Abstract

This paper proposes a new naming system for countries with significant colonization by immigrants from the European diaspora—such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand—inspired by Irish naming traditions. The system is designed to address several contemporary needs: (1) the ability to trace both patrilineal and matrilineal familial lines with ease, (2) the inclusion of gender identity as a visible but flexible component of a person’s surname, and (3) the opportunity to align with Ireland’s anti-colonialist stance, offering an alternative to the colonial histories of other European nations. By blending the first syllables of both parents’ surnames and using gender-indicative prefixes separated by an apostrophe, this system creates a unified, inclusive, and intuitive naming convention. The proposed system also offers nonbinary individuals a simple, one-letter modification to their prefix to reflect their gender identity. This paper outlines the structure of the system, its Irish origins, its potential benefits, and its cultural implications for people of the European diaspora.

Introduction

In most countries, surnames have traditionally followed patrilineal conventions, with children inheriting their father’s last name. While this practice simplifies lineage tracking, it erases matrilineal heritage and fails to reflect the diversity of modern family structures and gender identities. As societal norms evolve, there is growing demand for naming systems that are both inclusive and reflective of individuals’ identities. This paper proposes a dual-lineal naming system inspired by Irish naming traditions, adapted for modern use. By blending parental surnames and incorporating gender-indicative prefixes separated by an apostrophe, the system ensures that both patrilineal and matrilineal heritage are preserved while providing flexibility for nonbinary individuals. Additionally, the system offers a way to align with Ireland’s anti-colonialist stance, providing an alternative to the colonial histories of other European nations.

Irish Origins and Modern Adaptation

The Irish naming system has long used prefixes such as O’ (meaning "descendant of") and Mac (meaning "son of") to indicate lineage. These prefixes are deeply rooted in Irish culture and provide a clear connection to one’s ancestry. This paper adapts this tradition for modern use by:

1. Expanding the prefixes to include I’ (matrilineal emphasis) and Io’ or Oi’ (nonbinary options).
2. Blending the first syllables of both parents’ surnames to create a unified surname for a child that reflects both lineages.
3. Using the prefixes to indicate gender identity, making it visible at a glance while maintaining flexibility for nonbinary individuals.

This adaptation preserves the cultural richness of the Irish system while addressing the needs of a diverse, modern society. Additionally, by drawing on Ireland’s history as a nation that has often stood against colonialist policies, the system offers a way for individuals to symbolically align with anti-colonialist values, regardless of their specific European ancestry.

Methodology

The proposed naming system is based on the following core principles:

1. Gender-Indicative Prefixes:
   • O’: For AMAB individuals (patrilineal emphasis).
   • I’: For AFAB individuals (matrilineal emphasis).
   • Io’ or Oi’: For nonbinary individuals, blending both lineages or adopting a neutral prefix.
2. Blended Parental Surnames:
   • The first syllable of each parent’s surname is combined to create a new, blended surname.
   • The order of the syllables is determined by the child’s assigned sex at birth (ASAB):
     • For AMAB (Assigned Male at Birth) individuals, the father’s surname syllable comes first.
     • For AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) individuals, the mother’s surname syllable comes first.
3. Handling Linguistic Challenges:
   • To ensure smooth pronunciation, the last consonant of the first syllable may be dropped if it creates a harsh consonant pair.
   • The first letter of the second surname would ideally be preserved so that there is no confusion about the beginning letters of either surname to ease heritage tracking.
   • Less necessary letters (e.g., "h" in Rhys) may be dropped to avoid excessive consonant clusters.