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ASL Name Signs: Where Identity, Culture, and Connection Meet
- Kathleen Marcath
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
by Kathleen Marcath
There is power in a name. Have you ever thought about how much your name means to you? It’s more than just a word—your name represents your identity.
In the Deaf community, "name signs" carry that same deep significance. They offer a unique and personal way to identify someone in American Sign Language (ASL)—and they are often rich with story, culture, and connection.
What Is a Name Sign in ASL?
Name signs are personalized gestures used in ASL to represent a person’s name without fingerspelling it each time. They fall into two main types:
Arbitrary name signs
-Use the first letter of the person’s name, often placed on a specific part of the body. For example, the letter "K" from Karlie or Kathy spiraling down the side of the face, representing curly hair, is an arbitrary name sign.
Descriptive name signs
-Reflect a personal trait—like wild hair, a big smile, or even a favorite hobby. An example would be giving a Deaf person the name sign of a butterfly.
Both types are meaningful and reflect an individual’s identity within the Deaf community. Unlike legal names, name signs are not fixed—they can evolve as a person changes or grows.
Who Gets a Name Sign?
In families where both parents are Deaf, it's common for children to receive name signs early. If you're a CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult), your Deaf parent will give you one. But for hearing people learning ASL, a name sign isn't something you choose—it’s something you earn through meaningful connections in the community.
👉 Click here to download our free ASL Alphabet Chart to learn the handshapes and begin fingerspelling names.
Michelle’s Name Sign: A Personal Touch
Michelle Osterhout, who was born with a hearing loss to Deaf parents, received her name sign from them, just as her brother did.
“In Deaf culture, name signs are earned and not given out freely,” Michelle continues, “Only those who are truly part of the Deaf community receive a name sign. It’s not something that can be requested—it has to be earned.”
Michelle's name sign is formed by tapping the letter “M” repeatedly on the right side of her chin.
We mentioned earlier that sometimes a name sign is changed, and a characteristic, like a habit, could have changed. I know that while growing up, little Johnny, Bobby, or little Donnie were cute and fun. However, entering adulthood and taking a professional position, these men would prefer being called John, Bob, and Don. Michelle shared that her brother changed his name sign as he got older.
Mickey Carolan’s Story: Life Without a Name Sign
Not everyone in the Deaf world receives a name sign. Mickey Carolan, a CODA and author of "Mom, Dad Not Here," grew up without one.
When asked why, he shared:
“I asked my mother recently why I didn't have a name sign. She said it was because she never had one herself. As a child, she was teased about her initials, B and J, which had a sexual connotation. She chose not to have a name sign, and her friends spelled her name: B-O-N-N-I-E.”
“My parents never thought it was important for me to have a name sign since I wasn't Deaf, so it never happened,” Mickey reported.
Even without a name sign, Mickey always felt connected to the Deaf community. He continues to fingerspell his name—M-I-C-K-E-Y—with pride.
A Spiraling “K”: My Shared Name Sign with Karlie Waldrip
In a recent audio interview, "A Chat with Karlie Waldrip, Deaf Children’s Book Author (Parts 1 & 2)," Karlie shared the story behind her name sign. Born to hearing parents, Karlie received her name sign from her father while he was learning sign language for work. Even though he was beginning his ASL journey, his effort made her feel uniquely seen and connected—a powerful example of how name signs can foster inclusion, identity, and belonging.
Karlie and I share the same name sign: the letter “K” spiraling down the side of the face, symbolizing our curly hair. It’s such a special connection!
This beautifully shows how name signs reflect more than just a name—they often capture something meaningful about a person’s appearance, personality, or spirit. Sometimes, they even combine an initial with a distinct trait, making each name sign unique.
Alice Cogswell: A Child Without a Name
Name signs hold treasured meaning today, but was that always the case? Deaf children in early America had little to no access to language or education. One such child was Alice Cogswell.
Imagine being nine years old and not knowing your name. That changed when Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a recent seminary graduate, met young Alice. As I learned at Madonna University, Gallaudet recognized that Alice was Deaf and spent the entire day writing her name in the sand: A-L-I-C-E. That day for, the first time in Alice's life, she understood she had a name, A-L-I-C-E. The joy Alice and her family felt at that moment was overwhelming.
This small act of kindness changed history. It inspired the creation of the first public Deaf school in America, laying the foundation for Deaf education and the birth of ASL.
What was Alice’s name sign? My research hasn’t revealed that yet. If you know, please let us know!
Alice’s story reminds us just how powerful it is to be recognized—to be given a name, a place, and a voice in the world.
Names Matter, Communication Matters, Name Signs Matter
A name is more than a label—it’s a lifeline. In the Deaf community, name signs are powerful markers of belonging, connection, and identity.
So we ask you:
Do you have a name sign?
What does it reveal about you?
When were you given your name sign, and by whom?
If not, what would you want your name sign to say about who you are?
Share your stories in the comments!
Stay tuned for more insights into Deaf culture, ASL learning, and the power of visual language.
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Kathleen Marcath, the founder of ASLPictureBooks.com and author of "My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me," is a passionate advocate for bilingual education and ASL literacy, holding a bachelor's degree in Deaf Community Studies. Inspired by the need for inclusive children's books, she created a picture book where characters use sign language on each page, promoting the limitless potential of ASL for d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing and curious children.