Definition of forenamenext
as in nickname
a name that is placed before one's family name a long string of forenames was given to the latest addition to the royal family

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of forename Alan, whose forename appeared in initial reports with its Turkish spelling, Aylan, died with his brother, Galip, 5; their mother, Rihan; and two other refugees when a dinghy carrying 14 migrants toward the Greek island of Kos capsized. New York Times, 13 Mar. 2020 Removing professional athletes and a couple of Hollywood personalities who once called Cleveland home, the contemporary list of recognizable forenames is essentially narrowed to a single person: Tamir. Phillip Morris, cleveland.com, 31 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forename
Noun
  • Goalkeeper Josimar Dias — best known by his nickname, Vozinha — and his Cape Verde teammates were monumental underdogs against the Spaniards.
    Bailey Johnson, Washington Post, 15 June 2026
  • Cox revealed her adorable nickname for Coco in an Instagram post shared on Saturday.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • Two days later, Natalie, a West Palm Beach woman who wanted to be identified only by her first name, called to request that paramedics be sent to the detention center for her fiance, Djo Paul, a 29-year-old immigrant from Haiti.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
  • Every year Close is among the first names that come up from pundits trying to predict overdue stars who could receive this award.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 10 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Forename.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forename. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

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