Christian name
Americannoun
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Also called baptismal name. the name given one at baptism, as distinguished from the family name.
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a person's first or given name.
noun
Usage
This word was often loosely used to mean any person's first name as distinct from his or her surname. Nowadays, especially in official documents, alternatives which do not refer to a particular faith, and are therefore more inclusive, are often used: first name , forename and given name
Etymology
Origin of Christian name
First recorded in 1540–50
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.
Jara, an activist who only gave her Christian name, said police confiscated her placard.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
For Indigenous people, she became Malintzin, a phonetic rendition of her Christian name.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2026
Gulpilil’s Christian name was foisted upon him at school.
From Fox News ● Nov. 29, 2021
She calls him by the Christian name he was given at birth, William.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 7, 2018
I was surprised that this woman, whose Christian name is Catherine, saw me in this light.
From "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker
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.
