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

Majid Fouladiyan, Amin Majidifard and Nafiseh Roshandel

Contemporary Review of the Middle East, 2026, vol. 13, issue 1, 9-31

Abstract: Iranian society has undergone significant changes and critical events, including a major social and ideological revolution, over the past 60 years (1962–2021). This article examines the transformation of Iranian identity by analyzing changes in naming practices, set against the backdrop of significant political and social turning points. To this end, the 50 most common names for boys were analyzed and categorized according to their cultural orientations. The typology of social change, using a socio-psychological approach, serves as the theoretical framework for this study. It examines naming trends and their corresponding identity orientations across various political and historical periods. The findings suggest that the National Islamism identity has been the predominant orientation in Iranian society, but it is now facing a serious challenge from the Archaist Nationalism identity in recent periods. Additionally, the study observed a gradual increase in Modern Nationalism orientation and a decline in Traditional Islamism orientation.

Keywords: Child naming; identity; social change; Iranian identity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:crmide:v:13:y:2026:i:1:p:9-31

DOI: 10.1177/23477989251405051

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