Home UK English first name

Meaning of first name in English:

first name

Pronunciation /ˌfəːs(t) ˈneɪm/

See synonyms for first name

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noun

  • A personal name given to someone at birth or baptism and used before a family name.

    ‘He might have seized power in a military coup and immediately cancelled elections, but hey, he's a first-name kind of guy.’
    • ‘In 1959 he converted to Roman Catholicism and adopted the first name Léonard in recognition of his admiration for Leonardo da Vinci.’
    • ‘His first name was originally William, but he adopted ‘Walt’ in about 1900.’
    • ‘She refers to her friend by her first name only.’
    • ‘My first name is Roland.’
    forename, Christian name, given name, baptismal name
    View synonyms

Phrases

    on first-name terms

    • Having a friendly and informal relationship.

      ‘staff and pupils were on first-name terms’
      • ‘We are on first-name terms with many of the staff, who have been great and there are some really big personalities among them.’
      • ‘I find it so much more pleasant to work with people on first-name terms.’
      • ‘He is on first-name terms with every national newspaper editor, goes on holiday with the present editor of The Sun, and counts television executives and celebrities among his impeccable social contacts.’
      • ‘‘I know all of my customers on first-name terms,’ says Jacobs.’
      • ‘One distinguished editor, who was on first-name terms with a minister, found an unusual way out of this predicament.’
      • ‘Nowadays he is on first-name terms with at least half of his audience.’
      • ‘I marvelled as he name-checked the celebrities with whom he was on first-name terms.’
      • ‘Back then it was just a few hundred ladies and we were practically on first-name terms.’
      • ‘Nothing has a fixed price - their customers make whatever donation they can afford - and the women seem to be on first-name terms with everybody.’
      • ‘Tracey is on first-name terms with every Republican senator.’