as in first name
a name that is placed before one's family name
everyone calls me Jack, but my given name is John
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of given name
Before Wales’ women’s teams were given names on the back of their shirts in 2019, Fishlock’s was the one people could reel off, a byword for Welsh women’s football.
—
Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Recent options at An’s Dry Cleaning, which are given names related to fabric, included Canvas (olive oil and rosemary), Broken Heart Brocade (chocolate, brownie and raspberry jam) and Melton (mango and peach).
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025
Not even a year into Lai’s term, China has broken precedent by staging three large-scale exercises, which were given names to raise their profile and distinguish them from smaller drills.
—Bonny Lin, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2025
This season, the turtles in long-term care were given names based on Greek mythology.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for given name
Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Recent options at An’s Dry Cleaning, which are given names related to fabric, included Canvas (olive oil and rosemary), Broken Heart Brocade (chocolate, brownie and raspberry jam) and Melton (mango and peach).
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025
Not even a year into Lai’s term, China has broken precedent by staging three large-scale exercises, which were given names to raise their profile and distinguish them from smaller drills.
—Bonny Lin, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2025
This season, the turtles in long-term care were given names based on Greek mythology.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for given name
Recent Examples of Synonyms for given name
Noun
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Danish pharma firm Novo Nordisk, which also makes the top 100, is similarly known for a culture where employees call the CEO by their first name, and don’t feel pressure to stay at work late.—
Adam Gale,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
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The body art features Wilde's son Otis Alexander's first name on her right arm and daughter Daisy Josephine's on her left, both in a delicate font.—
Grace Gavilanes,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Beatrice is stepmother to Edo's 9-year-old son Christopher Woolf (who goes by the nickname Wolfie), while the couple also shares daughters Sienna, 3, and Athena, 6 months.—
Greta Bjornson,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
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It’s named after her late father, Orlando Cortes, whose Cuban nickname was Lilico.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Given name.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/given%20name. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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