Cultural and Social Characteristics of Contemporary Kazakh Personal Names

Аңдатпа

The article provides a comprehensive sociolinguistic analysis of the historical formation and contemporary development of Kazakh anthroponymy. The primary aim of the study is to trace the evolution of the traditional system of Kazakh personal names across historical periods and to identify current naming trends under conditions of globalization. The research examines the development of anthroponymy from the Old Turkic era through the Soviet period, highlighting the influence of cultural, religious, social, and political factors on naming practices at each stage. In addition, the present state of anthroponymy in Kazakh society is analyzed on the basis of official statistical data from the past thirty years (1995-2025), survey results, and public opinion expressed on social media platforms. The findings demonstrate the growing dominance of Islamic religious and international names, alongside a gradual decline in the usage of traditional Turkic-Kazakh anthroponyms. Moreover, the increasing prevalence of names that do not conform phonetically to the natural norms of the Kazakh language is assessed as a factor posing a threat to national linguistic identity. The article conceptualizes anthroponyms as significant linguistic markers that preserve national cultural memory and argues for the need to develop naming practices on a sound scholarly basis.