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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

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

"Where are the anti-drone systems here? Shouldn't they be somewhere on the border of Romania? Why aren't they? Where is the European Union? NATO?" asked 47-year-old Mihaela, who only gave her first name.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

She was the teenage sensation who quickly became the first name on the teamsheet, and in 2024 she overtook legendary fast bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt to become England's leading T20 wicket-taker.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

Stilwell, who refrains from sharing his first name, operates on Catalina Island, a dumping ground for officers who’ve either botched cases or run afoul of their superiors.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

I can’t believe I forgot, though I’m not sure I ever knew his first name.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

Related Words

• given name