By Any Other Name: The Origins of Names

What's in a name? This course explores the surprising histories behind what we call people, places, and products. We trace first names and the nicknames derived from them, then examine surnames - occupational, patronymic, and place-based - and how they reveal family and migration history. We turn to place names, from ancient origins to colonial renaming, and to the curious world of naming laws, where some countries legally restrict what parents can name a child. We close with brand names, exploring how companies craft names as marketing tools.