dead name
Abandoned birth name
A dead name is the birth name of a transgender person who has since adopted a new name reflecting their gender identity.
The term frames continued use of the old name as harmful—the name is "dead" and should stay buried.
To dead-name someone is to call them by this former name, whether deliberately or carelessly: Her coworker kept dead-naming her in meetings.
Revealing one's identity
- self-identificationClaiming an identity label
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- transitioningPassing from one state another
- gender dysphoriaDistress from body-identity mismatch
pronouns · acceptance · transgender · non-binary · genderqueer · gender expression · court order · documentation
Incorrectly identifying someone's gender
- deadnamingUsing pre-transition name
- misnamedIncorrectly labeled or titled
- mislabelingIncorrect identification marking
- misidentificationWrongly recognizing something
erasure · invalidation · disrespect · harmful · hurtful · triggering · unwanted
Record of past events
- previous lifeExistence before current one
- memoriesStored past experiences
- bygoneOf earlier times
- historicalOf documented times
outdated · obsolete · abandoned · shed · renounced · left behind · buried · erased
coming out
Revealing one's identity
- self-identificationClaiming an identity label
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- transitioningPassing from one state another
gender dysphoria · pronouns · acceptance · transgender · non-binary · genderqueer · gender expression · court order · documentation · identity documents
misgendering
Incorrectly identifying someone's gender
- deadnamingUsing pre-transition name
- misnamedIncorrectly labeled or titled
- mislabelingIncorrect identification marking
misidentification · erasure · invalidation · disrespect · harmful · hurtful · triggering · unwanted
history
Record of past events
- previous lifeExistence before current one
- memoriesStored past experiences
- bygoneOf earlier times
historical · outdated · obsolete · abandoned · shed · renounced · left behind · buried · erased