forename

noun

fore·​name ˈfȯr-ˌnām How to pronounce forename (audio)
: a name that precedes one's surname

Examples of forename in a Sentence

a long string of forenames was given to the latest addition to the royal family
Recent Examples on the Web 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forename.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forename was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near forename

Cite this Entry

“Forename.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forename. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

forename

noun
fore·​name -ˌnām How to pronounce forename (audio)
: a first name

More from Merriam-Webster on forename

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