name

1 of 3

noun

ˈnām 

1

a

: a word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or thing

The boy's name is Brad.

b

: a word or symbol used in logic to designate an entity

2

: a descriptive often disparaging epithet

called him names

3

a

: reputation

gave the town a bad name

b

: an illustrious record : fame

made a name for himself in golf

c

: a person or thing with a reputation

one of the most detested names in history

4

: family, clan

was a disgrace to his name

5

: appearance as opposed to reality

a friend in name only

6

: one referred to by a name

praise his holy name

name

2 of 3

verb

named; naming

transitive verb

1

: to give a name to : call

2

a

: to mention or identify by name

refused to name a suspect

b

: to accuse by name

3

: to nominate for office : appoint

4

: to decide on : choose

name the day of the wedding

5

: to mention explicitly : specify

unwilling to name a price

namer noun

name

3 of 3

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or bearing a name

name tags

2

: appearing in the name of a literary or theatrical production

3

a

: having an established reputation

b

: featuring celebrities

Phrases

in the name of

1

: by authority of

open in the name of the law

2

: for the reason of : using the excuse of

called for reforms in the name of progress

Synonyms

Noun

• appellation
• appellative
• cognomen
• compellation
• denomination
• denotation
• designation
• handle
• moniker
• monicker
• nomenclature
• title

Verb

• baptize
• call
• christen
• clepe [archaic]
• denominate
• designate
• dub
• entitle
• label
• nominate
• style
• term
• title

Adjective

• esteemed
• estimable
• prestigious
• recognized
• reputable
• reputed
• respectable
• respected

Examples of name in a Sentence

Noun

Please write your name on this line.

State your name and occupation.

I refused to give them my name.

Mark Twain's real name was Samuel Clemens.

She registered at the hotel under a false name.

My full name is Susan Elaine Smith.

We had to memorize the names of all the countries in Africa.

“What's your dog's name?” “His name is Sandy.”

This is his song “Loving You” from the album of the same name.

The ship's name was “Titanic.”

Verb

“What are you going to name your new dog?” “I think I'll name him Sandy.”

The aptly named HMS “Victorious” helped the British Royal Navy win an important victory.

A man named James Smith is on the phone.

We named our daughter “Mary” in honor of her grandmother.

Can you name the person who attacked you?

All of the authors named above were influenced by his work.

She was named to replace him as the company's vice president.

Adjective

the university's physics department boasts a number of name physicists

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Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The lawsuit also names as a defendant Eric Hananoki, a senior investigative reporter at Media Matters and the author of the article. —David Ingram, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2023

Exec producer Warren Littlefield credits casting director Rachel Tenner for continuing to find standout names for the series. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 20 Nov. 2023

Perhaps the brightest name in smart lighting, and certainly one of the longest serving, Philips Hue offers a wide range of gadgetry to illuminate your home and bring some color to your life. —Simon Hill, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2023

Roger Moore famously starred in the 1960s British TV series of the same name. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2023

Oates continued using the pseudonym (without hiding her real name) to write seven more books, all of them involving twins. —Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023

Altman, the board and investors including Microsoft and venture capital firms discussed bringing him back and replacing the board with new directors, floating names like Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky and former Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, according to the Wall Street Journal. —Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023

The clinic confirmed that Mr. Wade was a patient and provided the coroner’s office with his mother’s name and a phone number, according to notes attached to his death certificate. —Rick Rojas, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023

This cultural clash is at the center of The Buccaneers, an eight-episode series based on Edith Wharton’s (famously unfinished) novel of the same name. —Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 8 Nov. 2023

Verb

The title track, named after a 1941 book by poet Don Blanding actually received a more flattering re-recording for the 2006 film Hoot. —Al Shipley, SPIN, 21 Nov. 2023

The lawsuit cites several old interviews with Tupac, as well as handwritten credits by the late rapper, naming Thomas as the creator of the song’s original beat. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023

Other Hulu original series include A Murder at the End of the World, Welcome To Chippendales, Fleishman Is in Trouble, The Kardashians and The D’Amelio Show to name just a few. —Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023

After Nicole's murder in May, local police named her son as a suspect in Coones' disappearance. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 21 Nov. 2023

This was known as the Oslo peace process, named for the city where the secret talks took place. —Emily Bazelon, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023

Former Tesla president Jon McNeill, who’s been a board member at GM for several years, was named vice chairman of the Cruise board alongside Barra. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 20 Nov. 2023

These exits are not considered layoffs by the company, but are the result of new global chairman Mark Marshall’s changes in the division, including Roku’s Alison Levin being named president of ad sales Wednesday. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 9 Nov. 2023

In the lawsuit, which names Portnow and the Recording Academy, a woman identified as Jane Doe alleges that the former Recording Academy chief executive drugged and raped her in a hotel room in 2018 after meeting for an interview. —Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023

Adjective

As interesting as the pro-name change argument may be, Zaslav may ultimately decide it’s not worth the investment in time and resources to make what is at the core a cosmetic change. —Vulture, 23 June 2022

Although pancake mix and syrup are not sold out in most stores, most popular or name brand items are harder to come by. —Dallas News, 26 Apr. 2020

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Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English nama; akin to Old High German namo name, Latin nomen, Greek onoma, onyma

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing name

• a name to conjure with
• bad name
• answer to a name
• by the name of
• drag someone's name through the mud
• good name
• in all/everything but name
• in name
• in name only
• know (someone) by name
• lend one's name
• maiden name
• middle name
• name-calling
• make one's name
• name day
• name-dropping
• name of the game
• name names
• on first-name terms
• name one's price
• place-name
• put someone's name down
• take/get one's name from
• Christian name
• baptismal name
• clear someone's name
• bear someone's name
• big name
• domain name
• in heaven's name
• brand name
• assumed name
• in someone's/something's name
• household name
• dead name
• first name
• code name
• give/lend one's name to
• given name
• clear one's name
• family name
• no-name
• in God's name
• pet name
• name brand
• name tag
• under someone's/something's name
• married name
• stage name
• on a first-name basis
• what's-her-name
• the name stuck
• pen name
• name check
• trivial name
• to one's name
• someone's name is mud
• under the name (of) (someone/something)
• put a name to (someone or something)
• last name
• what's-his-name
• make a name for (oneself)
• in the name of
• the name of the game
• with someone's name on it
• user name
• trade name
• you name it
• rejoice in the name/title of

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• a name to conjure with
• bad name
• answer to a name
• by the name of
• drag someone's name through the mud
• good name
• in all/everything but name
• in name
• in name only
• know (someone) by name
• lend one's name
• maiden name
• middle name
• name-calling
• make one's name
• name day
• name-dropping
• name of the game
• name names
• on first-name terms
• name one's price
• place-name
• put someone's name down
• take/get one's name from
• Christian name
• baptismal name
• clear someone's name
• bear someone's name
• big name
• domain name
• in heaven's name
• brand name
• assumed name
• in someone's/something's name
• household name
• dead name
• first name
• code name
• give/lend one's name to
• given name
• clear one's name
• family name
• no-name
• in God's name
• pet name
• name brand
• name tag
• under someone's/something's name
• married name
• stage name
• on a first-name basis
• what's-her-name
• the name stuck
• pen name
• name check
• trivial name
• to one's name
• someone's name is mud
• under the name (of) (someone/something)
• put a name to (someone or something)
• last name
• what's-his-name
• make a name for (oneself)
• in the name of
• the name of the game
• with someone's name on it
• user name
• trade name
• you name it
• rejoice in the name/title of

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Kids Definition

name

1 of 3 noun

ˈnām 

1

: a word or combination of words by which a person or thing is regularly known

2

: a descriptive often insulting word or phrase

called him names

3

: reputation sense 2

made a name for herself

4

: appearance as opposed to fact

a friend in name only

name

2 of 3 verb

named; naming

1

: to give a name to : call

2

a

: to mention or identify by name

b

: to accuse by name

name the culprit

3

: to nominate for office : appoint

named the diplomat Secretary of State

4

: to decide upon : choose

name the date for a wedding

5

: to mention specifically

name a price

namer noun

name

3 of 3 adjective

1

: bearing a name

name tag

2

: having an established reputation

name performers

name brands