Sign names are an important part of Deaf culture and identity. They are used within sign language communities to identify people in a way that is personal, meaningful and unique.
What is a sign name?
Sign names are special because they’re each totally individual and unique to each person.
When introducing yourself in British Sign Language (BSL) for the first time, you’ll usually fingerspell your name using the BSL alphabet. If you have a sign name, this can then be used instead of fingerspelling your full name in future conversations.
Deaf Umbrella, an organisation that provides BSL interpreting services, describe sign names as:
A fascinating component of Deaf culture that many people might not be aware of. A member of the Deaf community must provide you with a sign name, and it’s a privilege that should be greatly appreciated.”
Why give someone a sign name?
Traditionally, sign names are given by Deaf people rather than chosen by an individual for themselves. Receiving a sign name can be a meaningful moment and is often seen as a sign of acceptance, recognition or connection within the Deaf community.
Because sign names are closely connected to Deaf culture, they often carry personal meaning and can reflect a person’s experiences, relationships or place within the community.
Receiving a sign name
Sign names can be given to both deaf and hearing people. A well-known example came in 2023 when The Great British Bake Off contestant Tasha Stones gave judge Paul Hollywood a sign name on the programme.
Tasha explained that the sign name developed from a nickname based on a mispronunciation of his surname, which she then translated into BSL using the sign for “parrot”.
This demonstrated how sign names often develop naturally and can reflect a person’s experiences, relationships or shared memories.
Types of sign name
There are two types of sign name:
Descriptive sign names
Descriptive sign names are usually inspired by someone’s character or a trait they have. This might be:
- their job
- a personality trait
- a hobby or interest
- a physical characteristic
For example, a sign name might be ‘curly hair’, ‘blow your nose with tissues’, or ‘face dimple’.
Initialised sign names
Initialised sign names are as simple as signing the first letter of a person’s name in English, like ‘C’ for Cilla.
Sign names and identity
Some people have sign names that combine both descriptive and initialised elements.
Mariette, Development Manager at RNID, says:
My sign name is a personalised version of an initialised sign name. My name is ‘Mariette’ and my sign name is based on a signed version of the letter ‘M’. I’m a fluent BSL user however, I went to school in Dublin, and so my name is ‘M’ signed in ISL (Irish Sign Language) rather than BSL.
My sign name reflects both my name in English but also a little bit of my personal history!”
Like spoken-language nicknames, sign names can capture something unique about a person. They are often highly valued because they reflect both individual identity and a connection to the Deaf community.
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