Your toddler will have known and understood what their own name is for some time now. When they heard their name, they may have turned to look at you or they may have pointed at themselves when someone has asked where they are in a photo or when playing a game. Some toddlers talk about themselves using pronouns, such as I or me when they are communicating who they are and talking about what they have been doing.
Children’s names are the most important word in the world. The simple, yet intricate ritual of name-giving encourages children to be able to communicate with others. Children are better able to listen, participate in conversations, and follow instructions if they know their name. When a toddler understands and can speak their own name, it opens the door to them being addressed in a conversation, greeting, or game. [1]
With millions of babies born each year, the tradition of naming them is a significant part of life. All over the world, babies are given a name and therefore given an identity. A name provides a sense of self as well as a sense of importance. Children learn that they are a person, not an object, when they are given a name. Much research has been carried out about how young children determine if something is a person or an object. In these studies, children consistently comprehended the difference between 'This is Zax' and 'This is a zax.' [2]
It is interesting that toddlers are also very aware of their first name and whether they have a pet name [3]. It is common for babies to be given a pet name, some even before they are born, and it's been demonstrated that toddlers understand and associate the pet name with themselves. When another child has the same name as them, some toddlers become upset because they believe their name is unique to them and that no one else should have it. They are usually reassured by the creation of a ‘nickname’, normally these still contain their name but somewhat varies from the other child’s name. [4]
It is around this age that toddlers can be upset if their name is pronounced incorrectly, or the wrong name is said to them. Up until this stage, they would have most likely ignored the name they heard, as it was not theirs, so the conversation was nothing to do with them. They are becoming more aware of their identity and may challenge an incorrect name when said by an adult.
Over the next year or so, your toddler will begin to learn their full name, including any middle names and their surname. They are usually very proud of themselves and some start to use their full name at all times, instead of using only their first name. Your toddler will begin to learn and talk about other facts in their lives such as where they live, or where they have been on holiday.
References:
[1] Taken from Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. Identity and Belonging.
[2] E. Hoff. (2017) Language Development. Fifth Edition. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
[3] P. Bloom (2000). How Children Learn the Meaning of Words. A Bradford Book. MIT Press
[4] K. Reschke. (2019). Article: Who Am I? Developing a Sense of Self and Belonging. Zero To Three, Critical Competencies for Infant-Toddler Educators.