The tiny, frozen, nation of Iceland has filed legal action against a British grocery chain store that has taken the name “Iceland” as its company name. “Iceland Foods” is a privately owned frozen food chain owned and operated by Malcolm Walker and the South African investment group Brait. According to a recent article in the UK Guardian, “Iceland Foods” has already “won multiple cases against Icelandic companies which use ‘Iceland’” as a part of their onomastic trademark. Whether the nation of Iceland will emerge triumphant in the battle to control the use of their country’s name will be decided at the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office.
About Names: Headstrong martyr propelled ‘Agnes’
Dr. Cleveland Evans writes about names for the Omaha World-Herald. This recent column explores Agnes.… Read More
Merriam Webster’s Name That Thing
It is maddening and you probably will not get all of them right. And if you do, there is a very good chance you won’t be able to repeat that stellar performance. And if you do, send us an email. You should definitely join the American Name Society. Feeling lucky? Feeling knowledgeable? Want to test your wits against the folks at Merriam Webster? Check out the game: Name That Thing. You can play as often as you like. Warning: this name game can be harmful to your ego and just might be a tad addictive.
Final Schedule for the ANS Conference in Austin, TX
The final schedule of presentations is now available for the upcoming annual conference in Austin, TX, from January 5-8, 2017. The schedule is included in the ANS 2017 Conference Program.
For more information about the conference and registration materials, please visit the conferences page.
African American names aren’t “ghetto”
Fayetteville University Freshman Dominque Elliott shares the cultural trends that have influenced the creation of distinctly black names. These names have their own rich history.
Naming a Dog?
Looking for dog names? Check out alldognames.com. The site includes articles and name lists to aid you in this decision.
Top Celebrity Baby Naming Trends Of 2016
In this article, Mallory Moss, cofounder of Babynames.com, discusses celebrity baby naming trends. Will the rest of us copy these trends?
What’s in a Name?: Hebrew and Arabic Names, Naming, & North American Culture
In this “Can We Talk?” conversation, Wajahat Ali and Rabbi Or Rose discuss their ethnically and religiously marked names.
Nameberry’s Names of the Year 2016
It’s that time of year when we start seeing “Name of the Year” lists. Nameberry has put together a list of “names that reflect current trends and are prime to inspire baby names of the future.”
Do you have ideas about Name of the Year? Submit your nominations to the American Name Society.
Award for Best Article in Names: A Journal of Onomastics 2016
The 2016 Award Winner is:
Dr. Gerrit Bloothooft and David Onland, “Multiple First Names in the Netherlands (1760-2014)” Names: A Journal of Onomastics 64(1) 3-18.
Learn more about their article in this interview in Names: A Journal of Onomastics.
Committee: Michael McGoff, Kemp Williams, Dorothy Dodge Robbins