Strategies for giving combinations of two first names to children of Lithuanian emigrants in the Nordic countries (1991–2020)

Abstract

This study examines combinations of two first names given to Lithuanian citizens born in the Nordic countries between 1991 and 2020. It aims to identify parental naming strategies reflected in these combinations. The results show that parental naming strategies vary across the Nordic countries and according to the child’s gender. Lithuanian emigrants in Norway most frequently choose combinations containing one or two common Lithuanian names, whereas in the other Nordic countries combinations containing uncommon Lithuanian names are more characteristic, especially for boys. The largest group consists of names with stems shared across languages, while Baltic names and names with stems characteristic of particular languages occur less frequently.