Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy It’s HarmfulWhy It MattersIf You Deadname SomeoneIf You Are Being Deadnamed
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why It’s Harmful
Why It Matters
If You Deadname Someone
If You Are Being Deadnamed
This article will define deadnaming, discuss why it’s harmful, and offer information on what to do if you deadname someone or are being deadnamed.
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Transgender and nonbinary people are often at risk of psychological, emotional, and even physical harm, and they commonly lack support from family or friends.
What Are “Transgender” and “Nonbinary”?Generally speaking, someone who is transgender, or trans, has or expresses a gender different from the gender assigned to them at birth based on their observed sex.“Nonbinary” refers to someone whose gender identity is not solely male or female.
What Are “Transgender” and “Nonbinary”?
Generally speaking, someone who is transgender, or trans, has or expresses a gender different from the gender assigned to them at birth based on their observed sex.“Nonbinary” refers to someone whose gender identity is not solely male or female.
Health Disparities in Transgender People of Color
Referencing a Person’s Past
What to Do If You Deadname Someone
If you accidentally deadname someone, apologize right away. Be brief in your apology, and be sure not to overdo it. Once you’ve noted your mistake, move forward and try to be more aware so you don’t repeat the mistake.
What Is Transphobia?
What to Do If You Are Being Deadnamed
If someone deadnames you once or twice, you can quickly correct them in the moment if you are comfortable doing so. If the behavior continues or you are uncomfortable confronting the person, try asking a trusted ally to correct the person later on your behalf.
If you are in a situation in which you don’t feel safe or empowered to say something, consider seeking support from a hotline or organization to get advice on what to do.
Helpful LGBTQIA+ hotlines include:
Summary
If you accidentally deadname someone, apologize quickly. Be careful not to make a big deal of it and avoid doing it again. If you are being deadnamed and are comfortable correcting the person, gently do so in the moment. If you are uncomfortable or do not feel safe or empowered to correct the person or persons, ask an ally for help or contact a hotline to find support and advice.
A Word From Verywell
Deadnaming can be a painful reminder of traumatic experiences and can introduce new psychological harm. If you deadname a trans or nonbinary person, apologize quickly. If you witness someone being deadnamed or you see someone is in an unsafe situation, ask them whether they’d like any help. Be prepared to respect their decision and to act if they say yes.
And, if you are being deadnamed or feel alone, stuck, or unsure about how to handle the situation, know that you are not alone and that many resources are available to support you.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sinclair-Palm J.“It’s non-existent”: haunting in trans youth narratives about naming.Occasional Paper Series. 2017;2017(37).Seely N.Reporting on transgender victims of homicide: practices of misgendering, sourcing and transparency.Newspaper Research Journal. 2021;42(1):74-94. doi:10.1177/0739532921989872
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sinclair-Palm J.“It’s non-existent”: haunting in trans youth narratives about naming.Occasional Paper Series. 2017;2017(37).Seely N.Reporting on transgender victims of homicide: practices of misgendering, sourcing and transparency.Newspaper Research Journal. 2021;42(1):74-94. doi:10.1177/0739532921989872
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sinclair-Palm J.“It’s non-existent”: haunting in trans youth narratives about naming.Occasional Paper Series. 2017;2017(37).Seely N.Reporting on transgender victims of homicide: practices of misgendering, sourcing and transparency.Newspaper Research Journal. 2021;42(1):74-94. doi:10.1177/0739532921989872
Sinclair-Palm J.“It’s non-existent”: haunting in trans youth narratives about naming.Occasional Paper Series. 2017;2017(37).
Seely N.Reporting on transgender victims of homicide: practices of misgendering, sourcing and transparency.Newspaper Research Journal. 2021;42(1):74-94. doi:10.1177/0739532921989872
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