Language is frequently cited as the principal characteristic distinguishing humans from other animals: language identifies people as member of the species homo sapiens sapiens. Additionally, it distinguishes members of the species from one another and is arguably one of the key factors in the development of one’s identity—both personal identity and social (i.e. group membership) identity. There are several ways in which language, in addition to being a vehicle of communication, is one of the primary means by which individuals identify and situate themselves in their world and among their peers. Chief among these are the vehicle of naming and the use of dialect (i.e. regional, generational, ethnic, and social varieties of a language which are particular to the community of use). In this chapter, we will discuss the various ways in which individuals acquire and maintain names.