name
naym
Name (noun) means a word or phrase used to identify a specific person, place, or thing. Example: “Her name is written on the certificate.”
noun
1
A word or phrase used to identify a specific person, place, or thing.
"Her name is written on the certificate."
"What name did they give the new puppy?"
"Please write your full name and address at the top of the form."
2
A person's reputation.
"He has built a good name for himself in the industry."
"Cheating in the exam could ruin your good name at the school."
"The little restaurant made its name by serving fresh food at fair prices."
verb
1
To give something or someone a name.
"They named the baby after her grandmother."
"We named our cat Biscuit because of her golden fur."
"The new ship was named by a local schoolgirl at the ceremony."
2
To identify or specify something explicitly.
"Can you name three benefits of the new system?"
"The report named the company responsible for the leak."
"Nobody would name the person who had left the gate open."
How to use name
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe word that identifies a person, place, or thing — or, as a verb, the act of giving or stating that word.
Common pairings
first name
in the name of
name and shame
household name
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Word forms
- Plural
- names
- Third person singular
- names
- Past tense
- named
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ is written on the certificate.
Etymology
From Old English nama, going back through Proto-Germanic to a very old Indo-European root for "name" — the same root that gives Latin nomen and, ultimately, English "noun."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for name
See all rhymes for name →Frequently asked questions
What does “name” mean?
The word “name” means a word or phrase used to identify a specific person, place, or thing. In plain terms, the word that identifies a person, place, or thing — or, as a verb, the act of giving or stating that word.
How do you pronounce “name”?
“Name” is pronounced naym (/neɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “name” in a sentence?
Here is “name” used in a sentence: “Her name is written on the certificate.”
What is another word for “name”?
Words with a similar meaning to “name” include nomenclature, proper name, designate and dub.
What part of speech is “name”?
Depending on how it is used, “name” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “name” come from?
The word “name” comes from Latin. From Old English nama, going back through Proto-Germanic to a very old Indo-European root for "name" — the same root that gives Latin nomen and, ultimately, English "noun.".
Is “name” a common word?
“Name” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “name” have?
“Name” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a word or phrase used to identify a specific person, place, or thing.
What is the difference between a first name and a surname?
A first name, or given name, is the personal name chosen for you, such as Maria or David. A surname, or family name, is shared with your relatives and usually comes last in English-speaking countries. Together they identify you as an individual within your wider family.
What are the types of names?
People have given names, middle names, surnames, and often nicknames. Beyond people, there are place names, brand names, and the proper names of organisations or products. Grammatically, most names are proper nouns, written with a capital letter to mark them as identifying one specific person, place, or thing.
What is the difference between a name and a title?
A name identifies who or what something is, such as 'Elizabeth'. A title marks a role, rank, or courtesy, such as 'Doctor', 'Captain', or 'Ms', and usually sits before the name. You can share a title with many people, but a name is meant to pick out a specific one.
What is an example of a name?
'Sarah', 'London', 'Amazon', and 'the Eiffel Tower' are all names — each identifies one particular person, place, company, or thing. Whenever a word or phrase points to a specific individual example rather than a general category, it is functioning as a name.
Example sentences
Sentences with a source are quoted from published work. Any opinions in them are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
His name was on everyone's lips after the interview aired.
She wrote her name on the form in careful capital letters.
They named the boat after their grandmother.
The firm built its name on thirty years of never missing a deadline.
The report names three separate contractors as responsible for the delay.
Where a name comes from is usually the most interesting thing about it, and usually the worst explained.
From
Baby Names by Origin
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