Names provide a distinctive lens through which to view humanity, representing an essential yet intangible part of our identity. While names aren’t inherent to our biology, they often define us for life and persist beyond death. The study of human names, known as anthroponymy, explores their origins, reaching back to prehistoric civilizations, long before the advent of writing. Before written records, humans likely used gestures, sounds, or symbols, such as handprints in caves, to mark identity. The development of writing by early civilizations—Mesopotamia, China, Egypt, and Mesoamerica—revolutionized naming, preserving it for posterity.

Personal names are linguistic symbols conferred at birth, usually by parents or elders. Names often hold cultural or spiritual significance, invoking blessings, linking to ancestors, reflecting family ties, religious beliefs, describing traits, or commemorating events. Just as language itself evolves, the popularity of names shifts with time.