuckerberg Announces Daughter’s Chinese Name
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan announced their daughter’s Chinese name: Chen Mingyu. While the first part of the name was taken from Zuckerberg’s mother-in-law, the the second is composed of the words: “ming” for bright and “yu” for universe. The tiny internet heiress’s English name, “Maxima” was reportedly chosen to honor Zuckerberg’s side of the family.
Ethnic Groups Face Dilemma Over Punctuation Inconsistencies
In China, minority ethnicities are struggling to use name punctuation in certain official documents and online apps, particularly for e-commerce. The punctuation in question is known as ‘middle dot’. Uygurs, Kazaks and Tibetan people use this mark to separate Mandarin surnames from their given names. Many of the newer online systems weren’t designed to accommodate the names of these ethnicities.… Read More