What is the meaning of ‘Deadname’? Have you ever come across the term and wondered about its meaning? Then read on because you will very shortly find out.
The English language is a fairly old language which has existed for a very long time. A Germanic language dating back well over a thousand years old, it happens to be rich in cultural heritage with a historical background that is just as wealthy. This has made the language a very interesting treasure-trove of linguistic wealth unlike any other language in history.
With the passage of time, the language has acquired an enormous collection of words in an effort to describe the world around us and everything in between. This evolution of the language has not stopped however. The language is essentially a living entity with regard to the way it behaves when one looks at the larger picture.
The language is constantly changing and evolving with every passing moment; with words being added and deleted along with changes in the grammatical patterns, language structure, and the actual speakers as well. It is therefore not surprising that one comes across new words very frequently even if they happen to be very well versed in the language.
You might have experienced this yourself at one point of time or another. There will have been those moments when you would have come across a word which you never knew existed even though you always had a feeling that you are very well versed with the language. One such new word which has made its way into the English language is ‘Deadname’.
A Growing Trend?
‘Deadname’ or ‘Dead Name’ is a term which is very common in the transgender community and has been in use for a while. It has however entered into use in mainstream society, acquiring new users to the term every now and then.
For those who are wondering about the meaning of the term, it is fairly easy and simple to understand. However, it will take some amount of understanding with regard to the trans-community or people who are transgender.
There are people who happen to be born with what is called ‘Gender Identity Disorder’, wherein they feel that they actually belong to the opposite sex but for which their biological identity or born gender doesn’t hold true. Some go for psychological therapy to take care of the situation. Others choose to undergo a process called ‘transitioning’ where they change their physical appearance to that of the opposite gender through the use of hormones, surgery, etc. For individuals who choose the latter, an important hurdle remains; which is the paperwork involved in changing one’s gender legally. Part of this process involve changing one’s legal name to something else. It is here that the term ‘deadname’ or ‘dead name’ comes into use.
The term ‘deadname’ or ‘dead name’ refers to the initial given name of someone who has changed their name. During the early part of the term’s usage, the word was used by people who had changed their gender identity for which they also had to complete the legal formality of changing their official name to that of the opposite gender. To the trans-community, it was just a way of saying that the person that they used to be earlier had ‘died’ and that they had started a new life altogether with a completely new biological form and identity.
For example, if a man were to change his name from Robert to Roberta, the name ‘Robert’ would have been her ‘deadname’.
Increasingly however, it has started to be used in mainstream society as well, particularly by people who have merely changed their name or altered it. In this case, the term ‘deadname’ merely refers to the earlier name which they were using before it was legally changed to something else. For example, if there was a person by the name of say, ‘Alice’ and she had it changed to ‘Fiora’, the name ‘Alice’ would be her ‘deadname’. In simple terms, the concept remains the same but the context has been altered and changed.
In all, the English language is very dynamic and interesting in its own way. This makes it a very dynamic and unique entity that is almost alive in its own amazing way like any other living organism.
So the next time you come across a word like ‘deadname’ or something similar, don’t be surprised about it. It is just the way that this fantastic language works. It is the way that this language has worked for a very long time and will very likely continue to do so well into the distant and near future.
