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Name Suffixes: What are they called?

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Genimuse

Programmer
May 15, 2003
1,797
US
Is there a word for generational name suffixes (suffices would be so much nicer) such as Jr., Sr., and III?

Is there a word for educational name suffixes such as M.D., R.N., or Ph.D. (aka PhD.)?

Surely there are words for these things, right?
 
Is there a word for generational name suffixes (suffices would be so much nicer) such as Jr., Sr., and III?

These are examples of social titles or courtesy titles.

Is there a word for educational name suffixes such as M.D., R.N., or Ph.D. (aka PhD.)?

These are called honorifics or Honoraries. As you can see on that last link, "Mr." or "Mrs." can also be considered an honorific, but I've never personally heard the term used for those before (not that that means very much [wink]).

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==> Is there a word for generational name suffixes?

Not to my knowledge. Just as you have, I've always heard them called to 'generational suffixes'.

==> Is there a word for educational name suffixes such as M.D., R.N., or Ph.D?

They could be called degrees, certifications, accreditations, titles, or salutations (rare) depending of what they represent. These terms are not necessarily synonymous as each has its own individual meaning, so they are not inter-changeable. You might refer to the entire group generically as 'credentials'.

An honorific is a title bestowed on a person because of an earned credential. For example, a medical professional who has an M.D. (degree) may have referred to as Doctor (honorific). A university teacher who has a Ph.D. (degree) may be referred to as Professor (honorific).

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In the software package we use, written in-house, we call them subtitles. Not sure it's correct, but that's what we use.
 
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