Names in the context of mixed families in Cluj-Napoca (Romania)

Abstract

The paper aims to present several trends regarding the name choices for people living in Romanian-Hungarian mixed families. In the case of ethnic minorities, the name constitutes an indicator for the bearer’s identification with his/her ethnic group or a visible sign of assimilation with the majority, thus being a basic social determination. In the case of mixed families, a preference is assumed for the use of language-neutral surnames to ensure stable coexistence in the bilingual environment, i.e. easy accommodation in any cultural environment.