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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

"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

He kept Stanley and took Paul as a first name.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

Mario, who asked to be identified by only his first name because of his pending immigration case, is among seven workers who U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2026

El Dorado is controlled by a gangster known only by his first name, Fabio, a Pablo Escobar-type character who has ingratiated himself with locals through acts of charity.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

He did not know Kainene had talked to him from Pakistan and did not remember her ever mentioning a friendship with an army officer whose first name and surname were the same.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• given name