What is deadnaming?

Deadnaming is the act of using a transgender person’s birth name after they have transitioned and adopted a new name. Within the transgender community, the birth name is often referred to as a “deadname,” symbolizing an attempt to “kill” or dissociate from one’s former identity during transition. Detransitioned individuals describe this concept as psychologically harmful, as it frames the birth name—and by extension the pre-transition self—as something that must be erased or rejected. Many who have detransitioned report that reclaiming their birth name was a vital step toward healing and reintegrating their identity, emphasizing that the term “deadname” carries negative connotations that can distress both the individual and their family.