Name Phrase
Definition[edit | edit source]
A name phrase is a component of a name, such as a given name or a byname. It can be a single word, such as a given name or byname, or a collection of words that are grammatically linked and together serve as a byname, like an article and its noun such as the Smith, a preposition and its object such as of York, or an adjective and the noun it modifies such as White Horse. A name phrase is made up of name elements; while these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they help to distinguish issues involving the construction of words from issues of the construction of appropriate grammatical phrases. For example, in the name Richard of Sheepford, Sheepford is a name element, while the byname of Sheepford is a name phrase. The required designator in household and Society order names is a name phrase. See also Name Element.
http://heraldry.sca.org/coagloss.html
Two Elements for Names[edit | edit source]
http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/lessons/lesson07.html
This month's lesson is on the two element requirement of the name rule, and about the need to have an acceptable given name. Let me quote from the rules: 1. Two Element Requirement - All names must consist of at least two name elements. a. Given Name Requirement - Personal names must consist of an acceptable given name and at least one byname. Now let's talk about what this means. Two elements means that you can't register a name that has only one component, such as only James//, or only //Elizabeth. A given name plus a byname is required. Bynames can take a number of different forms. There are patronymics, such as "James Henryson// " or "//Elizabeth Johnson//". There are occupational names such as "//James the Baker//" or "//Elizabeth Smith//". There are placenames such as "//James of Stratford on Avon//" or "//Elizabeth York//". There are descriptive names such as "//James the Bald//", or "//Elizabeth Short". In the above examples, "James//" is the first element, and "//Henryson//", "//the Smith//", "//of Stratford on Avon//" and "//the Bald//", are all respectively the second element. Similarly, "//Elizabeth//" is the first element, with "//Johnson//", "//Cook//", "//York//", and "//Short", being respectively the second element. There are, of course, more elaborate examples. "James the Bald of Flanders//" has three elements, "//James//", "//the Bald//", and "//of Flanders//". "//Mary the Quiet of Foxhall Manor//" also has three elements, "//Mary//", "//the Quiet//" and "//of Foxhall Manor". Note: while the examples above have all been in English, you are not limited to English when forming a name. Most (but not all) cultures that the SCA draws its names from use naming patterns such as these. However, all names must be consistent with the naming practices of the language used and two languages cannot be mixed in the same element. Two different languages can be used in the same name, so long as they are cultures that had frequent interaction with each other prior to 1600. An English/Welsh name is registerable. A Scottish/French name is registerable. An Italian/Spanish one is fine. A Russian/French is marginal, probably registerable. A Welsh/Tibetan is notregisterable. Let me elaborate on the mixing of two languages in one element rule. "James the Good Cook//" is a two element name. "//James//" is the first element and "//the Good Cook//" is the second element. "//James//" is in English, as is "//the Good Cook//". This is fine. However, changing the name to "//James the Bueno Cook//" is not acceptable, since "//Bueno//" is Spanish and "//Cook//" is English. Even "//Juan the Bueno Cook//" would not be acceptable, since "//Juan//" is a different element from "//Cook//", and "//Bueno/Good//" is associated with "//Cook//", and not with "//Juan". This affects all forms including patronymic forms. "Ferch//" is the Welsh word for daughter. Therefore, "//Angharad ferch Rhys//" is fine, since the element "//ferch Rhys//" is totally in Welsh. "//Angharad ferch Thorvald//" would not be fine, since the element "//ferch Thorvald//" uses Welsh and Old Norse, with "//ferch//" being Welsh and "//Thorvald//" being Old Norse. The name would have to be either "//Angharad Thorvaldsdottir//", or "//Angharad Thorvald daughter//" or some similar form using English. "//Daughter//" is allowed, since we use English as the "//lingua franca" of the SCA, and any modifier can be in English. Confused? There is no need to be. Just make sure that every element uses only one language, or one language and English. However, even if it is a language other than English, it still must be documented as being used prior to 1600 in that language. Remember also that given names must be documented as given names, used by human beings. Just because something is a word does not necessarily mean it's a name. "Moreh//" means teacher in Hebrew. It is not, however, a given name and could not be used as a given name in the SCA. "//Douglas//" was only used as a last name in our period; therefore it cannot be used as a given name. "//Odin" was a given name, but was only known as the name of a god, so it can't be used either. If you are looking at a name, and want to make sure it fits our rules, go through this checklist.
- Does it consist of at least two elements?
- Is every part documented as having been used as a name of a human being prior to 1600?
- Is the first element documented as having been used as a given name?
- Does each element use only one language?
- If more than one language is used in the name, are they cultures that regularly interacted during our period?
November 2022 Cover Letter updating SENA PN2B - Name Phrase Requirements[edit | edit source]
The description of Appendix A in SENA PN2B is updated as proposed in Palimpsest's August 12th Rules Letter. The examples are unchanged and are not included here. The new wording is:
B. Name Phrase Requirements: A registerable personal name must be made up of at least two name phrases: a given name and at least one byname (which may appear to be a second given name). While it is easy to document individuals who are identified only with a single given name, we do not allow the registration of single element personal names. Individuals may use those names, but may not register them.
Each name phrase must be grammatically correct for its position in a name. In some languages, spelling changes are used to indicate aspects of relationships in bynames.
Capitalization should be consistent with the language of the name phrase. Some patterns for capitalization that do not require further documentation can be found in Appendix A.