Seltene germanische Personennamen im Frühmittelalter

Abstract

Rare personal names in the Early Middle Ages. – Numerous Germanic personal names can only be evidenced a few times, some of them no more than once. The historical and geographic frames of reference for their respective classification as ‘rare’ are mainly the known inventory of Germanic names from the 4th until approximately the end of the 8th century within the Frankish territories east of the Rhine river as well as Gallo- and Italoromania. Obviously, there are various reasons for classifying a personal name as rare. The form of its tradition – perhaps accidentally and with great regional differences – certainly plays a role; but there is also a variety of linguistic and onomastic phenomena that could have greatly influenced the frequency of Germanic anthroponyms. They are criteria of both selection and limitation as well as new creativity. This article focuses on important features and mechanisms of name-giving, particularly regarding their potential for enabling names to remain rare.