Morinom and Deadname: Understanding Gender Identity and Respect
Definition : The "morinom" or "deadname" (literally "dead name" in English) is the first name assigned to you at birth but which you have decided no longer to use, because it does not correspond to your gender identity.
- Keywords
- morinom, deadname, gender identity, transphobia, respect
- Topics
- LGBTQ+ Terminology and Concepts
- Updated
What is a Morinom or Deadname?
The “morinom” or “deadname” (literally “dead name” in English) is the first name assigned to you at birth but which you have decided no longer to use, because it does not correspond to your gender identity.
Why is Deadnaming Harmful?
Using someone’s morinom is called “morinomming” or “deadnaming”, and it is a form of transphobic micro-aggression. It may seem trivial to cisgender people, but for the person concerned, it is a denial of their identity, a painful reminder of a past with which they no longer identify. It’s like being called by a nickname you hate, but a thousand times worse, because it touches the core of who you are. Respecting a person’s chosen first name is the basis of respect and recognition of their identity.