1. Relating to or derived from the name of a mother or female ancestor.
Usage: Linguistics and anthropology term; Contrasts with patronymic

1. A name derived from the name of a mother or female ancestor.
Usage: Linguistics and anthropology term; Less common than patronymic in most cultures

Examples

• In some cultures, metronymic naming practices honor the maternal line.
• The surname O'Brien is patronymic, while some Irish names are metronymic in origin.
• Scholars study metronymic systems to understand family structures in ancient societies.
• A metronymic name indicates descent through the mother rather than the father.
• The anthropologist examined metronymic traditions in the indigenous community.
• Unlike patronymic surnames, metronymic ones are relatively rare in European naming conventions.