CLASSIFICATION OF FOLK PERSONAL NAMES ACCORDING TO THEIR PURPOSE OF USE

Abstract

This article examines folk personal names as an important component of anthroponymy and classifies them according to their purpose of use in society. Folk names are analyzed as culturally motivated linguistic units that reflect collective experience, beliefs, emotions, and social expectations. The study highlights how such names serve protective, expressive, symbolic, and identity-forming functions. Special attention is given to the relevance of folk personal names in the modern era, where traditional naming practices coexist with globalization and contemporary cultural influences. The article demonstrates that folk anthroponyms remain a meaningful reflection of social consciousness and cultural continuity.