The Big Name Newsletter, Issue #4

A North Star of a Name and Why You May Want to Try Writing Your Name Backwards; The Museum Innovates; A Free Workshop; and HR Spotlight Shines Its Light on Name Fluency

Author

Kaomi Taylor
October 28, 2025

In this issue:

• Name FluencyTM: The Museum of Names’ Unlikely Innovation
• Join our Free Discover Name Fluency Workshop tomorrow!
• A North Star of a Name (and Why You Might Want to Try Writing Your Name Backwards)
• HR Spotlight Features MON’s Contribution to Workplace Civility
• Upcoming Events

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Names aren’t just what we’re called. They’re how we’re called in.”

- Kaomi Joy Taylor, Founder, Museum of Names

Introducing Name Fluency -

An Essential Competency for a Humane World

Name Fluency should have existed already. I mean, it’s kind of obvious, right? That treating people decently includes handling their names with respect?

But in fact, we often take names for granted. We treat them like convenient labels or offhand remarks. We use, alter, share, assign and withhold them, mostly without giving it a second thought.

And this is strange, because for decades scientists have known that names are directly linked to brain chemistry. Sociologists know that names have deep roots in family and culture and strong ties to economic and social success. Politicians know that names are tools that can be leveraged to foment love or hate. And anyone who’s ever stood in a schoolyard knows that names are magnets for bullies.

So why don’t we talk about it more? In fact the term “Name Fluency” has existed only as a barometer applied by marketers to rate how catchy or easy to remember a name is - which is no doubt useful in marketing, but not at all in welcoming people or affirming their humanity in today’s difficult world.

So we’re flipping “Name Fluency”. It’s no longer about how easy a name is for us, it’s about how significant a name is for its owner. Our innovative Name FluencyTM framework pulls together data from neuroscience, sociology, anthropology, political science, and other fields to demonstrate how understanding names is a fundamental building block to a humane and equitable world.

Name Fluency presentations are available to companies, non-profits, and educational and professional groups as upbeat, impactful brownbags, workshops, and conference sessions. We also offer self-assessments and orientation templates. Whether your interest is personal or professional, you’re also welcome to come get a taste at any of our free online Discover Name Fluency workshops. You’ll never see names the same way again!

Curious about Name Fluency? Join a Free Online Workshop on Wednesday to learn more about the basics, meet other budding Namiacs, and contribute your thoughts to shape this exciting initiative!

11:00-11:45 a.m. EST, Wednesday, October 29th.

Sign up here to receive the link!

(No credit card or commitment, just an old-fashioned, feel-good get-together to share knowledge and learn. Join us if you can!)

A North Star of a Name

I spent the last month on a Rotary tour. Here’s what I learned from a man who spells his name backwards.

Last month I had the honor of speaking at three Rotary clubs. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet people, swap stories and ideas, and get a reminder of what community is about from people dedicated to service. I look forward to doing more.

At one noteworthy Rotary, I met Tony. “I’ll tell you about my name,” he said as soon as we met. He handed me his card.

“What do you see?” he said, and swiped his finger from right to left across the top.

“Tony?” I offered.

“Read it backwards,” he said, eyes twinkling. “Y Not! That’s me.”

No spur of the moment revelation was this. Tony had clearly repeated and honed this motto and life philosophy for decades. He shared it with more Rotary friends as they walked in and they heartily endorsed it. It was both a glimpse of the man himself and a life lesson.

Tony had taken the most fundamental part of his identity, the name he hears every day, and turned it into a personal guidepost. No need to tattoo a reminder on his wrist or set his phone to constantly ping. His name is his North Star.

Can anyone do this? Well, what I find especially promising is that Tony himself added this meaning to his name. It didn’t require searching out Greek or Latin origins or poring over his ancestry. He decided to connect his name to an ideal and wears it with pride.

Names take on meanings from many sources, not least ourselves. And sometimes we can instill very powerful and positive meanings into those combinations of letters if that’s what we choose. So if you’re looking for a way to recognize or reinforce something positive about yourself, it’s worth considering if you can connect it to your name.

After all . . . Y Not?

Thank you to the Barre, Burlington, and Williston/Richmond Rotaries for hosting me recently.

Name Fluency is gaining traction! Kaomi’s article was selected last month for inclusion in HR Spotlight’s online resource Civility in Action: An HR Leader’s Key to a Positive Workplace.

The Museum of Names also received an especially thoughtful comment on LinkedIn from a reader named Orion McAllister responding to our Good Housekeeping magazine contribution:

“A beautiful reflection on the deeper meaning of names and the sense of belonging they carry. Your perspective turns something as familiar as a name into a reminder of connection, identity, and the quiet power of being seen and welcomed.”

If you’re not already following to the Museum of Names on Facebook and LinkedIn, connect to keep up with interesting content and commentary.

COMING UP . . .

🎟️ Discover Name Fluency Mini-Workshop (Zoom)
🗓️ Oct 29, 2025 | 11:00–11:45am ET
🧠 Learn how names shape trust, identity, and belonging
👉 Reserve Your Free Spot

🎟️ Brandeis National Committee - South Miami-Dade Chapter
🗓️ February, 2026

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