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forename

American  
[fawr-neym, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌneɪm, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

  1. a name that precedes the family name or surname; first name.

forename British  
/ ˈfɔːˌneɪm /

noun

  1. a first or Christian name

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of forename

First recorded in 1525–35; fore- + name

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bulgaria have three players in their squad called Iliev, which I believe derives from the forename Iliya.

From The Guardian • Nov. 15, 2021

Well, to this ageing fan of post-punk and non-landfill indie music, his forename conjures this earworm.

From The Guardian • Nov. 4, 2018

But, aged 18, he decided that, as his full name was Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones, he would exclusively use Duncan as his forename.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2016

Jack was the top boys' first forename in 15 council areas, Oliver was top in six areas, James was top in four, and Finlay and Noah were each top in two areas.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2015

I have a strange name, too, that is, forename.

From The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 12 by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.