Let’s start with names – what’s in a name? It all start’s with the word “nym”, it’s not really a complete word in itself but a suffix. It’s derived from the Greek word for name or word It is often combined with other Greek elements to create nouns that stand for different kinds of names. I’ve collected a list of words ending in “-nym”, a definition for each and an example for each.
Acronym: A series of initials taken from the first letters of major words in a name in order to form a shortened version. Example: NASA is an acronym for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Allonym: A name of another person used by an author as their pen name. Example: Mark Twain is an allonym used by Samuel Clemens.
Ananym: A fake name created by spelling a person’s real name backwards. Example: The ananym for the name "Neil" is "Lien".
Andronym: A man’s name. Example: John is a common andronym.
Anonym: Another term for a fake or false name someone uses when they want to remain anonymous. Example: The author of the book chose to publish it under an anonym.
Anthroponym: The name of a person. Example: The anthroponym of the current president of the United States is Joe Biden.
Antonym: A word that has an opposite meaning to another. Example: The antonym of "hot" is "cold".
Aptonym: A name that fits nicely with what it refers to. Example: Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, has an aptonym for his profession.
Autonym: A person’s actual, real name. Example: The autonym of the famous singer known as "Sting" is Gordon Sumner.
Backronym: A phrase created from an actual word as if it was an acronym. Example: The backronym for "NASA" could be "Need Another Seven Astronauts".
Basionym: A scientific term that refers to the first name given to a genus, species, etc. Example: The basionym for the plant species now known as "Sedum telephium" was "Hylotelephium telephium".
Caconym: A name that is considered undesirable for some reason. Example: Some people might consider "Ima Hogg" to be a caconym.
Capitonym: A word whose meaning, and possibly pronunciation, changes when it is capitalized. Example: "Polish" (referring to someone or something from Poland) and "polish" (a substance used to make something shiny) are examples of a capitonym.
Contranym: A word that has two opposite meanings. Example: "Sanction" can mean to approve or to punish, making it a contranym.
Cryptonym: A code name or secret name used to conceal the identity of something or someone. Example: During World War II, the Manhattan Project was a cryptonym for the development of the atomic bomb.
Endonym: A name used by a group of people to refer to themselves, their region, or their language, as opposed to a name given to them by other groups. Example: The endonym for Germany in German is Deutschland.
Eponym: The name of a person after whom something is named or believed to have been named. Example: The eponym for the sandwich is John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich.
Exonym: An external name for a geographical place, group of people, or language/dialect, used by people who are not native to that place or group. Example: The exonym for Deutschland in English is Germany.
Heteronym: One of two or more words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and meanings. Example: "Bass" can refer to a type of fish or a low-frequency sound, making it a heteronym.
Holonym: A word that denotes the whole of which other words denote parts. Example: A holonym for "petal" is "flower".
Homonym: One of two or more words that are spelled and pronounced the same but have different meanings. Example: "Bark" can refer to the sound a dog makes or the outer layer of a tree, making it a homonym.
Hyponym: A word that is more specific than a given word and is included in its meaning. Example: A hyponym of "vehicle" is “car”.
Matronymic: A matronymic is a name derived from the name of one’s mother or maternal ancestor. Example: A child’s mother’s first name is Anna, the child could have the matronymic last name “Annasdóttir” (Anna’s daughter) or “Annasson” (Anna’s son).
Meronym: A word that denotes a part of something but which is used to refer to the whole of it. Example: A meronym for "car" is "wheel".
Metanym: A word used in metonymy; a figure of speech in which one thing is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it or related to it in some way. Example: Wall Street is often used as a metanym for the financial markets in the United States.
Metonymy: The use of the name of one thing for that of another associated with it or related to it in some way. Example: Referring to businessmen as suits is an example of metonymy.
Mononym: A single name by which a person is known, without a surname or family name. Example: Madonna is known by her mononym.
Orthonym: The proper or correct form of a personal name; the form of a personal name preferred by its bearer for official use and recognition. Example: The orthonym of the singer known as Lady Gaga is Stefani Germanotta.
Paranym: A word related in meaning to another word; a synonym or near-synonym; also, a euphemism or circumlocution used instead of a more direct term. Example: A paranym for death could be passing away.
Paronym: One of two or more words derived from the same root but having different meanings; also, one of two or more words similar in sound and often in spelling but different in meaning; also called paronymous words. Example: Economic and economical are paronyms.
Patronymic: Derived from the name of one's father or paternal ancestor; also, designating such a derived name; also, such a derived personal name. Example: In Iceland, many people have patronymic last names such as Jónsdóttir (Jón's daughter) or Jónsson (Jón's son).
Pseudonym: A fake or false name someone uses when they want to remain anonymous. Example: George Orwell was a pseudonym used by Eric Arthur Blair.
Retronym: A new term created for an existing object or concept because the original term used for it has become ambiguous due to technological advances. Example: Acoustic guitar became a retronym after electric guitars were invented.
Synecdoche: The use of part for whole, whole for part, genus for species, species for genus, container for contents, contents for container. Example: Referring to workers as hands is an example of synecdoche.
Synonym : One of two or more words having the same meaning. Example: Happy and joyful are synonyms.
Tautonym : In zoology and botany, a binomial scientific name in which both parts are identical. Example: Gorilla gorilla is an example of a tautonym in zoology.
Toponym : The place-name of a region or feature; also, such place-names collectively. Example: Sahara is a toponym for a desert in Africa.
An autonym refers to a person’s actual, real name, while an orthonym refers to the proper or correct form of a personal name preferred by its bearer for official use and recognition. In most cases, a person’s autonym and orthonym would be the same. However, there may be situations where a person’s autonym differs from their orthonym.
For example, if a person legally changes their name but continues to use their original name for official purposes, their new legal name would be their autonym, while their original name would be their orthonym. Similarly, if a person is known by a nickname or pseudonym that they prefer to use for official purposes, that nickname or pseudonym would be their orthonym, even if it differs from their autonym.
In summary, the difference between an autonym and an orthonym is determined by whether the bearer of the name prefers to use their actual, real name (autonym) or a different name (orthonym) for official use and recognition.
A nickname is a familiar or humorous name given to a person or thing instead of or in addition to their real name. It is often a shortened or altered version of the person’s real name, but it can also be completely unrelated.
While nicknames are not specifically included in the list of words that contain the suffix “-nym”, they can be related to some of the words on the list. For example, a nickname could be considered a type of pseudonym if it is used by someone who wants to remain anonymous. Similarly, if a person prefers to use their nickname for official purposes, that nickname could be considered their orthonym.
In summary, a nickname is a familiar or humorous name given to a person or thing,
and it can be related to some of the words on the list of words that contain the suffix “-nym”.
There’s a lot to be gleaned from this. Names help us systematize and rationalize the world around us and at a personal level gives spiritual meaning besides just being a cultural, economic or scientific marker to reality. Our own names that we decide to use to represent ourselves are testament to this - especially because we get a say in what we call ourselves. This ability to have that say is what makes an identity truly ours.
Catch me as I delve into other topics of identity, especially in Web3 and Zero Knowledge in my upcoming articles.
Best
– Lisan