forename
3 synonyms for forename, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A name that comes before a person's surname.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
given name
Christian name
prename
How to use forename
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
enter your forename
forename and surname
legal forename
The word is slightly more formal than first name and turns up mainly on official forms.
Etymology
The word is formed from the prefix fore-, meaning before, joined to name, describing a name placed before the surname.
Full origin of forename →Frequently asked questions
What does forename mean?
It means the name that comes before someone's surname, such as a first name.
Is forename the same as first name?
Not exactly, though the two are closely related and often used interchangeably in everyday speech. Forename is the broader, more formal term, with given name and Christian name as its true synonyms, while first name is a more specific everyday word for the same idea.
Where is the word forename commonly used?
It appears often on official forms and documents where surname and forename are listed separately.
