A name made of two words
A successful system of naming organisms was put forward in 1753 by Carolus Linnaeus, a Swiss naturalist.
Binomial nomenclature
Under that system, naming an organism produces a name made of two words, which is why it is called "binomial nomenclature".
Mangifera indica
generic name + specific epithet
The names of the two words
Called the generic name.
Called the specific epithet.
Who makes the rules?
The procedure for naming an organism under binomial nomenclature is regulated by ICBN (International Commission on Botanical Nomenclature) and ICZN (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature) — one for plants, the other for animals.