The aims of the Names Society, as reflected in the original constitution, are

- To promote the study of and research into proper names of all kinds;
- To establish contact with other academic, professional and technical groups connected with onomastics, and where possible to arrange joint activities and projects with such groups;
- To organize regular onomastic congresses;
- To issue a professional journal and other publications;
- To compile and update a list of persons engaged in the study of names;
- To act as an advisory body, when so requested by some other body, such as the South African Geographical Names Council.