According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, Canada has approximately 350,000 official place names. Learn more about Canada’s toponymic treasures from the Canadian Encyclopedia.
About Names
In this Indian Village, People Have Unique Names Like Google, Glucose, Obama
The Hakki Pikki (a tribal community) in Southern India uses name that many westerners wouldn’t consider to be names. They name people after the objects in their world and these names have interesting stories.
Canadian Provinces Can Reject Your Baby Name
Although Canadians are known the world over for their liberalism, in some provinces officials can actually forbid parents from selecting a name they deem inappropriate. For example, according to a February 2016 article from the Huffington Post Canada, in Saskatchewan, swear words are not allowed as baby names. In Quebec and British Columbia, a baby name may be denied if officials believe it may lead to future embarrassment or bullying.
US Name Change Law by State
After the cake has been cut and the presents opened, many modern newlyweds decide to follow the tradition of taking their spouse’s name. While the decision to alter one’s last name can be bitter-sweet emotionally, the logistics involved in making the onomastic switch can lead many to despair. To help out newlyweds out, the website NameChangeLaw.com has assembled useful information state-by-state.
England’s Rudest Street Names
Coronation Street and Notting Hill, Number 10 Downing Street and Strawberry Fields, the place names of England are famous for their charm. But not all English toponyms are positively regal. In fact, some are just the opposite. Find out more about some of what the BBC has labelled “England’s rudest street names.”
Guide to the names of England’s cities, towns and villages
Ever wanted to know more about the names of England’s cities, towns, and villages? The Institute for Names Studies at the University of Nottingham has made available a newly updated website providing information on the history and meaning of over 10,000 place names in England.
About Names: Cinderella: Her real name, like her shoe, is lost
Dr. Cleveland Evans writes about names for the Omaha World-Herald. This week’s column explores Cinderella.
Top Irish Placenames in America
From Sligo, Pennsylvania to Limerick, Kentucky, the topography of the United States is filled with onomastic markers of its rich Irish heritage. Interested in learning more about Irish place names in the US? IrishCentral.com offers readers a fascinating look at this important part of American onomastic history.
Test your knowledge of Eponyms
Want to test your knowledge of eponyms? Which of the following words were NOT based on the names of real-life people?
- pompadour
- dynamo
- sandwich
- mesmerize
- gerrymander
- trumpet
Ready? The answers are 2 and 6.
About Names: Porn Star Names
Raking in ca 14 billion dollars per year, the US porn industry is very big business. With all that cash around, it’s no wonder that the industry continues to attract would-be stars. To help these onscreen hopefuls, the internet is filled with specialized name generators.
Although some may scoff, as porn legend Annie Sprinkle revealed in an interview with Alternet, landing the perfect porn name is critical: “My name helped me to totally change who I was […] and become who I wanted to be.”
Despite these unusual psychological and economic demands, Stanford Linguistics Professor Arnold Zwicky contends that most porn names are actually quite regular. For example, his examination of over two thousand porn star names revealed that the most common first name for erotic actors was… Mark.