first name

See also: first-name

English

Etymology

From Middle English firste name, first nam.

Pronunciation

Audio (UK): (file)

Noun

first name (plural first names)

Synonym of given name, particularly when it forms the first element of a full name.
- 2013 July 19, Peter Wilby, “Finland spreads word on schools”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 30:
  Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. […] Children address teachers by their first names. Even 15-year-olds do no more than 30 minutes' homework a night.
The first element of a full name, particularly when it could also be surname in East Asian and other cultural traditions.
- In a structure typical for East Asia cultures, first names are usually used as family names. It usually identifies that person is a one of the members of a group (typically a family or clan) who have a common family name.

Usage notes

Although first name is more common in all dialects of English, given name, personal name, etc. are increasingly preferred for clarity in multicultural contexts because of East Asian and other cultural traditions in which given names are placed after the surname instead of before it.

Derived terms

first-name (verb)

Anagrams

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