Nametag Day is a holiday observed annually on the Thursday of the first full week in March. What is the purpose of this holiday? Well, according to our research, the entire purpose of this holiday is to wear a nametag so that people know who you are. Yes, we’re not kidding; that’s the actual purpose of this holiday.

It was created because names are profoundly important and define how we think about a person or an object, yet they’re being underutilized. When people know each other’s names at a glance, it’s easier for them to reach out to one another and perhaps make a new friend. Sure, it’s kind of weird, but it’s also very effective, as anyone who has observed this holiday will be more than happy to tell you.

The History of Nametag Day

This holiday was created in 1997 by Jerry Hill, an American onomatologist (a person versed in the history of names), who decided to create Celebrate Your Name Week.

He felt that people’s names weren’t getting the respect or attention they deserved, so after he invented the holiday week dedicated to names, he decided to also invent Nametag Day. Wearing a nametag is a great way for people to connect with each other. It has been observed every year since.

Some Fun (And Random) Facts About Names

Okay, we didn’t want to cover Nametag Day without taking a brief foray into the complicated subject of names. All of us have names, know people who have names, and know the names of millions of objects in our lives, but so few of us have really given much thought to names.

We’re going to change that today, however. That’s because we’re going to list some random facts about names that we believe will get everyone reading today talking about names.

• Maine is the only U.S. state that is just one syllable.
• The Granny Smith apple was named after Grandma Maria Ann Smith.
• The White House used to be called the Executive Mansion or the President’s House.
• It was President Teddy Roosevelt who first used the name ‘The White House’ in 1901.
• The dog on the RCA logo is named Nipper.
• People who use a middle name or initial are more likely to be held in higher esteem than people who don’t.

Observing Nametag Day

Obviously, wearing a nametag on this day is one way to celebrate Nametag Day. An even more effective way is to wear that nametag while throwing a party and inviting people from your neighborhood or people that you work alongside every day. People can also be invited to these social gatherings using the internet and the hashtag #NametagDay.