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

Example Sentences

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

Panera Bread is piloting Amazon’s palm-scanning technology that will identify customers, suggest menu items, accelerate payments and help workers greet people by name. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2023

Just ask the showrunners of Daisy Jones & The Six Scott Neustadter and Will Graham, who address that and more in their Amazon series adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling novel of the same name. —Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2023

Based on the Taylor Jenkins Reid novel of the same name, the miniseries takes the format of a musical documentary, with the former band members reflecting on their infamous breakup decades after the fact. —Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 24 Mar. 2023

Inspired by the 2011 romance drama of the same name, the video centers the BTS member in contrasting environments – dancing at a crowded party or sitting alone at his dining table – to communicate the uncertainty of ambiguous relationships. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2023

Daisy Jones & The Six has made its way from book pages to the small screen, thanks to the Prime Video series based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid. —Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 24 Mar. 2023

At the Texas retreat, Christie offered a fiery denunciation of Trump and urged others in the party to call him out by name. —Ashley Parker And Josh Dawsey, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Mar. 2023

The series is based on a play of the same name from songwriting duo Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, which opened at La Jolla Playhouse in 2015. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 23 Mar. 2023

And while the guys reflected on the album itself — which arrived a year after their Germany debut of the same name — in the March 27 issue of PEOPLE, not all of their memories made the cut in print. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2023

Verb

There are plenty of words that can be negatives when used in a theater review: Earnest and simplistic, to name but two. —Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2023

The board would go on to name him executive chairman. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2023

Last year, Wilcox did not publicly name Plummer the No. 1 QB until just before preseason camp. —Steve Kroner, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2023

The trainers, which were originally launched in 1950 and have since become one of Adidas’s all-time bestsellers, are trending at the moment, endorsed by Hailey Bieber, Emily Ratajkowski, Rihanna, Jisoo and Sophie Turner (to name a few). —Alice Cary, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2023

Building the walls of a garden shed or garden building from cob, adobe, or straw bales, to name a few eco-friendly and sustainable examples, can give you a building that is unique and truly functional and fit for purpose. —Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 23 Mar. 2023

This name comes from the Inheritance Cycle books by Christopher Paolini, in which the main character is a dragon-owning boy named Eragon. —Jamie Ballard, Woman's Day, 23 Mar. 2023

Spring brings a yearly abundance of gorgeous wildflowers (bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, and firewheels, to name a few) that paint the landscape in vibrant hues. —Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2023

The documentary, which is named after Brooke's first major on-screen debut in the 1978 film of the same name, has already received massive acclaim and was an official selection for the Sundance Film Festival in 2023. —Olivia Evans, Women's Health, 22 Mar. 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

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

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