Binomial nomenclature is a two-name scientific system used to uniquely identify every known species. Specifically, the first part of the name refers to the genus, and the second to the species. For example, Homo sapiens is the scientific name for humans, and Panthera leo refers to the lion. As a result, this system avoids confusion caused by local or common names and is used globally by scientists, researchers, and educators.

Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus introduced the system in the 18th century to standardize how organisms are named and categorized. Prior to Linnaeus, species often had long and inconsistent Latin descriptions. Consequently, by assigning each organism just two names, Linnaeus simplified biological classification and laid the foundation for modern taxonomy.

This naming method ensures consistency across the scientific community. While common names like ‘jellyfish’ or ‘robin’ can refer to different organisms in different countries, the scientific name Aurelia aurita always refers to a specific jellyfish species. Therefore, this uniformity is essential in fields such as medicine, environmental science, and biodiversity research.

The genus name is written first and capitalized; the species name follows in lowercase. Both are italicized in print (e.g., Canis lupus for the gray wolf) or underlined when handwritten. These rules ensure that scientific names stand out in texts and are easily recognized by readers.

Latin (sometimes Greek) is used because it’s a “dead” language—meaning it doesn’t change over time. This preserves the accuracy and stability of scientific names. For example, Quercus robur will always refer to the English oak, no matter the language spoken.