The Semantic and Cultural Functions of Anthroponyms in “Beowulf”

This article discusses anthroponyms in Beowulf, one of the earliest Old English epics. Anthroponyms embody cultural values, heroic ideals, and symbolic worldviews that shaped Anglo-Saxon society. The study of names in this poem is therefore significant for understanding how language reflects collective identity, mythology, and social hierarchy. By analyzing the semantic and etymological structure of anthroponyms such as Beowulf, Hrothgar, Grendel, Hygelac, and Unferth, the research sheds light on the cultural memory preserved in Anglo-Saxon naming practices. The research employs a combined historical-linguistic and semantic approach. Selected anthroponyms are examined through etymological reconstruction, tracing their roots from Old English to Proto-Germanic and related Germanic languages. Lexical analysis is supplemented by contextual interpretation within the poem, with attention given to how names correspond to character traits, moral functions, and narrative symbolism. Comparative parallels with Indo-European naming traditions are also considered to situate the findings within a broader linguistic framework.