Yosemite is changing the names of iconic and historic places. Read more about the trademark dispute that led to these changes.
In depth look at the 2015 Name of the Year
In this article for the Huffington Post, Mallory Moss shares additional information about the name Caitlyn and Caitlyn Jenner’s choice to use it.… Read More
Bowie Street sign ch-ch-changed to honor David Bowie in Downtown Austin
In memory of David Bowie, a fan (presumably) altered an Austin street sign, changing it from Bowie Street to David Bowie Street. Although unsanctioned, officials have agreed to leave the sign for now. There is a change.org petition to make this change permanent.
Name of the Year 2015 Press
The 2015 Name of the Year picks up additional press. Check out the article in Voice of America and the article in Gay Star News.… Read More
Names are an important part of who we are — but they can come at a price
In this piece, a writer for the Toronto Star discusses having an “exotic name” and what her name means to her.… Read More
Submit Name News to the ANS
If you see an interesting news story about names, the ANS wants to know so that we can publicize it.
Submit your new item through the ANS New Submission Form. The link to the form is located in the upper right-hand corner of the news page:
Nationwide publishes Wacky Pet Names of 2015
Looking for a name for your new feline family member? How about “Sir Nigel Meowmittens of Oscelot Court”, “Sophistikitty”, or “Cornelius McPudness Vandercat”? All of these fanciful feline names are taken from the list of real-life monikers featured on Nationwide’s year-end list of Wacky Pet Names.
Ruling Could Help Washington Redskins in Trademark Case
Just days before the Winter Holidays, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C. declared that the first Amendment “forbids government regulators to deny registration [of trademark ] because they find the speech is likely to offend others”. This ruling came in response to a petition by an Asian-American rock band that had previously tried, unsuccessfully, to register the name “The Slants”.
For many Washingtonians who have been following the debate over the city’s controversial name of the local football team, this recent ruling has sent off a tidal wave of emotions, ranging from relief to rage. On the 9th of January 2016, the Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Jacqueline Pata, spoke to the American Name Society on the use of racist and derogatory names by US American sports franchises.
ANS member Laura Heymann, from William & Mary Law School, mentioned this specific ruling in her talk “Naming and Reclaiming”, which she presented at the ANS annual meeting on the 10th of January 2016. She also covers it in a guest post on the Technology & Marketing Law Blog.
Petition to Rename Donald J. Trump State Park
Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, has made a quite a name for himself this year. His commentary has offended, injured, shocked, and insulted many groups. In a letter written to the governor, New York State Senator Daniel Squadron is reported to have stated that given the candidate’s behavior, the Donald J. Trump State Park, should be officially renamed. Squadron is not alone in his opinion. Right before the Winter Holidays, a petition started by Brooklyn resident Andrew Cheung had garnered thousands of supporters.
Petition to name a new element in Terry Pratchett’s honour
The International Union of Applied Chemistry recently recognized four new elements and now these elements need names. Boingboing reports on the petition to name one of these new elements in honor of Terry Pratchett. Support the Change.org petition to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which has naming rights for element 117.