Dictionary

selfname en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɛlfˌneɪm/ (General-American)

Etymology

From self (“own, proper”) + name. The autonym sense is possibly a calque of Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-, “self-”) + ὄνομᾰ (ónomă, “name”), which are the ultimate roots of English autonym itself.

Meanings

1. A proper name; a name for one's own self, as opposed to one's family; one's real name.
   • Surnames are, with a few exceptions, monosyllabic. Selfnames can be either monosyllabic or bisyllabic. 1986, Nikukua Sai Nagkiariien Nininife: - Issues 94-95; Issue 110, page 181:
   • "Oh, Elements," she finally managed to say, sitting back against the seat cushion of the pilot's chair, "is that truly your selfname?" "James, actually." 2000, Diane Duane, My Enemy, My Ally:
   • But first of all came Lystra with her selfname. 2000, Joan Slonczewski, A Door Into Ocean:
2. A name given to oneself; a self-denomination or self-appellation.
   • Mina is the selfname of the language referred to in the literature as Hina or Besleri. 2005, Zygmunt Frajzyngier, Eric Johnston, A Grammar of Mina:
3. An autonym.
   • In the past, the Ainu (their selfname meaning 'person'), traditionally huntergatherers, occupied not only Hokkaido but also a considerable part of the island of Honshu until the middle the eighteenth century, [...] 2009, Nicolas Tranter, The Languages of Japan and Korea:

Forms