A naming convention is a convention (generally agreed scheme) for naming things. Conventions differ in their intents, which may include to:

• Allow useful information to be deduced from the names based on regularities. For instance, in Manhattan, streets are consecutively numbered; with east–west streets called "Streets" and north–south streets called "Avenues".
• Show relationships, and in most personal naming conventions
• Ensure that each name is unique for same scope

Well-chosen naming conventions aid the casual user in navigating and searching larger structures. Several areas where naming conventions are commonly used include:

• In astronomy, planetary nomenclature
• In classics, Roman naming conventions
• In computer programming, identifier naming conventions
• In computer networking, naming scheme
• In humans, naming offspring
• In industry, product naming conventions
• In the sciences, systematic names for a variety of things

Examples of naming conventions may include:

• Children's names may be alphabetical by birth order. In some Asian cultures, siblings commonly share a middle name. In many cultures the son is usually named after the father or grandfather.^[1] In other cultures, the name may include the place of residence.^[2] Roman naming convention denotes social rank.
• Developers of database schemas, program-name terminology and ontologies may apply a common set of labeling conventions for naming representational entities in their representational artefacts, i.e. conventions outlined or endorsed by terminology-regulatory bodies or by policy providers such as ISO or the OBO Foundry.
• The names of universities can commemorate founders, patrons or relevant monarchs: note for example Lomonosov Moscow State University, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Victoria University of Wellington, or Johns Hopkins University. A Latinate version confers extra class – note Alma Mater Rudolphina for the University of Vienna or Universitas Complutensis for the Complutense University of Madrid.
• Large corporate, university, or government campuses may name rooms within their buildings to help orient tenants and visitors.
• Products. Automobiles typically have a binomial name, a "make" (manufacturer) and a "model", in addition to a model year. Computers, and computer programs, often have increasing numbers in their names to signify the successive generations.
• School courses: an abbreviation for the subject area and then a number ordered by increasing level of difficulty.
• Shipping lines often use a distinct naming convention to make their ships more recognisable and their names easier to remember.
• Virtually all organizations that assign names or numbers follow some convention in generating these identifiers (e.g. phone numbers, bank accounts, government IDs, credit cards, etc.).