Name changing is an under-researched topic in socio-onomastics. In this article, we extend knowledge of and understanding about gender and name changing by analysing ‘enrolled deed polls’, which people in the United Kingdom can use to change any part or all parts of their names. We examine which names are changed in relation to gender, including those we linked to transitions in gender identity. Our quantitative analyses of 10 665 enrolled deed polls for the period 1998–2019 shows that, over time, women have replaced men as the majority of applicants for name change and that, compared to men, women are more likely to make ‘surname only’ changes to their name. Among men applicants, there was an increase over time in changes made to first and middle names (a doubled figure in 2019 compared to 1998). Although case numbers are small, of the name changes we attributed to gender transition, the majority were changes made to the applicant’s first name and/or middle name. Our article concludes by reflecting on what our analysis of otherwise unexamined records of enrolled deed polls reveals about the (re)doing of gender identities through name changing in contemporary societies.

This paper presents a pilot study of how brand names and product namesare recognized in commercials. Previous research has primarily focused oncommercial names from the perspective of the enterprise, whereas we inthis study shift focus to a user perspective. The paper also presents a newmethod for onomastic study which was used in the pilot study: eye tracking.Eye tracking implies digitally registering and analyzing patterns in eyemovements in order to explore how particular features are recognized andcognitively processed in interaction with other features in the context. Thepaper describes the eye tracking method and its theoretical foundation aswell as apply it in a small pilot study. Six advertisements containing a totalof 12 commercial names and different visual structures were presented to10 study participants. Basing on the results of the eye tracking analysis, wediscuss how names in different visual settings have been recognized andremembered and identify potential research questions for future research.We also evaluate the utilization of the method as such and discuss itsimplications for future onomastics. © Respektive författare 2023

The recently founded Nordic network New Trends in Nordic Socio-Onomastics was started as a workshop program in 2018 and 2019, funded by The Joint Committee for Nordic Research Councils in the Humanities and Social Sciences. The aim was to stimulate innovative research development within the socio-onomastic field by enabling Nordic researchers to come together, participate in discussions, explore new theoretical and methodological tools and identify new problem areas suitable for future joint Nordic projects. In this article, we present the network and the activities that have been organized in order to enhance international collaboration. We also discuss the current state of socio-onomastics in the Nordic countries and identify some important objectives and areas for future research.

People and culture can move across borders bringing personal names across traditional linguistic boundaries. This process has changed and enriched the use of personal names throughout history – and continues to do so in our time. However, names can also lead to name based ethnic discrimination. This article discusses ethnic connotations to first names in Sweden that were originally imported from other languages, some quite recently, others centuries ago. A survey was conducted to investigate factors that potentially influence people’s ethnic connotations to first names: a) structural properties deviating from the main Swedish norm, b) how frequently the name occurs in Sweden, and c) how long the name has been established in Sweden. Furthermore, the article uses the results to discuss and problematize the concept of “marked” and “unmarked” names. © Respektive författare 2023