The game of the name

A fundamental analysis of the institution of names

Bibliographic Data

ID5917457
AuthorsLouise Gauthier (0000-0001-6639-5453, Espace, Pratiques sociales et Images dans les mondes Grec et Romain (ESPRI), Archéologie et Sciences de l'Antiquité (ArScAn), UMR 7041, Université Paris Nanterre, France, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume38
Issue1
Pages42-74
Publication date2025-08-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueRationality and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1043-4631 • E-ISSN: 1461-7358
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/10434631251366145
OpenAlexW4413848794
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited46

The fact that we all have names makes naming an ubiquitous institution. We develop a game-theoretic model to explain the existence of single names (anthroponyms) and how they may be exchanged as a way to promote cooperation. In social interactions, names provide partial identification information that can help reduce the likelihood of cheating, which would be higher with alternative information structures. We then propose a definition of honor based on the probability of being cheated, and derive general patterns for optimal naming that may maximize honor

Epistemology · Institution · Law and economics · Political science · Sociology · Authorship Attribution and Profiling · Law · Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research · Philosophy

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