Common names are non-scientific terms used to refer to organisms, but they can be confusing and imprecise. They are often easier to remember than scientific names, but can apply to multiple organisms or be too broad. Some common names have ancient roots, while others are derived from scientific names. Some organisms don’t have common names, but this doesn’t mean they’re not important.
A common name is a term other than a specific epithet or scientific name used to refer to an organism. For example, “human” is a common noun referring to Homo sapiens. Common names tend to be easier to pronounce and remember than scientific names, which is why they’re so appealing; after all, everyone may remember “African elephant,” but Loxodonta africana is a little more complicated to keep in mind, let alone write.
Common names have some distinct disadvantages. To begin with, unlike scientific names, they are not standardized, meaning that the same common name can apply to multiple organisms, or a single organism can have a plethora of common names. This can lead to confusion, while using a scientific name makes the identity of an organism under discussion very clear.
A common name can also be extremely broad, which can also be a disadvantage. For example, trees in the genus Quercus are commonly referred to as “oaks,” but there are hundreds of trees in this genus. By simply using the term ‘oak’, people avoid making a clear distinction and this can be problematic. Different oak trees grow in different areas and display different characteristics and using a generic term ignores this issue. Some attempts have been made to address this with more detailed common names, such as California oak, black oak, and live oak, but these terms are not consistent or perfect.
The derivation of common names varies. Common names such as cat, dog, and sheep have existed longer than specific epithets for these organisms, and many of these names have ancient roots. Some modern common names are derived from scientific names or vice versa: narcissus, dahlia, and rhododendron are all common names, as are the names of specific plant genera. In some cases, common names have been deliberately designed to create a memorable name for an organism, and others have been refined from existing common names.
In some cases, an organism does not have a common name. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the organism isn’t common, just that the organism isn’t well known to humans, well used by people, or considered valuable to people. In fact, many organisms with no common names play vital ecological roles, they just haven’t been exploited in agriculture or daily life, so people don’t know about them. Even recently discovered organisms tend not to have common names until one can be established.
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