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• first name
  first name

  noun

  given name.
• first-name
  first-name

  adjective

  of or relating to one's first, or given, name; familiar; intimate.

first name

¹ American  

noun

first names plural

1. given name.

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first-name ² American  

[furst-neym, furst-neym] / ˈfɜrstˌneɪm, ˈfɜrstˈneɪm /

adjective

1. of or relating to one's first, or given, name; familiar; intimate.

   They were on a first-name basis soon after meeting.

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verb (used with object)

first-named, first-naming

1. to address (someone) by their first name, especially as a sign of informality or familiarity.

   The boss doesn't like the employees to first-name her.

first name British  

noun

1. Also called: Christian name.   forename.   given name.  a name given to a person at birth, as opposed to a surname

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• first names
  plural

Etymology

Origin of first name¹

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50

Origin of first-name²

First recorded in 1300–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first name first-name first-named first-naming

After England defeated Mexico in the World Cup last 16, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said: "I think he's the first name on the team sheet. There is nobody else."

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

If his first name inevitably evokes Arthurian legend, Fery’s march through the draw gave Britain reason to believe again.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

"She came out with her two little arms flailing," family friend Rolando told AFP, asking to be identified by only his first name.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

An earlier version of this article incorrectly spelled his first name as Luis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

I also learned that Commander Gorringe’s first name is Henry.

From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman

For decades, Graham was on a first-name basis with world leaders and among the most plugged-in Beltway insiders regardless of who occupied the White House.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

He was also part of the thinking to famously drop the donuts from Dunkin' to move "to a first-name basis with America", given it was also one of country's the biggest coffee sellers.

From BBC ● Nov. 23, 2024

He was soon on a first-name basis with then-Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2024

Murray hated flying and he hated New York, yet every big-name mixologist in the East Village seemed to know him on a first-name basis.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 9, 2023

Why are we suddenly on a first-name basis?

From "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers

Jefferson is the first-named of the 12 authors on the paper, but it appears from the text that he had relatively little to do with it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2023

In the '70s, I am first-named on first meeting more often than not.

From Time Magazine Archive

Blessed with an adhesive memory for names and faces, he firstnamed countless delegates at Brotherhood conventions over the years, and in 1953 he first-named his way into the presidency of the Brotherhood.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thus far the first-named class has been acquainted with declining activity; now the manufacturers of finished goods are about to feel it; next Spring, if not before, the mercantile world should be reached by it.

From Time Magazine Archive

The first-named was a very stout man, muffled up in a thick great-coat and a fur-cap, with wings that came close down over his ears, and were tied under his chin.

From The Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol. II (of 3) A Series of Popular Stories by the Best Danish Authors by Various

The public saw him as a reserved, almost gentle man who quietly repelled intimacy; even first-naming Franklin Roosevelt invariably called him "General."

From Time Magazine Archive

Watch John Connally attempting to prove what an amiable fellow he is by jovially first-naming Mike Wallace all through the 60 Minutes program in which Wallace skillfully cuts him up.

From Time Magazine Archive

"I don't see how you do it," he said one day when two old friends were first-naming each other.

From Time Magazine Archive

Too quick first-naming is like stepping into that critical distance within which an animal will attack a trespasser.

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

• given name