THE MOST IMPORTANT WORDViktoriya Gorbunova,O.B.RazmakhninaSchool 2Morshansk

YOUR PERSONAL NAME

Anthroponomastics(oranthroponymy), a branch ofonomastics, is the study ofanthroponyms(anthropos, 'human +onoma, 'name'), the names ofhuman beings.

The main aim of our work

the review of Russian and American first names defining their common and specific features.

Our plan to reach the aim

to explore Russian and American anthroponymic systems;to find out main differences and similarities of Russian and American anthroponyms;to gather information about first names of Russian and American senior students; to compare the most popular Russian and American students names.

The hypothesis

Due to the multicultural structure of American nation, American first names are more diverse than the Russian ones.

The object of the research is Russian and American anthroponyms, their origin, development and current existence. Russian and American first names are the research subject.

The topicality of the project The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name

TheUnited Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 7

What is a name?a word or group of words used to refer to an individual entity (real or imaginary). A name singles out the entity by directly pointing to it, not by specifying it as a member of a class. Encyclopedia Britannica

a word or phrase that refers to or that can refer to a specific person, a specific place or thing or to a type or group of things. Merriam- Websters Dictionary

a word or set of words by which a person or thing is usually known

Macmillan Dictionary

The anthroponym being researchedfirst name (the name or names that come before your family name)

forename (British English formal someones first name)

given name (American English your first name)

Christian name (a persons first name, especially when they are given this name in a Christian religious ceremony)

Russian Pre-Christian names reflected

persons appearance: , ; , ,persons traits of character: ,,,persons place in the family: , , ,the circumstances of the childs birth:, , ,, the time of birth of the child: , , the neighbouring people living nearby: , , different trades: , , the hospitality of Old Slavs : , , , Old Slavs peacefulness: , , , the power of Old Slavs spirit: , , , , , , , ,

Russian Orthodox Christian names

= , =.

Theodor (Greek)teo (meaning God)dor (meaning gift)a gift of God = (Hebrew)

(Hebrew) given by God

New names in the Soviet Period

(an acronym of Marx-Engels-Lenin-Stalin) (an acronym for revolution, Engels and Marx) (from Vladimir Lenin) (tractor) (electrification)

American Indian namesAhyoka (meaning 'she brought happiness' in Cherokee), Winona (meaning 'first born daughter' in Santee Sioux),Atepa (meaning 'tent' in Choctaw), Iiniwa (meaning 'bison' from the Blackfoot), Lise (meaning 'salmon's head coming out of the water' in Miwok), Nindakando (meaning 'I watch and lie in ambush' from the Ojibwa), Teluhci (meaning 'bear making dust as it runs' from Moquelumnan)

Ancient English names

Aelfe (elf) Hilde (war)

Berne (baby)Tidi (time)

Cyne (king) Godi (good)

Fredi (peace)Leofe (beloved)

English Medieval namesDuring the Middle Ages there was a kind of race among half a dozen favourite names, the prevailing order being John, William, Thomas, Richard, Robert, with perhaps Hugh as sixth.Weekley E. The Romance of Names

Other Popular NamesPeter, James, Michael, Philip, Simon, Luke, Mark (male)Mary, Joan, Agnes, Catherine, Margaret,Ann(e) (female)

Puritan names

Free-GiftThankfulReformation Praise-God Ashes Sorry-for-SinDiscipline Much-MercyJoy Again Sin-DenyFrom AboveFear-Not

Modern American name giving trends New spelling: (Charlotte Sharlotte, Katherine Kathryn, Candice Kandes, Carolyn Karolyn);Blendings: (Billie-Jean, Billie-Jo, Bobbi-Ann, Bobbi-Lee, Brooklyn, Danessa, Emilyann);Making surnames first names: (Washington, Lincoln, Franklin, Woodrow, Clinton);Using common nouns as given names: (Frost, Wolf, Fox, Bear, Ridge, Blue, Red, Grey, Olive, Clementine, Apple)

Comparative analysis of Russian and American first names

Prattville high school (Alabama, the USA) Schools 1, 2, 3 and Gymnasium (Morshansk,Tambov region, Russia)

Morshansk schools stasistics (2014-2015 academic year)655 senior school students109 names310 boys345 girls54 male names55 female names

Most Popular Morshansk Senior Students Names

1

9.79.2/

6.16.4/

5.86, /

Male names

Female names

1

Male namesFemale names1

/9.79.2

/6.16.4

, /5.86

.

Prattville High School Sophomores 532 students 382 names

Not pictured personal names

4 unisex names: Honesty, Jesse, Sidney, Summer 4 names we cannot identify: Dachannel, Jadeja, Quantee,Kviewajtne

Popular Prattville High School Sophomores Names

1

3.32.42

322

2.61.63

5

Male names

Female names

1

1

Male namesFemale names1

Brandon/Kelsey3.32.42

Cristopher, Michael, Nicholas/Ashley, Destiny, Emily322

Austin, Joshua/Hannah, Morgan, Taylor2.61.63

5

.

The male names percentage Prattville sophomoresMorshansk senior students

1

3.3

3

2.6

88.5

Prattville sophomores

1

Prattville sophomores

Brandon3.3

Cristopher, Michael3

Austin, Joshua2.6

Other names88.5

.

1

9.7

6.1

5.8

72.6

1

1

1

9.7

6.1

, 5.8

Other names72.6

.

The female names percentage Prattville sophomoresMorshansk senior students

1

2.4

2

1.6

86.8

Prattville sophomores

1

Prattville sophomores

Kelsey2.4

Ashley, Destiny, Emily2

Hannah, Morgan, Taylor1.6

Other names86.8

.

1

9.2

6.4

6

78.4

1

1

1

9.2

6.4

6

Other names78.4

.

Students having no namesakes

1

49

7

Boys

1

Boys

Americans49

Russians7

.

1

68

4

Girls

1

Girls

Americans68

Russians4

.

Gender definition of not pictured American studentsgiven namesDachannelDaniel (m)Isabel (f)AaliyahKyah Makhiah(f) Eiijah Isaiah(m) JadejaQuanteeCharlee (m)(BUT IT IS A GIRL!)KviewajtneAdreanne Jacquline Jazmine(f)

Paired names , , , , , , .

Alexander Alexandra, Alexandria, George Georgia, Patrick - Patricia.

Unisex American Names

KelseyAlexis

HonestyJordan

CourtneyAshton

DallasSydney

MadisonJesse

HunterTaylor

Cross-cultural Christian name giving traditions

John , George , Mary , Ann/Ann(e)/Anna - ,Catherine/Katharyn/Katherine ,Elizabeth Adam , Sarah

The ethnic background of namesMalik (Arabian) Do Hyun (Korean) Yuhong (Chinese) (Arabic) (Tatar)

Given names can indicate

gender, birthplace, nationality, ethnicity, religion, position within a family

Names and cross-cultural conflicts

name position / George Washington Washington Irving Irving Show

transferring anthroponyms in the foreign language official documents (transliteration) Viktoriya/ViktoriiaVictoria

correct pronunciation of namesBrandon [brndn]Kelsey [kels]

Names and legal problems (misspelling)Russian male names: ,

Russian female names: , .

American male names: Brandon Brendon, Donovan Donovon, Tristan Triston, Stephen Stephon, Taylor Tayler, Christopher Kristofer, William Williiam.

American female names: Adreann - Adrienne, Alexandra Alexandria, Cayla Kayla, Isabel Isabella, Jamie Jayme, , Laura Lora, Loren Lauren, Macie Macy, Rachael Rachel, Sara Sarah, Stefany Stephany, Caitlyn Katlin Katlyn, Catherine Katherine Katheryn, Hailee Haley Hallie.

The hypothesis of the research is partially proved. 655 Russian students 109 given names532 American students 382 given names

1

16.6471.8Name diversity

Russian students

American students

3

1

Russian studentsAmerican students 3

Name diversity16.6471.8

.

Having a name remains perhaps the most mysterious and fascinating human manifestation of language.

Anderson J.M. The Grammar of Names

Thanks for your attention!