Frequently Asked Questions

Overview

1. How can I change the gender, the languages, the origin and countries or add more information?
2. Why can’t I add my language in the “Also used in” list of languages?
3. Which is the difference between “Languages” and “Also used in”?
4. What do we consider the "origin" of a name?
5. When is it appropriate to add a country to a name?
6. What should I do if a first name is also a surname?

Answers

1. How can I change the gender, the languages, the origin and countries or add more information?
   To change the gender, click on the editing icon to the right of Gender, use the “Submit change request” list and submit your changes.
   To add a language, click on the editing icon to the right of Languages, then click on [add language], choose from the list and submit your changes.
   To remove a language, if you consider it is wrong information, either click on the assigned language and it will be deleted, or click on [report problem] to inform us about the inappropriate content.
   To add an origin, click on the editing icon to the right of Origin, then click on [add origin], choose from the list and submit your changes. If you want to edit more information about the meaning or origin of a name, click on [edit text].
   To remove an origin, if you consider it is wrong information, either click on the assigned origin and it will be deleted, or click on [report problem] to inform us about the inappropriate content.
   To add a country, click on the editing icon to the right of Countries, then click on [add country], choose from the list and submit your changes.
   To remove a country, if you consider it is wrong information, either click on the assigned country and it will be deleted, or click on [report problem] to inform us about the inappropriate content.
   All the changes you made will go through the voting process and if you are a user you will be informed about the result of your change request by email.
   
   
2. Why can’t I add my language in the “Also used in” list of languages?
   You cannot select from the “Also used in” section the languages that are already selected in the “Languages” section. If a name is assigned to a certain Language, it CAN NOT be Also used in the same language.
   
   
3. Which is the difference between “Languages” and “Also used in”?
   Many people cannot see the difference between this two attributes of a name. A name is assigned the “Languages” it is originally from and in which it is heavily used. The languages a name is “Also used in” are those in which the name is used by people who are not of foreign origin or nationality, but liked that name and decided to use it when naming their child. Over time, that name become common in these languages too. Therefore, it is also used in these languages, though it was not so some generations ago.
   
   
4. What do we consider the "origin" of a name?
   The origin of a name is the language a name derived from. If a name is common in several Latin languages (French, Italian, Spanish, Romanian), it is very likely to be of Latin origin.
   Sometimes, a name of a certain origin is highly productive in many languages. For example the Arabic name Yasmine has become Jasmine in English, Jasmin in French, Jázmin in Hungarian, Jasmina in Serbian, etc. The origin of all these names is ARABIC.
   Sometimes, a name is borrowed from a foreign language. The spelling of the name is modified, but its meaning becomes obscure.
   For example: Schäfer (de) → Shaffer (en)
   In German, “Schäfer” means shepherd, but this meaning is lost in the English name. This English name is of German origin.
   
   
5. When is it appropriate to add a country to a name?
   In case your language is an official language in more then one country and a name is not common in all those countries, then you should add only the specific country where the name is used. For example d'Aubigné is a French name which means: from Aubigne, a French commune located in the Ille-et-Vilaine department, in the Bretagne region and it’s not so likely to find it in other French speaking countries like Madagascar.
   
   
6. What should I do if a first name is also a surname?
   In this case you should add a new name and fill in the information required.