name
Americannoun
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names
plural
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a word or a combination of words by which a person, place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known.
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mere designation, as distinguished from fact.
He was a king in name only.
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an appellation, title, or epithet, applied descriptively, in honor, abuse, etc.
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a reputation of a particular kind given by common opinion.
to protect one's good name.
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a distinguished, famous, or great reputation; fame.
to make a name for oneself.
- Synonyms:
- eminence, renown, distinction, note
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a widely known or famous person; celebrity.
She's a name in show business.
- Synonyms:
- personality
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an unpleasant or derogatory appellation or expression.
Don't call your brother names! Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.
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a personal or family name as exercising influence or bringing distinction.
With that name they can get a loan at any bank in town.
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a body of persons grouped under one name, as a family or clan.
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the verbal or other symbolic representation of a thing, event, property, relation, or concept.
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(initial capital letter) a symbol or vehicle of divinity.
to take the Name in vain; the power of the Name.
verb (used with object)
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names,
present (3rd person singular)
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named,
past participle, past
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naming
present participle
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to give a name to.
to name a baby.
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to accuse.
He was named as the thief.
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to call by an epithet.
They named her speedy.
- Synonyms:
- denominate, dub, nickname
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to identify, specify, or mention by name.
Three persons were named in the report.
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to designate for some duty or office; nominate or appoint.
I have named you for the position.
- Synonyms:
- choose
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Name a price.
- Synonyms:
- mention
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to give the name of.
Can you name the capital of Ohio?
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to speak of.
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British. (in the House of Commons) to cite (a member) for contempt.
adjective
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famous; widely known.
a name author.
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designed for or carrying a name.
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giving its name or title to a collection or anthology containing it.
the name piece.
idioms
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name names, to specify people by name, especially those who have been accomplices in a misdeed.
The witness in the bribery investigation threatened to name names.
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call names, to scold or speak abusively of or to a person.
Better not to call names unless one is larger and considerably stronger than one's adversary.
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by name,
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personally; individually.
She was always careful to address every employee by name.
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not personally; by repute.
I know him by name only.
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to one's name, in one's possession.
I haven't a penny to my name.
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in the name of,
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with appeal to.
In the name of mercy, stop that screaming!
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by the authority of.
Open, in the name of the law!
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on behalf of.
to purchase something in the name of another.
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under the name or possession of.
money deposited in the name of a son.
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under the designation or excuse of.
murder in the name of justice.
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noun
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a word or term by which a person or thing is commonly and distinctively known
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mere outward appearance or form as opposed to fact (esp in the phrase in name )
he was a ruler in name only
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a word, title, or phrase descriptive of character, usually abusive or derogatory
to call a person names
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reputation, esp, if unspecified, good reputation
he's made quite a name for himself
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a famous person or thing
a name in the advertising world
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( as modifier )
a name product
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a member of Lloyd's who provides part of the capital of a syndicate and shares in its profits or losses but does not arrange its business
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using as a name
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for the sake of
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by the sanction or authority of
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to have heard of without having met
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anything that is essential, significant, or important
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expected or normal conditions, circumstances, etc
in gambling, losing money's the name of the game
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belonging to one
I haven't a penny to my name
verb
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to give a name to; call by a name
she named the child Edward
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to refer to by name; cite
he named three French poets
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to determine, fix, or specify
they have named a date for the meeting
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to appoint to or cite for a particular title, honour, or duty; nominate
he was named Journalist of the Year
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to ban (an MP) from the House of Commons by mentioning him formally by name as being guilty of disorderly conduct
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to reveal the identity of a person or organization guilty of illegal or unacceptable behaviour in order to embarrass them into not repeating the offence
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to cite people, esp in order to blame or accuse them
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to choose the day for one's wedding
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whatever you need, mention, etc
Synonym Usage
Name, title both refer to the label by which a person is known. Name is the simpler and more general word for appellation: The name is John. A title is an official or honorary term bestowed on a person or the specific designation of a book, article, etc.: He now has the title of Doctor. Treasure Island is the title of a book.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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namernoun
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undernamenoun
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renameverb (used with object)
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namableadjective
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self-namedadjective
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undernamedadjective
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well-namedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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namesimple
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namessimple
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have namedperfect
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has namedperfect
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am namingprogressive
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are namingprogressive
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is namingprogressive
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have been namingperfect progressive
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has been namingperfect progressive
Past
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namedsimple
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had namedperfect
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was namingprogressive
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were namingprogressive
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had been namingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of name
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English nama; cognate with German Name, Gothic namô; akin to Old Norse nafn, Latin nōmen, Greek ónoma, Old Irish ainm, Polish imię, Czech jméno
Explanation
Your name is what you are called: Bill or Jennifer or whatever. Parents name their children, and children name their pets. Most of us have our first given name and our family name or surname. But name is also used more broadly: people who have made a name for themselves are well-known. Someone who calls us names makes fun of us. If you do something wrong that others find out about, you could give yourself a bad name — hurt your reputation. Someone can be named in a lawsuit or named to a committee. Naming is about identity — who you are.
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.
See Examples For:
General Assembly—to change the name of A.I. to “super intelligence.“
From Slate ● Sep. 25, 2026
I know I can name about five New York City restaurants that are essential to me personally.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
We will tell him that his last name, Blake, was gifted to our family by his great-great-grandfather, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
As the name reflected, the museum contained duelling missions from the start, showcasing American technological advances and telling a more general historical story.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026
“His name is Maverick. Remember him? I’m pretty sure it was you that had a hand in creating the preoccupation you claim I’m stuck in.”
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Despite holding stocks of some very familiar names, listed above, Wilhelm said that all companies in the portfolio he manages with Gogia are in industries “with moderate or high barriers to entry.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
The names were familiar; the items themselves were both recognizable and somehow wrong.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
The expedition team chose the names during a vote held at camp.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 24, 2026
That report was widely credited with inspiring a selloff that wiped away hundreds of billions of market value from software stocks and other names.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
He takes the files from me and reads the names out loud: “Silas DuBois, Mickey Shea.”
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Givenchy named former Burberry and McQueen executive Alistair McCallum its new chief marketing officer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Two of the men named have had their charges dropped.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
Assistant coach Mitch Johnson was named interim coach.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
"Cochlostoma dobrido," was named after the Dobri Do Plateau, located among the peaks of Durmitor National Park.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 24, 2026
In 1848, a young Frenchman named Louis Pasteur is still studying chemistry in Paris.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
He gave agents a 50-page document naming dozens of lobbyists, congressional staffers and members of Congress who he said helped him trade cash for contracts.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
But naming the people, like announcing the dialogue itself, is the easy part.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
After the same federal judge rejected the board’s latest naming workaround on Tuesday, the administration abruptly shuttered the building.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Before naming his full squad on Friday, Tuchel is required to submit a preliminary squad of players from which he will name his final party.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Because of this, many discussions of music theory don't bother naming octaves.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
