name

[neym]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR name ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

mere designation, as distinguished from fact: He was a king in name only.

an appellation, title, or epithet, applied descriptively, in honor, abuse, etc.

a reputation of a particular kind given by common opinion: to protect one's good name.

a distinguished, famous, or great reputation; fame: to make a name for oneself.

a widely known or famous person; celebrity: She's a name in show business.

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.

a personal or family name as exercising influence or bringing distinction: With that name they can get a loan at any bank in town.

a body of persons grouped under one name, as a family or clan.

the verbal or other symbolic representation of a thing, event, property, relation, or concept.

(initial capital letter) a symbol or vehicle of divinity: to take the Name in vain; the power of the Name.

verb (used with object), named, nam·ing.

to give a name to: to name a baby.

to accuse: He was named as the thief.

to call by an epithet: They named her speedy.

to identify, specify, or mention by name: Three persons were named in the report.

to designate for some duty or office; nominate or appoint: I have named you for the position.

to specify; suggest: Name a price.

to give the name of: Can you name the capital of Ohio?

to speak of.

British. (in the House of Commons) to cite (a member) for contempt.

adjective

famous; widely known: a name author.

designed for or carrying a name.

giving its name or title to a collection or anthology containing it: the name piece.

Idioms

by name,

personally; individually: She was always careful to address every employee by name.
not personally; by repute: I know him by name only.

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.

in the name of,

with appeal to: In the name of mercy, stop that screaming!
by the authority of: Open, in the name of the law!
on behalf of: to purchase something in the name of another.
under the name or possession of: money deposited in the name of a son.
under the designation or excuse of: murder in the name of justice.

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.

to one's name, in one's possession: I haven't a penny to my name.

Origin of name

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

Related formsnam·er, nounre·name, verb (used with object), re·named, re·nam·ing.self-named, adjectiveun·der·name, nounun·der·named, adjectivewell-named, adjective

Synonyms for name

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR name ON THESAURUS.COM

1. 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. 4. repute, character, credit. 5. note, distinction, renown, eminence. 6. personality. 14. nickname, dub, denominate. 16. choose. 17. mention.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for naming

call, dub, nickname, identify, designate, appoint, elect, nominate, make, list, declare, recognize, mention, suggest, announce, cite, select, nomenclature, term, denominate

Examples from the Web for naming

Contemporary Examples of naming

The victim, whom The Daily Beast is not naming, asked what Williams wanted and the pastor allegedly “reached in and grabbed him.”
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault
M.L. Nestel
December 21, 2014
Naming a movement or giving it a single symbol is a natural way of recognizing this emerging power.
You Say You Want to Name a Revolution?
Jack DuVall
October 5, 2014
Obama says there has to be a political solution in Iraq, and naming a new prime minister was part of it—but only the beginning.
The New Iraq War Could Be Won or Lost This Month by Baghdad Politics
Bartle Bull
October 3, 2014
In July, Nike announced it was naming one of its new buildings after her in Shanghai.
Tennis Star Li Na Says Goodbye to the Court…and Puts the Sport’s Rise in Asia in Question
Nicholas McCarvel
September 19, 2014
After all, his next project is naming a street for Josef Brodsky, an even more outspoken enemy of the Soviet behemoth.
From Moscow to Queens, Down Sergei Dovlatov Way
Daniel Genis
September 15, 2014

Historical Examples of naming

Flower-of-the-Maguey, she was called, and she was beautiful beyond all naming.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
If it were so much,” said he, naming a smaller sum, “I could do it.
The First Violin
Jessie Fothergill
Naming him was a portentous proceeding and one not to be lightly gone about.
The Depot Master
Joseph C. Lincoln
"To the hereafter," says he, naming the station at the end of the route.
Cape Cod Stories
Joseph C. Lincoln
That definition requires that the Manxman had no hand in naming Man.
The Little Manx Nation - 1891
Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for naming

name

noun

a word or term by which a person or thing is commonly and distinctively knownRelated adjective: nominal

mere outward appearance or form as opposed to fact (esp in the phrase in name)he was a ruler in name only

a word, title, or phrase descriptive of character, usually abusive or derogatoryto call a person names

reputation, esp, if unspecified, good reputationhe's made quite a name for himself

a famous person or thinga name in the advertising world
mainly US and Canadian(as modifier)a name product

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

in the name of or under the name of using as a name

in the name of

for the sake of
by the sanction or authority of

know by name to have heard of without having met

name of the game

anything that is essential, significant, or important
expected or normal conditions, circumstances, etcin gambling, losing money's the name of the game

to one's name belonging to oneI haven't a penny to my name

verb (tr)

to give a name to; call by a nameshe named the child Edward

to refer to by name; citehe named three French poets

to determine, fix, or specifythey have named a date for the meeting

to appoint to or cite for a particular title, honour, or duty; nominatehe was named Journalist of the Year

to ban (an MP) from the House of Commons by mentioning him formally by name as being guilty of disorderly conduct

name and shame 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

name names to cite people, esp in order to blame or accuse them

name the day to choose the day for one's wedding

you name it whatever you need, mention, etc

Derived Formsnamable or nameable, adjective

Word Origin for name

Old English nama, related to Latin nomen, Greek noma, Old High German namo, German Namen

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

Word Origin and History for naming

name

Old English nama, noma "name, reputation," from Proto-Germanic *namon (cf. Old Saxon namo, Old Frisian nama, Old High German namo, German Name, Middle Dutch name, Dutch naam, Old Norse nafn, Gothic namo "name"), from PIE *nomn- (cf. Sanskrit nama; Avestan nama; Greek onoma, onyma; Latin nomen; Old Church Slavonic ime, genitive imene; Russian imya; Old Irish ainm; Old Welsh anu "name").

Meaning "famous person" is from 1610s. Meaning "one's reputation" is from c.1300. As a modifier meaning "well-known," first attested 1938. Name brand is from 1944; name-calling attested from 1846; name-dropper first recorded 1947. name-tag is from 1903; name-child attested from 1845. The name of the game "the essential thing or quality" is from 1966; to have one's name in lights "be a famous performer" is from 1929.

He who once a good name gets,
May piss a bed, and say he sweats.

["Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit and Pickpocket Eloquence," London, 1811]

name

Old English namian "to name, call; nominate, appoint," from source of name (n.). Related: Named; naming.

Idioms and Phrases with naming

name

In addition to the idioms beginning with name

name after
name is mud, one's
name names
name of the game, the
name the day

also see:

call names
clear one's name
drop names
give a bad name
go by (the name of)
handle to one's name
in name only
in the name of
make a name for oneself
on a first-name basis
take someone's name in vain
to one's name
worthy of the name
you name it