Tracking Social Change Through Naming: Insights into Identity Shifts in Iranian Boys’ Names (1962–2021)

Overview

This study examines shifts in Iranian identity over a six-decade period from 1962 to 2021 through the lens of naming practices for boys. The research period encompasses major political and social transformations in Iranian society, including the Islamic Revolution, providing a framework for analyzing how collective identity orientations manifest in the cultural practice of name selection. By tracking the 50 most common boys' names and categorizing them according to their cultural orientations, the study applies a socio-psychological typology of social change to understand the relationship between naming patterns and broader identity formations across different historical and political epochs.

Methods and approach

The analysis focuses on the 50 most common names given to boys in Iran across the study period. Names were systematically categorized according to their cultural orientations, which were then mapped onto distinct identity frameworks. The theoretical framework employs a typology of social change grounded in socio-psychological approaches, enabling the classification of naming trends into specific identity orientations. These orientations were analyzed in relation to various political and historical periods, allowing for the identification of temporal patterns and shifts in dominant identity formations as expressed through naming practices.

Results

The analysis reveals that National Islamism has constituted the predominant identity orientation in Iranian society throughout much of the study period, as reflected in naming patterns. However, recent periods show an emerging and substantial challenge to this dominance from Archaist Nationalism, indicating a shift in collective identity preferences. The data further demonstrate a gradual increase in Modern Nationalism orientation over time, suggesting a growing presence of modernist identity frameworks. Conversely, Traditional Islamism orientation exhibits a declining trend, pointing to a diminishing influence of traditional religious identity markers in naming choices.

Implications

The findings indicate that Iranian identity is undergoing significant transformation, with naming practices serving as a measurable indicator of these shifts. The challenge to National Islamism from Archaist Nationalism suggests a potential reorientation toward pre-Islamic cultural heritage and nationalist identity frameworks. The concurrent rise of Modern Nationalism and decline of Traditional Islamism point to broader processes of secularization and modernization in identity formation. These patterns in naming practices provide empirical evidence for understanding how major political and social events have reshaped collective identity orientations in Iranian society, offering a quantifiable approach to tracking cultural and ideological change over time.

Disclosure

• Research title: Tracking Social Change Through Naming: Insights into Identity Shifts in Iranian Boys’ Names (1962–2021)
• Authors: M. Fouladiyan, Amin Majidifard, Nafiseh Roshandel
• Publication date: 2026-01-09
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/23477989251405051
• OpenAlex record: View
• Image credit: Photo by Pixabay on Pexels (Source • License)
• Disclosure: This post was generated by artificial intelligence. The original authors did not write or review this post.