Project:Policies specific to names

This page is contains lgbtDB rules, policies, and guidelines regarding names, use of names, and other name-related entities on the site. It was adapted from the first incarnation of the site, which was hosted at Yale University in the early 2020s. Note that not all links have been updated. Thank you for your patience as we work through integrating it into this incarnation of the site. In general, lgbtDB tends to align with the naming conventions utilized by Wikipedia, but it differs in some specific aspects.

Creating a Name

There are multiple properties which reference names or parts of names; in this section we only deal with these specific properties; for names as assigned to pages or entities, see under "Assigning a Name". However, only a few involve creating distinct entities to represent the name. Those properties are shown below and alphabetized.

Assigning a Name

Name as Label or Page Title

When first creating an entity to represent some entity that is named, one will first consider what the primary label and aliases will be. When assigning the primary label, utilize the most common, most recent, and most utilized or self-identified name for the individual. For example, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta is much more commonly known as Lady Gaga (Q116267). We know that this is the case because, as of writing on 18 September 2025, searching "Stefani Germanotta" via Google returns about 602,000 results, and "Lady Gaga" returns about 148 million results.

Name as Alias

If a name contains special characters such as accents, to add a non-accented form as an alias for searching and processing purposes. This entity is NOT an actual representation of the individual's name and should not be considered as such, unless it is also used by the individual as such.

Additionally, for searching purposes, for individuals that use a "First Name" + "Last Name" or "First Name" + "Middle Initial" + "Last Name" syntax, a reversal of that syntax should be included, i.e. "Last Name" + ", " + "First Name" or "Last Name" + ", " + "First Name" + "Middle Initial".

Use Cases

Deadnames

We do not record deadnames for any living persons. We may include them for a small, select few deceased individuals whose relationship with their "deadname" may not be entirely clear, such as with Jennie June (Q482), or if no other name is available or reported. If you believe a name has been added in error or is not appropriate, please let us know and we will remove it.

Drag Names

A specific kind of stage name utilized by drag performers.

Moving Between Names Consistently

Some genderfluid persons use both a stereotypically masculine and a stereotypically feminine name depending on gender presentation. In these cases, the label of the page lists these names in alphabetical order, separated by a forward slash ("/"). Then each of the singular names, in alphabetical order, are added as aliases.

Unpronounceable or Unwritable Names

Some individuals, especially characters in fiction, have names that are considered unpronounceable or unwritable. The former are somewhat easier to handle, as usually the unpronounceable name still has some way to be rendered in writing. For an example of an unpronounceable name that can be written, see Geno (Q122392). If a name is unwritable, it can be represented by providing "no value" and then adding a qualifier that is reason for no value (P1256) in tandem with the item name is unwritable (Q122395). For an example, see Paddington Bear (Q122394).

Additional Resources

• A Guide to Names and Naming Practices
• Falsehoods Programmers Believe About Names
• Metadata Best Practices for Trans and Gender Diverse Resources
• Personal names around the world
• The Trans Journalists Association's Stylebook and Coverage Guide