as in first name
a name that is placed before one's family name
everyone calls me Jack, but my given name is John
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of given name
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
In a quirk of German politics, the governing coalitions are often given names.
—Sebastian Shukla, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Cows on the farm are even given names of champion Packers players from the 1960s, such as Max McGee, Bart Starr and Willie Davis.
—Mark Meszoros, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2025
Sharing a link to news coverage of the scam over the weekend, Kid Rock, whose given name is Robert James Ritchie, said that his likeness has been misused for similarly sinister means in the past.
—Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for given name
Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
In a quirk of German politics, the governing coalitions are often given names.
—Sebastian Shukla, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Cows on the farm are even given names of champion Packers players from the 1960s, such as Max McGee, Bart Starr and Willie Davis.
—Mark Meszoros, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2025
Sharing a link to news coverage of the scam over the weekend, Kid Rock, whose given name is Robert James Ritchie, said that his likeness has been misused for similarly sinister means in the past.
—Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for given name
Recent Examples of Synonyms for given name
Noun
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The couple have thought about Joseph—Cooper's first name in the original script.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 July 2025
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Beth Mead, Lauren James, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Jess Carter and Lucy Bronze are all still among the first names on Wiegman’s team sheet.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
27 July 2025
Noun
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And when deadline day was complete, Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, referenced the nickname of Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh to describe the Twins’ maneuvers to slash payroll.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
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John was also known as John Luke, a nickname his older cousin gave him.—
Damenica Ellis,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Given name.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/given%20name. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
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