Quiz: Name Trivia

Quiz

1. The official study of people's names is known as:

  • Onomastics
  • Anthroponymy
  • Monikomastics
  • Genealogy

2. In most European countries, a person's personal name is followed by his surname. In China and Japan, the opposite is true. Name the European country that follows the Asian naming custom, putting the surname first.

  • Denmark
  • Hungary
  • France
  • Luxembourg

3. The Romans created the proverb, "Nomen est omen." This means:

  • Be accepting of your name.
  • Name is destiny.
  • Know who you are.
  • Your name is your right.

4. True or False: There are more variations for female names in the U.S. than there are for male names.

  • True
  • False

5. In which country is it customary for a person who has suffered a misfortune to change his name in order to confuse the spirit that brought about the bad luck?

  • Bolivia
  • Iceland
  • Zimbabwe
  • Indonesia

6. In most countries, surnames are passed down from father to child. However, there is a country in which the surnames change from generation to generation. Which country is it?

  • Iceland
  • Kurdistan
  • Venezuela
  • India

7. According to studies, people with "desirable" names are more successful than those who have "undesirable" names. Psychologists Herbert Harari and John W. McDavid examined the grading practices of teachers. Work of the same quality was submitted under different names, and teachers awarded higher scores to the more "desirable" names. From highest to lowest, how do you think these names scored?

  • Karen, Lisa, Bertha, Adelle
  • Lisa, Karen, Adelle, Bertha
  • Karen, Adelle, Lisa, Bertha
  • Adelle, Lisa, Karen, Bertha

8. Traditionally, the Ojibway Indians of North America each had two names. The second name:

  • Was the name of the person's animal spirit
  • Was never spoken aloud
  • Was the name of the mother
  • Defined the person's special skill

9. By law, every person has the right to a name. This is documented in:

  • The Declaration of Independence
  • The Fourth Geneva Convention
  • The Global Moniker Affirmation
  • The U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

10. In West Africa, it is customary to name a child:

  • For the place where he was born
  • For his mother
  • For the day of the week on which he was born
  • For the month in which he was born

1. The official study of people's names is known as:
Anthroponymy

2. In most European countries, a person's personal name is followed by his surname. In China and Japan, the opposite is true. Name the European country that follows the Asian naming custom, putting the surname first.
Hungary

3. The Romans created the proverb, "Nomen est omen." This means:
Name is destiny.

4. True or False: There are more variations for female names in the U.S. than there are for male names.
True

5. In which country is it customary for a person who has suffered a misfortune to change his name in order to confuse the spirit that brought about the bad luck?
Indonesia

6. In most countries, surnames are passed down from father to child. However, there is a country in which the surnames change from generation to generation. Which country is it?
Iceland

7. According to studies, people with "desirable" names are more successful than those who have "undesirable" names. Psychologists Herbert Harari and John W. McDavid examined the grading practices of teachers. Work of the same quality was submitted under different names, and teachers awarded higher scores to the more "desirable" names. From highest to lowest, how do you think these names scored?
Adelle, Lisa, Karen, Bertha

8. Traditionally, the Ojibway Indians of North America each had two names. The second name:
Was never spoken aloud

9. By law, every person has the right to a name. This is documented in:
The U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

10. In West Africa, it is customary to name a child:
For the day of the week on which he was born

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