What's your name?

A comparative Study of Personal Names and Naming in the Outer Hebrides and the Faroe Islands

Dé an t-ainm a th' oirbh?
Hvussu eitur tú?

In this publication, anthropologist Susanne Barding gives us a fascinating and instructive insight into personal naming practices in two small island communities - Berneray (formerly part of Harris) in the Outer Hebredies, and Syđrugøta in the Faroese island of Eysturoy. She is perhaps uniquely qualified to undertake such an ambitious comparative study, having spent time immersed in each community, both of which have strong bilingual cultures.

Intriguingly, Susanne finds some key differences but also many close parallels as she discusses the complexities of first names, surnames, names of reference, nicknames and names of address, and how changes over time, including in relative status of Gaelic/English and Faroese/Danish, are affecting naming practices.

Indeed, what's in a name is a simple question with no easy answer!

Published: 2025

Author: Susanne Barding

ISBN:  978-1-907443-98-5