given name

[giv-uhn neym]

noun

1. the name given to a person, as distinguished from an inherited family name; first name; Christian name.

   His given name is John.

given name

noun

1. another term for first name

Word History and Origins

Origin of given name¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

He, whose given name can translate as “guarding the east,” led the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command from 2019 to early 2022, overseeing forces stationed closest to Taiwan.

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His father, a former high jumper, chose his son’s given name of Sorato, which is written with characters that mean “sky” and “jump.”

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Full Moons throughout the year are given names, often dating back centuries, that reflect what is happening in nature.

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The bill’s given name was a reference to allegations of insider trading by former House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

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This then changed to symbolic names in order to simplify their given names or to refer to previous pontiffs.

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