as in first name
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Recent Examples of baptismal name
Born with his baptismal name of Robert Francis Prevost, his papal name is more of a traditional choice — and one with a storied history.
—
Rachel Raposas, People.com, 9 May 2025
Of the 266 popes in history, 129 have chosen names different from their baptismal names.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
And that then became the custom, with only a handful of popes keeping their baptismal names since, including Marcellus II and Adrian VI, who both served as head of the church in the 16th century.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
While popes have the option of keeping their baptismal name, every pope for the last 470 years has chosen to change his name, usually to honor a predecessor and to signal their intention to emulate his example.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
Until last year, John Henry Newman, as he is known by his baptismal name, was studying to become a priest at a Roman Catholic seminary in Yangon.
—New York Times, 30 Mar. 2022
She was given the name Sister Seraphia and later returned to her baptismal name, Carol Estelle.
—Jacques Kelly, baltimoresun.com, 22 May 2021
These homages to Athelstan continued even through the series finale, in which the monk’s son, Alfred (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), gave the Viking’s son, Hvitserk (Marco Ilsø), the baptismal name of Athelstan in one of the show’s stirring final scenes.
—Sadie Gennis, Vulture, 11 Jan. 2021
He was later baptized and took the same baptismal name as Hakamada’s, Paulo, and added Miki, the name of a Japanese martyr.
—Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2019
Rachel Raposas, People.com, 9 May 2025
Of the 266 popes in history, 129 have chosen names different from their baptismal names.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
And that then became the custom, with only a handful of popes keeping their baptismal names since, including Marcellus II and Adrian VI, who both served as head of the church in the 16th century.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
While popes have the option of keeping their baptismal name, every pope for the last 470 years has chosen to change his name, usually to honor a predecessor and to signal their intention to emulate his example.
—Christopher Watson, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
Until last year, John Henry Newman, as he is known by his baptismal name, was studying to become a priest at a Roman Catholic seminary in Yangon.
—New York Times, 30 Mar. 2022
She was given the name Sister Seraphia and later returned to her baptismal name, Carol Estelle.
—Jacques Kelly, baltimoresun.com, 22 May 2021
These homages to Athelstan continued even through the series finale, in which the monk’s son, Alfred (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), gave the Viking’s son, Hvitserk (Marco Ilsø), the baptismal name of Athelstan in one of the show’s stirring final scenes.
—Sadie Gennis, Vulture, 11 Jan. 2021
He was later baptized and took the same baptismal name as Hakamada’s, Paulo, and added Miki, the name of a Japanese martyr.
—Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baptismal name
Noun
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Stil — no one calls him by his first name — was transferred to the island after disagreements with his superior officers.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
14 May 2025
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Andrea is the first name on the 2025 hurricane list if a tropical system does form.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
Noun
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This season, the turtles in long-term care were given names based on Greek mythology.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA TODAY,
20 Mar. 2025
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The student still hadn’t told their parents about these identity changes, so school officials used the student’s given name and she/her pronouns when talking with their parents.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Blue has definitely spent the past few years living up to the Carter family name, and even her aunt Solange couldn’t resist showering her with love on social media.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
29 Apr. 2025
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His death sparked an international outpouring from fans and cemented the family name in Hollywood and beyond.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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These policies can also affect married women who choose to go by their maiden name at work, and people who go by middle names, initials or shorten their first names.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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According to the Daily Mail, which first reported the news, Chelsea moved to change her last name back to her birth mother's maiden name, Neuens, after Rosie, who adopted Chelsea as a baby, removed her from her will earlier in January.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The photo revealed the sweet nod to her dad, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, Scott embedded in her little boy's middle name.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
11 May 2025
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On Wednesday, the 25-year-old, who goes by her first and middle name, hit the beach, showing off a few snaps to her 1.2 million Instagram followers.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baptismal name.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baptismal%20name. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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