What is in a Name? The Politics of Name Changing

Abstract

Various socio-cultural and religious backgrounds influence the naming of an individual. For example, the Hindu belief system shapes the Assamese Hindu’s name in Assam. In contrast, the Islamic belief system shapes Assamese Muslim names, confirming that the personal name of an individual is a significant attribute of identification. It assists in identifying the individual. Equally, it also reveals the bearers’ socio-cultural and religious backgrounds. Therefore, the name directly or indirectly can affect the personal and social life of the individual. As the name can affect the individual’s life, sometimes an individual has to change their name to enjoy social, cultural and political benefits. This article carefully analyses how the name affects the name bearer and why an individual may seek to change his/her name.