noun
forename
FOR-naym
Forename (noun) means a name that comes before a person's surname. Example: “Please enter your forename and surname on the form.”
noun
1
A name that comes before a person's surname.
"Please enter your forename and surname on the form."
"Her forename is Alice, but everyone calls her by her middle name."
"The passport application asks for your forename exactly as it appears on your birth certificate."
How to use forename
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA forename is simply the name that comes before your surname, like a first name.
When to use it
The word is slightly more formal than first name and turns up mainly on official forms.
Memory tip
Remember fore- means before, so a forename is literally the name placed before the surname.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
enter your forename
forename and surname
legal forename
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Fill the gap
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Please enter your _____ and surname on the form.
Etymology
The word is formed from the prefix fore-, meaning before, joined to name, describing a name placed before the surname.
Synonyms
View more →
given name
Christian name
prename
Rhymes for forename
See all rhymes for 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.
What is the meaning of forename?
"forename" (noun) means a name that comes before a person's surname.
