Gender & identity

Deadnaming

Alsodeadnamedead namebirth nameformer namedeadnameddead naming

Definition

Calling a trans or non-binary person by the name they used before transition, instead of the name they use now.

At a glance

  • A deadname is a former name that a trans or non-binary person no longer uses.
  • Deadnaming means using that name instead of their current one.
  • It can cause distress and reveal someone's trans history without consent.
  • Many organisations now have processes to update names in records.
  • Journalists' style guides generally advise against using a former name unless truly necessary.

In detail

A deadname is a former name that a person no longer uses. Using it, especially in public or after being corrected, can cause distress and can also reveal someone's trans history to others without their consent.

Many organisations now have processes to update names in records. Journalists' style guides generally advise against using a trans person's former name unless it is truly necessary to the story.

In a sentence

  • The bank kept deadnaming me in letters until I updated my records.
  • Please don't share old photos with my deadname on them.

Where the word comes from

Deadname and deadnaming spread through trans communities online and became widely used in the 2010s.

Not to be confused with

  • Misgendering

    Misgendering is about pronouns and gendered words; deadnaming is about names.

Common questions

Is deadnaming always intentional?

No. It can happen by habit or because old records were never updated. A quick correction usually helps. Deadnaming after being corrected, or in public, is more serious because of the distress and exposure it can cause.

Should I use someone's deadname when talking about their past?

Generally no. Use their current name even when talking about events before they transitioned, unless they have said otherwise.

Related terms