Most citation formats use authors' last names as the primary identifier, such as Smith, John A., Smith, J. A., or Smith et al. But why?
Last names are typically family names shared by many individuals, which can sometimes lead to confusion. Historically, most surnames originated from occupations, locations, or social status, carrying complex histories tied to class divisions and, in some cases, systems of oppression. While people have little control over the names they inherit, they are still required to use them in formal and professional contexts.
For some, this system may work well—particularly for those who believe their family titles, prestige, glory, or heritage still define them and will provide an advantage. However, for most, that is not the case—and it should not be.
Fortunately, last names no longer define a person's profession or identity today. Yet academia—and many cultures worldwide—continues to prioritize them, often due to legal or customary reasons. However, this practice is not without its limitations.
First names are much more personal and contemporary and often better reflect someone's identity. They can also make communication more direct and effective.
Could there be a better way—perhaps using full names, unique author identifiers, or an entirely new system—that balances clarity, individuality, and practicality while giving people more control over how they are addressed?
I'm not exactly sure what you mean. Almost all the known/used citation standards prioritize last names. You can check them out here: https://citation.doi.org/
la necesidad social de demostrar un estatus, una historia o pasado que pueda relacionar la herencia familiar con algún estatus cultural, social y económico en el pasado , la sociedad capitalista se soporta sobre lo que puedes mostrar y exhibir de si mismo entre ello esa historia que genere un peso o un "valor" cultural agregado a la identidad del individuo.
It's a very good question, Niloy Sikder Niloy. However, you assume "we" are "obsessed". How do we know this is the case? We need some empirical data. Since LASTNAME-COMMA-INITIALS is the standard format, it could also be that people use it by default and never spent an instant obsessing about the thing. Yet it may be interesting to check whether the type of LASTNAME one has can influence one's career, for instance if a more memorizable LASTNAME facilitates social achievement, or whether certain LASTNAMES sound friendlier (or conversely, scarier) than others. As we know LASTNAME-COMMA-INITIALS is not a bullet proof system: technical IDs have been introduced to obviate synonyms. But the paradox is that, although names are never really individual, it may still be the case that not many people would like to be identified by a numerical tag – smells like prison or concentration camp. Eventually I agree with Pere Prujà i Magallón : long live nicknames.
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