What is deadnaming?

Deadnaming is the act of calling a transgender or detransitioned person by the name they used before transition—their “birth name”—after they have adopted a new name. In transgender communities this original name is often labeled a “deadname,” implying it should be buried or erased. Detransitioners report that this label can feel psychologically harmful because it frames their birth name as something shameful or “killed,” which in turn can distress parents who lovingly chose that name and can intensify feelings of self-hatred or dissociation. Reclaiming the birth name after detransition is frequently described as “coming home,” “waking up,” or feeling grounded again; it is seen as a non-medical step toward healing, self-integration, and restoring normalcy rather than a regression.