The Power to Name Ourselves

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Names feel deeply personal, yet they rarely begin as a personal choice. They signal individuality, but they also reveal where we come from, who raised us, and which social norms shaped our families. As philosopher Anna Klieber reminded an audience in Vienna recently, naming is never just labeling — it is a speech act, a moment in which language actively shapes reality.

Naming as action

Drawing on J. L. Austin’s theory of speech acts, Klieber argues that naming is a socio‑linguistic practice that positions people within a social world. When parents choose a child’s first name, they are not simply selecting a word; they are performing an act that will accompany that child through life. Memory, aesthetics, practicality, and even pop‑culture trends all play a role. After the release of Amélie in the early 2000s, for instance, Austria saw a sudden rise in little Amelies.

Today’s trends look different. According to Statistik Austria, Emilia and Elias top the national charts, while globally, variations of Mohammed and Maria remain the most common. Even names that feel unique are often shaped by forces outside our control.

The weight of surnames

Surnames tell a similar story of social norms. Until the mid‑1970s, Austrian women automatically took their husband’s name upon marriage. The law has changed, but habits have not: three‑quarters of couples still choose the man’s surname. Only a small minority opt for the woman’s name or a double name — and the willingness to choose the latter is declining.

When names no longer fit

Austria allows people to change their names for a range of reasons, from difficult spelling to social integration. For trans people, however, the process is not optional. Because “gender‑inappropriate” names are legally prohibited, they must first undergo a formal change of legal gender before choosing a name that aligns with their identity.

Yet names do not always map neatly onto gender. Austria recognizes around 1,900 unisex names — many borrowed from English or Arabic, such as Alija, Jamie, Nikita, or Leo.

Choosing oneself

The key difference, Klieber notes, is self‑determination. Trans people often choose their own names — sometimes playfully, sometimes experimentally, often within supportive communities that embrace fluidity. This creative freedom echoes a moment from John Green’s novel Looking for Alaska, in which the protagonist chooses her own name as a birthday gift. That idea stayed with Klieber from her school days in Innsbruck and now informs her academic work.

A little more freedom

For Klieber, the ability to name oneself is a powerful act of linguistic autonomy — one that many cis people never experience. After her talks, she often meets people who confess they dislike their names and wish they could change them more easily.

At a time when trans communities face increasing hostility worldwide, even the simple act of respecting someone’s chosen name can become contested. Deliberately using a person’s former name — known as deadnaming — is a harmful speech act in itself.

Klieber believes society could benefit from a bit more openness. A little more freedom in naming, she says, harms no one. And perhaps more of us — not only trans people — would find joy in choosing who we are, starting with the name we carry.

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