Naming the nameless: a preliminary study of bynames for the deceased from an onomastic perspective

Abstract

The article proposes a new term, postmortonyms, denoting names assigned to unidentified deceased individuals. Drawing on an exemplary semantic onomastic analysis of 220 postmortonyms from multiple cultures, the study explores the motivations, structures, and functions of these bynames, distinct from posthumous names, deadnames, and necronyms. The research demonstrates that postmortonyms often incorporate details such as location or distinguishing features, which serve investigative, communicative, and memorial purposes. The analysis highlights the phenomenon of polyonymy, in which temporary names coexist with potential authentic identities, and discusses the broader cultural and legal contexts that influence naming practices for the nameless dead. The research is a preliminary study, and the findings provide a foundation for further research on the conceptualization of death and naming across cultures.