as in nickname
a name that is placed before one's family name
a long string of forenames was given to the latest addition to the royal family
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Recent Examples of forename
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forename
Noun
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Others go by the nickname Chris, including actors Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, and Chris Evans, as well as comedian Chris Rock.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
29 Oct. 2025
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When Jack kidnaps him in Christmas Town and takes him to Halloween Town, he is given a nickname that doesn't fit his true nature.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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However, a few days later, OP received another birthday invitation for a kid with the same first name.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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In response, Bramani developed a treaded rubber sole that could offer climbers greater traction and named it using the first two letters of his first name and the first four letters of his surname—Vibram.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forename.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forename. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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