Naming in Times of Conflict: A Socio-Cultural Study of Yemeni Personal Names

Abstract

This study examines the socio-cultural function of Yemeni given names during wartime, showing how naming practices reflect religion, tradition, gender, and socio-political awareness. Names such as Al-Batul, Azzahra, Sumud, Ħamas, and NaSr reveal that names are not simple labels but generators of collective memory, morality, and political consciousness. Male names commonly express strength and bravery, while female names index virtue and divinity, reinforcing patriarchal gender roles. The study also highlights the influence of religious, political, and historical figures, demonstrating how parents combine hope, cultural continuity, and loyalty when selecting names. Findings show that personal naming adapts to shifting historical and political conditions, merging traditional norms with modern realities. The study contributes to onomastics, sociolinguistics, and conflict studies by explaining how names function as markers of identity, symbols of solidarity, and instruments of cultural memory, offering a basis for comparative analyses across the Arab world and beyond.

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