Onomastic Attitudes and the Paradox of Free Name Choice

Abstract

As a means of protecting the dignity of the individual, international treaties and national legislations seek to progressively expand freedom in the choice of a name. However, to regulate the identification of their citizens, states need to establish rules and conditions for assigning or changing names. This work aims to analyze the attitudes of Spanish speakers towards this paradox. The theoretical framework is based on research on attitudes, as well as on recent studies in socio-onomastics. Data were collected through oral surveys conducted in 2023 with 30 individuals, stratified based on gender and age variables. Among the results, disapproval is observed, particularly among women, towards names with negative social connotations, whereas a more positive attitude, especially among younger individuals, is perceived towards names considered unisex. The data also allow for establishing connections between attitudes and legal principles such as the best interests of the child, legal security, and the principle of free choice of a name.