History Main / RiteOfPassageNameChange

** ''Literature/TheBlackFleetCrisis'': The third book involves Chewbacca's son Lumpawarump going through the traditional Wookiee RiteOfPassage, the ''hrrtayyk'' (or "Test of Ascension"), only for it to be interrupted. He later stands by his father's side during the rescue of Han Solo from the Yevetha, taking a blaster bolt wound to the leg without flinching and thus earning the right to change his name to Lumpawaroo ("Waroo" meaning "Son of courage").
** ''Literature/HandOfThrawn'': The Qom Jha and Qom Qae of the planet Niraun are not named at birth, instead being referred to as "Child of (parent's name)". Adults gain their names from their characteristics or deeds, such as "Hunter Of Winds", "Eater Of Fire Creepers", "Splitter Of Stones", "Keeper Of Promises", "Builder With Vines" and "Flyer Through Spikes". Hunter of Winds' son is known as "Child Of Winds"; by the end of their adventures, Mara Jade informs his father that he's earned his own name: "Friend of Jedi", which Hunter of Winds promises to consider.

* Tendu of ''Literature/TheColorofDistance'' have three sentient stages in their life cycles, bami, elder, and the optional enkar. As bami they chose a symbol to be their name, and with each stage it becomes more elaborate. A visiting human assigns words to these symbols so she has an easier time with names, and sees the bami Ani become elder Anito, and later the enkar Anitonen.

* In ancient China, people receive courtesy/style names (字, ''Zì'') upon reaching adulthood, men during their ''Guànlǐ'' (冠禮/冠礼, "capping ceremony") at age 20 and women during their ''Jīlǐ'' (笄禮/笄礼, "hairpin ceremony") at around age 15, or when they get engaged or married. In addition, emperors were referred to by their ruling era, with a new name granted posthumously. Indeed, it was socially taboo to for somebody to call somebody else of the same generation by their birth-name.

* In some societies (the Cherokee, for instance), a person is given a name when he is born, then receives a new name upon being recognized as an adult. Often the new name reflects some aspect of their personality or social role. In pre-modern/non-Western societies with very high infant and child mortality, this custom may have originated because many babies would not live to become functioning members of society.
* In ancient China, men adopted style names upon reaching adulthood, and emperors were referred to by their ruling era, with a new name granted posthumously. Indeed, it was socially taboo to for somebody to call somebody else of the same generation by their birth-name.

* Likewise, many European monarchs have taken regnal names upon acceding to the throne. For example, King Edward VIII had been known to his family as David (one of his multiple given names), and King George VI had previously been publicly known as Prince Albert (Bertie to his family). There was some surprise when Queen Elizabeth II decided to reign under her own usual name, and it's widely expected that Prince Charles will take on a different name as king, perhaps George, rather than follow the two previous, rather ill-starred Charleses.

* In another novel by Creator/UrsulaKLeGuin, ''Always Coming Home'', the Kesh people have a first name, given to them as children, then replace it with a middle name upon becoming adults, and then replace that name with a third one when old or close to death.