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forename

American  
[fawr-neym, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌneɪm, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

  1. a name that precedes the family name or surname; first name.

forename British  
/ ˈfɔːˌneɪm /

noun

  1. a first or Christian name

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of forename

First recorded in 1525–35; fore- + name

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The promoters preferred the heavyweight's middle name, Moses, to his given forename of Enriko.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2024

Bulgaria have three players in their squad called Iliev, which I believe derives from the forename Iliya.

From The Guardian • Nov. 15, 2021

In various court documents, Quok’s forename appears as Cuarco, Quack, Quork, Quaco, Quarko, but most commonly as Quok, which is the spelling I have adopted.

From Slate • Jun. 16, 2015

I take my forename initials - I.S - and try to think of a memorable surname high up the alphabet that has not yet been taken.

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2013

I have a strange name, too, that is, forename.

From The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 12 by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.