Identity through personal names in the Romanian context

I. Introduction

The present research project aims at discovering the manner in which personal names can
influence the sense of identity and inclusion into one’s culture; in this case, into the Romanian
culture. We shall further see that there is a close connection between a person’s given name
and their feeling of identity and self since it is argued that the parents’ choice of name for their
child will have an influence on the development of the personality of the child. In order for
me to do this, first we shall take a look at what identity refers to, and then we shall discuss the
key elements of personal identity through names with regard to various sociolinguist scholars’
point of view.

First, let us look at what is understood as identity. In many cases, there is a difficult and
complex relationship between human beings and their own sense of identity. In other words, I
believe that identity is closely and intimately related to the names that are given to us by
ourselves or by the people surrounding us. In his article, Names and Personal Identity,
Edward Deluzain states that “by giving a name the society confirms the individual’s existence
and acknowledges its responsibilities toward that person. The name differentiates the child
from others...” (see link 1). Thus, it can be said that in order for a person to gain his/her own
identity, he/she must receive a personal name which will stand as a proof of his/her
connection to a specific culture and society where he/she would be perceived as someone with
needs and feelings different from those of other people.

Second, when researching identity through personal names, I found that according to C.P.
Oberndorf, “the name a person bears is often a determining factor in influencing definite
psychic reaction, such as scorn, pride or shame, upon the person himself” (Oberndorf, 1918;
in Thompson, 2006: 3). Also, in Laura Heymann’s study of naming and identity, I found that
she mentions the fact that “...a name is one of the most permanent of possessions which
remains when everything else is lost; it is owned by those who possess nothing else.” (2011:
385). Thus, in one way or another, a personal name can directly influence a person’s
behaviour, beliefs or history, i.e. it can ultimately influence a person’s identity.
As stated above, this research project has the function of uncovering to what extend do
personal names influence identity in the Romanian context. It is intended to search and bring
into light the opinions of Romanians with regard to identity and names since the sense of
personal identity and uniqueness that a name gives us is why names are important to us as
individuals of our society.

My research targets the following questions:

 Do Romanians believe that their personal name is in close relationship with their
identity?
 Do Romanians believe that their personal name can influence their identity?

II. Methodology

My data consists of statements and opinions expressed by various people on blogs and forums
which tackle the subject of identity through names. I collected my data via the internet by
searching relevant information concerning this topic and by identifying instances which
discuss identity and personal names.

First, let us consider the first question proposed by this research ‘Do Romanians believe that
their personal name is in close relationship with their identity?’. While searching for my data,
I found that many Romanians are fascinated by what their name signifies and most of them
search and discover the meaning behind their name. One such example I found on a website
where a person represented by her username eugenika_09 claims to have searched for her
name’s significance, i.e. “am gasit semnificatii diferite ale numelui meu... pe de o parte, cum
ca ar proveni de la grecescul „eu-”, ce inseamna „bine”, si „-gen(ia)”, cu sensul de a a
produce, a face”, se poate spune ca semnificatia numelui este „a face bine".
In alte interpretari provine din nume preluate prin filiera latina si are semnificatia "de neam
bun", "de neam nobil", "aristocratic"” (see link 2). Furthermore, another person with the
username celine states that “Google spune ca in germana veche, numele meu inseamna nobil,
pretios, iubit ... in chineza inseamna "ochi mari luminosi", in greaca inseamna "lumina"...
Da, numele meu ma reprezinta: am ochii luminosi, ma aproape oameni luminosi, incerc sa nu
imi pierd speranta oricit de rau/greu mi-ar fi.” (see link 2).

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I believe that such an action would definitely imply that some Romanians consider that there
is a link between the significance of their name, and who they are and how they should
behave. However, one factor should be taken into account when believing that your name
defines who you are, i.e. that this would imply that all persons named Eugenika or Celine
would have to comply with their pre-given personalities. In other words, all girls named
Eugenika would have to do only good things and come from a wealthy family, and all girls
named Celine would have to be loved and have bright eyes, whereas I believe that this is a
direct offense to one’s personal and original identity.

Second, when searching for answers to my second question, ‘Do Romanians believe that their
personal name can influence their identity?’, I discovered that there are mixed opinions
among the subjects I found. On the one hand, there are Romanians who believe that their
name was given with a specific purpose and that they can identify with it. An example would
be the person with the username wallis_simpson who strongly claims that “Da! numele meu
ma reprezinta intru-totul imi defineste firea mea!” (see link 2). Furthermore, other users have
expressed the same beliefs, e.g. a person with the username Kleopatra states that “Mă
caracterizează, sau mai bine zis mi-a fost predestinat... Nu l-aș schimba.” (see link 2), or
another, hoinarr, believes that his name means “iubitor al pămîntului precum şi ocrotitor al
ogoarelor şi căsătoriei” and that his name reflects on his identity “Da, mă reprezintă, îmi
place şi mereu insist să fiu numit pe deplin...” (see link 2).

On the other hand, I found Romanians who are not inclined into believing that their names
have any connection with their identity. First, there is KirKKe who believes that the meaning
of her name does not mirror on who she is, i.e. “etimonul numelui semnifica 'oaspete, strain'
nush cat de bine mi se potriveste ...sau ma reprezinta” (see link 2). Second, on another
website I found someone with the username xibalba who mentions the fact that “[m]a
numesc Georgiana si are o semnificatie in sensul de muncitor al pamantului sau taran. Nu
pot sa spun ca mi se potriveste...” (see link 3). Furthermore, I came upon a conversation on a
website where someone posts a blog entry where she explained the meaning of her names and
asks if they suit her. The answer comes from someone with the username BlueRiver who very
insightfully responds “Ar trebui sa te cunosc mai intai, apoi sa-mi dau cu parerea care ti s-ar
potrivi” (see link 4).

III. Conclusion
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All the examples mentioned above show how controversial the topic of identity through
personal names is. We have seen that most Romanians believe that the meaning and the origin
behind their names are in close relation with their identity, with who they are as a functioning
member of the society. Furthermore, I have discussed how this connection, if it were to be
entirely true, would result in people who have the same name to also share the same identity.

Also, as explained before, some Romanians believe that their personality and their actions can
be influenced by the significance of their names. They even go so far as to claim that their
name reflects their personality or that their name has been predestined to them. However,
there are also skeptical Romanians who consider that a person’s name is just that, a name, and
it should not govern the way someone behaves or how someone seems himself/herself.
Furthermore, as seen in BlueRiver’s case, one must first meet and come to know someone
before they can judge whether their name reflects their identity.

IV. Reference list

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  Heymann, L. A. (2011) Naming, Identity, and Trademark Law. William & Mary Law
School Research Paper No. 09-74.
 Thompson, R. (2006) Bilingual, Bicultural and Binominal Identities: Personal Name
Investment, (Bi)Cultural Identity Negotiation & the Imagination in the Lives of First
Generation Korean-Americans. Journal of Language, Identity and Education.

Website links:
1. http://www.behindthename.com/articles/3.php
2. http://www.opinii.md/intrebare/22259/prenume-propriu/
3. http://www.tpu.ro/conversatii/cati-dintre-voi-stiti-ce-semnificatie-are-numele-vostru-
credeti-ca-vi-se-potriveste-mie-oarecum-da-nu-o-sa-va-zic-numele/
4. http://ally-10.blogspot.ro/2011/03/semnificatia-numelui.html