name
Name (noun) means a word or phrase used to identify a specific person, place, or thing. Example: “Her name is written on the certificate.”
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.
Word forms
named past tense, names plural, names plural, names singular
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
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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.
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