International Naming Conventions
The usual structure of names in the English-speaking world is a first or
given name, optional middle name(s), and a last name or surname. An
interesting variation is the double-barrelled surname, being the hyphen-
ated combination of two surnames, such as John Smith-Jones. Apparently,
more than two surnames can be combined, so if John Smith-Jones married
Jane Jones-Smith, they and their offspring could adopt the (admittedly
silly) surname Smith-Jones-Jones-Smith.
There are other interesting naming conventions used in other languages
and cultures. Wikipedia has links to various culture's naming
conventions:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_name#Naming_convention>
"Gymnastics with Onomastics" is another interesting article that looks
at how different languages and cultures form names:
<http://www.langmaker.com/ml0103a.htm>
A selection of interesting naming conventions ...
* Russian Names
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_in_Russian_Empire,_Soviet_Union_
and_CIS_countries>
Recently I read "Crime and Punishment". Not only was it a great book to
read, but it also provided an insight into Russian naming conventions.
Full names comprise a given name, a patronymic and a family name (e.g.
Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov). The patronymic is not a middle name,
but rather a name based on the name of one's father (Romanovich = son of
Roman). In formal settings Russians always address each other by the
given name plus the patronymic. But for informal occasions, there's a
rich system of short and pet names (e.g. Sonya is the pet form of Sofya/
Sophia).
* Spanish Names
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_naming_customs>
"In Spain, people always have two surnames and one or two names (two
names are also called a composite name). The concept of middle name as
we know it in English-Speaking countries doesn't exist in Spain. The
surnames follow this system: The first one is inherited from the
father's first surname, the other from the mother's first surname...
(but the order can be swapped)"
See also:
<http://klamath.stanford.edu/~molinero/html/surname.html>
* Chinese Names
<http://houston.china-consulate.org/eng/CT/t56066.htm>
"The names of Chinese people are usually expressed as family name first
and given name second. For example, a man called Zhang Wei has a family
name of Zhang and a given name of Wei."
* Ancient Roman Names
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Naming_Conventions>
"a name in ancient Rome for a male citizen consisted of three parts
(tria nomina): praenomen (given name), nomen (gentile) (name of the
gens or clan) and cognomen (name of a family line within the gens)."
In addition, an agnomen (or nickname) could be appended.
According to "Gymnastics with Onomastics", Brazilians can have names of
the form: [given name] [middle name] [maternal grandfather's family
name] [paternal grandfather's family name] [husband's mother's name]
[husband's father's name] -- Maria Beatriz Villela Soares Veiga de
Carualho. No wonder many Brazilian soccer players adopt single-word
names (e.g. Pelé, Ronaldinho). Otherwise their names would take up all
the space on the back of their shirts!
See "Why Ronaldinho Has No Last Name":
<http://www.slate.com/id/2143404/>
