bynames

plural of byname
as in nicknames
a descriptive or familiar name given instead of or in addition to the one belonging to an individual Thomas Edward Lawrence is better known to most people by his byname, Lawrence of Arabia

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bynames
Noun
  • And per the outlet, Spain’s players use nicknames (like Pedro González López, who goes by Pedri) or their first and surname (Spanish naming tradition includes both parents’ surnames).
    Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
  • Southern nicknames often have no rhyme or reason but are deeply endearing and permanent.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • Last year, those bases reverted to their original names, but with different namesakes who share Confederate surnames.
    Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
  • Like most Spanish people, Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, has two surnames — one inherited from his father, another from his mother.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • Social media has teemed with unsavory videos of Argentinean misbehavior in the stadiums, including fans hurling racial epithets at a Black American influencer and showering Egyptians with beer.
    Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 16 July 2026
  • Mendelsohn also retains Homer’s repetitious epithets for characters that some modern translations—written for the silent reader of the 21st century—have slimmed down.
    Chris Moody, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bynames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bynames. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster