name
noun /neɪm/
/neɪm/
Idioms - a word or words that a particular person, animal, place or thing is known by
- What's your name?
- What is/was the name, please? (= a polite way of asking somebody’s name)
- Please write your full name and address below.
- Leave your name and number (= phone number) and we'll call you later.
- Are you changing your name when you get married?
- She uses her married name at work.
- The singer's real name is Bob Rich.
- His full name was William Augustus Grove.
- His father was a painter of the same name.
- Do you know the name of this flower?
- name for something Rubella is just another name for German measles.
- under a… name The company reopened under a new name.
More About names and titlesnames and titlesNamessee also assumed name, brand name, code name, domain name, family name, filename, first name, forename, given name, household name, last name, maiden name, middle name, nickname, pen name, pet name, place name, screen name, surname, stage name, trade name, username- Your name is either your whole name or one part of your name:
- My name is Maria.
- His name is Tom Smith.
- Your last name or family name (also called surname in British English) is the name that all members of your family share.
- Your first name/names (formal forename) is/are the name(s) your parents gave you when you were born. In British English some people use the expression Christian name(s) to refer to a person’s first name(s).
- Your middle name(s) is/are any name(s) your parents gave you other than the one that is placed first. The initial of this name is often used as part of your name, especially in America:
- John T. Harvey
- Your full name is all your names, usually in the order: first + middle + last name
- A woman’s maiden name is the family name she had before she got married. Some women keep this name after they are married and do not use their husband’s name. In North America, married women often use their maiden name followed by their husband’s family name:
- Hillary Rodham Clinton.
- Mr (for both married and unmarried men)
- Mrs (for married women)
- Miss (for unmarried women)
- Ms (a title that some women prefer to use as it does not distinguish between married and unmarried women)
- Doctor, Professor, President, Vice-President, Reverend (or Rev), etc.
- first name, if you know them well:
- Hello, Maria.
- or title + surname:
- Hello, Mr Brown.
- or Doctor (medical), Professor, etc. on its own:
- Thank you, Doctor.
Culture namesnamesApart from their surname or last name, most British and American children are given two personal names by their parents, a first name and a middle name. These names are sometimes called Christian names or given names. Some people have only one given name, a few have three or more. Friends and members of a family who are of similar age usually call one another by their first names. Young people often call their aunts and uncles and sometimes even their parents by their first names. Outside the family, the expression be on first name terms suggests that the people concerned have a friendly, informal relationship, although it is also very common for strangers to call each other by their first names. When writing their name Americans commonly give their first name and their middle initial (= first letter of their middle name), for example George M Cohan. Both given names are used in full only on formal occasions, for example when people get married. In Britain many people sign their name on forms etc. using the initials of both their given names and their surname, for example, J E Brooks, but may write Joanna Brooks at the end of a letter. The full name (= all given names and surname) is usually only required on official forms.Parents often decide on given names for their children before they are born. In some families the oldest boy is given the same name as his father. In the US the word junior or senior, or a number, is added after the name and surname to make it clear which person is being referred to. For example, the son of William Jones Sr (Senior) would be called William Jones Jr (Junior), and his son would be called William Jones III ('William Jones the third').Many popular names come from the Bible, for example, Jacob, Joshua, Matthew, Hannah, Rebecca and Sarah, though this does not imply that the people who choose them are religious. Other people give their children the name of somebody they admire, such as a famous sports personality, or a film or pop star. In Britain the names William and Harry became common again after the sons of Prince Charles were given these names. In the US Chelsea was not a common name for a girl until President Bill Clinton's daughter Chelsea came to public attention.Names such as David, Michael, John and James for boys and Catherine and Elizabeth for girls remained popular for many years. Others are fashionable for only a short period. Names such as Trevor, Herbert, Cyril, Doris, Gladys and Joyce are out of fashion and are found mainly among older people. Websites list the names which are currently popular.People who have a cultural background from outside Britain or the US may choose from an additional set of names.Extra ExamplesTopics Family and relationshipsa1- This is his second book published under his own name.
- Many postures use the names of animals, like cat, dog or crab.
- ‘Does that name mean anything to you?’ ‘Yes, it does ring a bell (= it is familiar).’
- As the name implies, Oxford was the place at which oxen could ford the river.
- He invoked the name of Freud in support of his argument.
- He was elected Pope in 1978 and took the name of John Paul II.
- He's been in four movies with Spielberg's name attached.
- His name is synonymous with the worst excesses of sixties architecture.
- His name sounds familiar.
- His name was immortalized in 1992 when he scored three goals in the space of five minutes.
- His wife and sister share the same name, Sarah.
- How do you know my name?
- I asked him his name.
- I do not want my name associated with these products.
- I have a bad memory for names and faces.
- I'm afraid I've forgotten your name.
- I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.
- I've heard that name mentioned before.
- Muhammad Ali's birth name was Cassius Clay.
- Nobody puts (= gives) their name to a business they are not proud of.
- She uses a different name in her professional life.
- She was given the name Maria, after her grandmother.
- Somebody called out her name from below.
- St Petersburg has gone back to its original name.
- The Brady bill acquired its name from its best-known sponsor, James Brady.
- The Julian calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar and hence carries his name.
- The common name for the flower is ‘pineapple lily’.
- The island is more commonly known by the name ‘Krakatoa’.
- The name of the artist appears on the vase.
- The scientific name for plants in this genus is Asclepias.
- The village of Low Catton takes its name from the Old English personal name ‘Catta’.
- Their original band name was ‘Cherry Five’
- They put his name forward as one of the five candidates for the post.
- We cannot mention the suspect's name for legal reasons.
- Where does the band name come from?
- The name's Bond.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- Christian
- first
- given
- …
- have
- bear
- carry
- …
- appear
- sound…
- imply something
- …
- badge
- tag
- plate
- …
- by name
- by the name of
- in somebody/something’s name
- …
- a change of name
- give your name to something
- a list of names
- …
- [usually singular] a reputation that somebody/something has; the opinion that people have about somebody/something
- She first made her name as a writer of children's books.
- He's made quite a name for himself (= become famous).
- The college has a good name for languages.
- This kind of behaviour gives students a bad name.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb2- There was a campaign to blacken his name.
- These practices give the industry a bad name.
- We must avoid anything that might damage the good name of the firm.
- They tried to protect the good name of the college.
- This kind of behaviour gives students a bad name.
- Throughout his years in prison, he fought to clear his name.
- He accomplished a remarkable feat in restoring the name of the bank to something like its former eminence.
- The area got a bad name after a series of nasty murders.
- The company has a name for reliability.
- The riots after the match only served to blacken the name of football.
- He made his name writing travel books.
- These articles have damaged the good name of the newspaper.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- good
- bad
- …
- have
- become
- make
- …
- name for
- somebody’s name is mud
- (in compound adjectives) having a name or a reputation of the kind mentioned, especially one that is known by a lot of people
- a big-name company
- brand-name goods
- a famous person
- He is a big name in the world of rock music.
- Some of the biggest names in the art world were at the party.
- The event attracted many famous names from the past.
- The movie needs some names in it, if it’s going to be successful.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- familiar
- famous
- …
Word OriginOld English nama, noma (noun), (ge)namian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch naam and German Name, from a root shared by Latin nomen and Greek onoma.
Idioms
answer to the name of something
- (especially of a pet animal) to be called something
- The dog was an ugly brute, answering to the name of Spike.
be somebody’s middle name
- (informal) used to say that somebody has a lot of a particular quality
- ‘Patience’ is my middle name!
a big noise/shot/name
- an important person
by name
- using the name of somebody/something
- She asked for you by name.
- The principal knows all the students by name.
- I only know her by name (= I have heard about her but I have not met her).
- The head teacher knows every child in the school by name.
by the name of…
- (formal) who is called
- a young actor by the name of Tom Rees
call somebody names
- to use offensive words about somebody
- Stop calling me names!
drag somebody through the 'mud/'dirt | drag somebody's name through the 'mud/'dirt
- (informal) to criticize or say bad things about somebody in public, in a way that is unfair
- The paper has dragged his name through the mud.
- They feel their agency has been dragged through the mud by the press.
- Football's good name is being dragged through the dirt.
drop names
- to mention famous people you know or have met in order to impress others
- She found him rather irritating to talk to; all he did was drop names.
enter somebody’s/your name (for something)
(also put somebody’s/your name down (for something))
- to apply for a place at a school, in a competition, etc. for somebody or yourself
- Have you entered your name for the quiz yet?
- They’ve already put his name down for Eton College.
- Have you put your name down for the school play?
give a dog a bad name
- (saying) when a person already has a bad reputation, it is difficult to change it because others will continue to blame or suspect him/her
give your name to something
- to discover or invent something which then becomes known by your name
- Henry Hudson gave his name to New York's Hudson River.
Extra Examples- The invading Franks gave their name to the country in which they settled.
- The Huron people gave their name to one of the Great Lakes.
- Charles Macintosh gave his name to a type of raincoat.
go by the name of…
- to use a name that may not be your real one
- a thief who goes by the name of ‘The Cat’
- He goes by the name of Jonno.
have your/somebody’s name on it | with your/somebody’s name on it
- (informal) if something has your name on it, or there is something with your name on it, it is intended for you
- He took my place and got killed. It should have been me—that bullet had my name on it.
- Are you coming for dinner this evening? I've got a steak here with your name on it!
in all but name
- used to describe a situation which exists in reality but that is not officially recognized
- He runs the company in all but name.
in God’s/Heaven’s name | in the name of God/Heaven
- used especially in questions to show that you are angry, surprised or shocked
- What in God's name was that noise?
- Where in the name of Heaven have you been?
in the name of somebody/something | in somebody’s/something’s name
- for somebody; showing that something officially belongs to somebody
- We reserved two tickets in the name of Brown.
- The car is registered in my name.
Extra Examples- The account is in joint names.
- The tickets were booked in the name of McLean.
- using the authority of somebody/something; as a representative of somebody/something
- I arrest you in the name of the law.
- used to give a reason or an excuse for doing something, often when what you are doing is wrong
- crimes committed in the name of religion
in name only
- officially recognized but not existing in reality
- He's party leader in name only.
lend your name to something (formal)
- to let it be known in public that you support or agree with something
- I am more than happy to lend my name to this campaign.
- to have a place named after you
somebody’s name is mud
- (informal, usually humorous) used to say that somebody is not liked or popular because of something they have done
- Your name’s mud around here at the moment!
- If you tell our secret your name will be mud round here.
name names
- to give the names of the people involved in something, especially something wrong or illegal
- He has accused the government of corruption and claims he is prepared to name names.
- Detectives believe that a hitman was sent to silence the witness before he could name names.
the name of the game
- (informal) the most important aspect of an activity; the most important quality needed for an activity
- Hard work is the name of the game if you want to succeed in business.
a name to conjure with (British English)
- (North American English a name to reckon with)a person or thing that is well known and respected in a particular field
- Miyazaki is still a name to conjure with among anime fans.
- (humorous) used when you mention a name that you think is difficult to remember or pronounce
- He comes from Tighnabruaich—now there's a name to conjure with!
put a name to somebody/something
- to know or remember what somebody/something is called
- I recognize the tune but I can't put a name to it.
- I nodded, desperately trying to put a name to the face.
rejoice in the name of…
- (British English, humorous) to have a name that sounds funny
- He rejoiced in the name of Owen Owen.
a rose by any other name would smell as sweet
- (saying) what is important is what people or things are, not what they are called
take somebody’s name in vain
- to show a lack of respect when using somebody’s name or when talking about them
- (humorous) Have you been taking my name in vain again?
- to take the Lord's name in vain
(have something) to your name
- to have or own something
- an Olympic athlete with five gold medals to his name
- She doesn’t have a penny/cent to her name (= she is very poor).
under the name (of)…
- using a name that may not be your real name
- The room was booked under a false name.