“I Feel Unlanguageable”: Trans and/or Nonbinary Name Changes and the Process of Linguistic Transition

Name changes are a major yet understudied component of transgender and/or nonbinary experiences. We analyzed 40 oral history interviews from the New York City Trans Oral History Project (NYC TOHP) to discuss transgender naming practices in the context of personal experience narratives (PENs). Using a qualitative methodology based on constructivist-grounded theory approaches alongside mixed-methods elements, we built our understanding of trans naming practices in our dataset in four categories: (1) name changes as a part of the transition process, (2) name changes in the context of relationships, (3) name changes as multiple and fluid, and (4) name changes as intersectional phenomena. We use these approaches to construct a dynamic and nuanced understanding of name-changing practices, which often intersect with cultural and migration-related concerns. Applying theories of gender and language to our data, we argue that transgender and/or nonbinary name-changing practices are a part of a cluster of phenomena related to processes of linguistic transition.