logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
6m 11s

The stories behind our names

BBC Radio
About this episode

What can names tell us about our culture and history?

Up next
Jan 29
Why are billionaires building bunkers?
People around the world have been preparing for what they believe will be a major world disaster in the near future. Now, some tech billionaires are joining the trend by building underground bunker complexes to keep them safe if the world order collapses. Do they know something w ... Show More
7m 3s
Jan 22
Scared to speak English?
Do you ever feel scared to speak in English? Lots of people find speaking a different language stressful. Beth and Pippa talk about learning languages and how to fight your fears of speaking English.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https ... Show More
7m 11s
Jan 15
What English phrases really mean
We've all been there – we're talking to someone and they say one thing, when we know they mean something else! British people love to play with language, using it deliberately to disguise, misdirect or even change their meaning entirely. But why do we do it? And what are some of ... Show More
6m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
A History of Names
A double header about the history of first names and last names. “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” As Romeo pondered the significance of the moniker of his beloved we have to admit, names are something we take for granted but the ... Show More
27m 25s
Aug 2023
The stories behind our names
Michael Rosen talks to journalist Sheela Banerjee about the family and cultural histories revealed by our names. In her book What’s in a Name? Friendship, Identity and History in Modern Multicultural Britain, she takes a deep dive into her own personal and family names and those ... Show More
28m 2s
Jun 2023
When We Kill History
There's a growing culture war over history with efforts throughout western nations to revert to "virtuous origin" stories. IDEAS explores what happens when we sanitize history and remove criticism and doubt from the myth. If we kill history, how can we look to the future? 
54m 8s
Jul 2010
One Hundred Years of Names
Every personal name has a story. Behind the top 100 Irish baby names list is a fascinating portrait of a changing country.This fascinating and beautiful documentary looks at the names we give our children and what our names say about all of us.<br><p>See <a href="https://omnystud ... Show More
38m 10s
May 2022
From Bastardstown to Slutsend: A History of Irish Place Names
Ireland has some very strange place names. They range from the perplexing – Skeoghvosteen in Kilkenny, to the scandalous - Slutsend in Dublin and Bastardstown in Co Wexford. But where do these names come from and what do they tell us about our history?<hr><p style='color:grey; fo ... Show More
19m 46s
Jun 2022
What do Australian books and plays tell us about our national identity?
Australian national ‘identity’ has long been contested, as has the narrative of the foundation of Australia. What does the history of Australian literature and theatre tell us about who we are, and how we have changed? Are we now ready to put the history and culture ‘wars’ behind ... Show More
54m 53s
Feb 2020
What's in a Name and What's Your Defining Quality
What’s in a name? Sh. Omar Suleiman discusses the etiquette of how we deal with one another from the prohibition of mockery of names outlined in Surat al-Hujaraat to the names we give our children. 
26m 53s
Aug 2019
How Much Does Your Name Matter? (Rebroadcast )
<p>A kid’s name can tell us something about his parents — their race, social standing, even their politics. But is your name really your destiny?</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about ... Show More
51m 24s
Feb 2024
American History Tellers
The Cold War, Prohibition, the Gold Rush, the Space Race. Every part of your life - the words you speak, the ideas you share - can be traced to our&nbsp;history, but how well do you really know the stories that made&nbsp;America? We'll take you to the events, the times and the pe ... Show More
4m 16s
Jun 2024
أرض العراقة وامتداد التاريخ
‏حلقة جديدة من #بودكاست_١٩٤٩، تأخذنا إلى عُمق التاريخ لاستكشاف أصول الحضارات القديمة التي ازدهرت على أرض المملكة، لتُجيب على التساؤل الأبرز: بمَ تفيدنا معرفة التاريخ ودراسة الآثار؟ وما دورها في بناء المستقبل؟ 
25m 17s