Home > Diziet Sma

Her full name is Rasd-Codurersa Diziet Embless Sma da'Marenhide. This is a good example of how names work in the Culture:

• Rasd-Codurersa is the solar system of her birth, and the specific object ( planet, orbital, Dyson sphere, etc.). The "-sa" suffix is roughly equivalent to "-er" in English. By this convention, human beings would all be named Sol-Earther.
• Diziet is her given name. This is chosen by a parent, usually the mother
• Embless is her chosen name. Most Culture citizens choose this when they reach adulthood. As with all conventions in the Culture, it may be broken or ignored: some change their chosen name during their lives, some never take one.
• Sma is her surname, usually taken from one's mother
• da'Marenhide gives the specific location of her birth. the "da" or "dam" is similar to "von" in German.