1. a person who studies names, especially the origins and meanings of proper names
Usage: academic; specialized

Examples

• The onomastician traced the surname back to medieval Scotland.
• As an onomastician, she specialized in the etymology of place names.
• The university hired an onomastician to research local geographic names.
• The onomastician published a book about the origins of American city names.
• Many onomasticians focus on either personal names or place names.
• The onomastician explained how immigration patterns influenced naming conventions.