name

/neɪm/

/neɪm/

Other forms: names; named; naming

Your name is what you are called: Bill or Jennifer or whatever. Parents name their children, and children name their pets.

Most of us have our first given name and our family name or surname. But name is also used more broadly: people who have made a name for themselves are well-known. Someone who calls us names makes fun of us. If you do something wrong that others find out about, you could give yourself a bad name — hurt your reputation. Someone can be named in a lawsuit or named to a committee. Naming is about identity — who you are.

Definitions of name

1. noun

   a language unit by which a person or thing is known
   “his name really is George Washington”

   “those are two names for the same thing”

   types:

   agnomen

   an additional name or an epithet appended to a name (as in 'Ferdinand the Great')

   DBA, Doing Business As, assumed name, fictitious name

   (law) a name under which a corporation conducts business that is not the legal name of the corporation as shown in its articles of incorporation

   eponym

   the name derived from a person (real or imaginary)

   eponym

   the person for whom something is named

   computer file name, computer filename, file name, filename

   (computer science) the name given to a computer file in order to distinguish it from other files; may contain an extension that indicates the type of file

   patronym, patronymic

   a family name derived from name of your father or a paternal ancestor (especially with an affix (such as -son in English or O'- in Irish) added to the name of your father or a paternal ancestor)

   matronymic, metronymic

   a name derived from the name of your mother or a maternal ancestor

   street name

   the name of a street

   street name

   the name of a brokerage firm in which stock is held on behalf of a customer

   street name

   slang for something (especially for an illegal drug)

   cognomen, family name, last name, surname

   the name used to identify the members of a family (as distinguished from each member's given name)

   middle name

   a name between your first name and your surname

   first name, forename, given name

   the name that precedes the surname

   nickname

   a descriptive name for a place or thing

   alias, assumed name, false name

   a name that has been assumed temporarily

   anonym, nom de guerre, pseudonym

   a fictitious name used when the person performs a particular social role

   misnomer

   an incorrect or unsuitable name

   author's name, writer's name

   the name that appears on the by-line to identify the author of a work

   appellation, appellative, denomination, designation

   identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others

   hypocorism, pet name

   a name of endearment (especially one using a diminutive suffix)

   title

   the name of a work of art or literary composition etc.

   place name, toponym

   the name by which a geographical place is known

   signature

   your name written in your own handwriting

   company name

   the name by which a corporation is identified

   domain name

   strings of letters and numbers (separated by periods) that are used to name organizations and computers and addresses on the internet

   brand, brand name, marque, trade name

   a name given to a product or service

   street name

   an alternative name that a person chooses or is given (especially in inner city neighborhoods)

   maiden name

   a woman's surname before marriage

   Christian name, baptismal name

   the first name given to Christians at birth or christening

   praenomen

   the first name of a citizen of ancient Rome

   byname, cognomen, moniker, nickname, sobriquet, soubriquet

   a familiar name for a person (often a shortened version of a person's given name)

   stage name

   the pseudonym of an actor

   nom de plume, pen name

   an author's pseudonym

   form of address, title, title of respect

   an identifying appellation signifying status or function: e.g. `Mr.' or `General'

   title

   an appellation signifying nobility

   masthead

   the title of a newspaper or magazine; usually printed on the front page and on the editorial page

   rubric

   a title or heading that is printed in red or in a special type

   allograph

   a signature written by one person for another

   John Hancock, autograph

   a person's own signature

   countersign, countersignature

   a second confirming signature endorsing a document already signed

   endorsement, indorsement

   a signature that validates something

   sign manual

   the signature of a sovereign on an official document

   label, recording label

   trade name of a company that produces musical recordings

   type of:

   language unit, linguistic unit

   one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed
2. noun

   family based on male descent
   “he had no sons and there was no one to carry on his name”

   synonyms: gens

   type of:

   family, family line, folk, kinfolk, kinsfolk, phratry, sept

   people descended from a common ancestor
3. verb

   assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
   “They named their son David”

   “The new school was named after the famous Civil Rights leader”

   synonyms: call

   call

   ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality

   address, call

   greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name

   types:

   baptise, baptize, christen

   administer baptism to

   refer

   use a name to designate

   style, title

   designate by an identifying term

   dub, nickname

   give a nickname to

   rename

   assign a new name to

   entitle, title

   give a title to

   term

   name formally or designate with a term

   tag

   provide with a name or nickname

   proclaim

   declare formally; declare someone to be something; of titles

   type of:

   label

   assign a label to; designate with a label
4. verb

   give the name or identifying characteristics of; refer to by name or some other identifying characteristic property
   “Many senators were named in connection with the scandal”

   synonyms: identify

   types:

   enumerate, itemise, itemize, recite

   specify individually

   list, number

   enumerate

   announce

   give the names of

   list

   give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of

   itemise, itemize

   place on a list of items

   type of:

   denote, refer

   have as a meaning
5. verb

   give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
   synonyms: list

   type of:

   enumerate, itemise, itemize, recite

   specify individually
6. verb

   mention and identify by name
   “name your accomplices!”

   type of:

   define, determine, fix, limit, set, specify

   decide upon or fix definitely
7. verb

   make reference to
   synonyms: advert, bring up, cite, mention, refer

   types:

   commend, remember

   mention as by way of greeting or to indicate friendship

   speak of the devil

   mention someone's name who just then appears

   remember

   mention favorably, as in prayer

   cite, quote

   refer to for illustration or proof

   touch on

   refer to or discuss briefly

   appeal, invoke

   cite as an authority; resort to

   namedrop

   mention rich or famous people to try to impress others

   bring up, raise

   put forward for consideration or discussion

   drag up, dredge up

   mention something unpleasant from the past

   cross-refer

   refer from one entry to another, as in catalogues, books, and lists

   type of:

   have in mind, mean, think of

   intend to refer to
8. verb

   determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness through a diagnostic analysis
   synonyms: diagnose

   types:

   explore

   examine minutely

   plumb

   examine thoroughly and in great depth

   type of:

   analyse, analyze, canvass, delve, examine, parse, study

   consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
9. verb

   identify as in botany or biology, for example
   synonyms: describe, discover, distinguish, identify, key, key out
10. noun

    a person's reputation
    “he wanted to protect his good name”

    type of:

    reputation, repute

    the state of being held in high esteem and honor
11. noun

    a well-known or notable person
    “they studied all the great names in the history of France”

    synonyms: figure, public figure

    type of:

    important person, influential person, personage

    one whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events
12. noun

    by the sanction or authority of
    “halt in the name of the law”

    type of:

    sanction

    the act of final authorization
13. verb

    charge with a function; charge to be
    “She was named Head of the Committee”

    synonyms: make, nominate

    types:

    rename

    name again or anew

    type of:

    appoint, charge

    assign a duty, responsibility, or obligation to
14. verb

    create and charge with a task or function
    synonyms: appoint, constitute, nominate

    types:

    pack

    set up a committee or legislative body with one's own supporters so as to influence the outcome

    co-opt

    appoint summarily or commandeer

    type of:

    constitute, establish, found, institute, plant

    set up or lay the groundwork for
15. noun

    a defamatory or abusive word or phrase
    synonyms: epithet

    types:

    smear word

    an epithet that can be used to smear someone's reputation

    type of:

    calumniation, calumny, defamation, hatchet job, obloquy, traducement

    a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions