forename

[ fawr-neym, fohr- ]

noun

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

forename

/ ˈfɔːˌneɪm /

noun

1. a first or Christian name

Word History and Origins

Origin of forename¹

First recorded in 1525–35; fore- + name

Example Sentences

A calm, softly spoken, scrupulously polite, seemingly ego-free individual, he refers to every journalist by their forename.

From BBC

Instead, he will lead England into this summer’s European Championship — hoping to win an international tournament in a final on home soil — as Harry Kane, forename and surname, like a reverse Pelé.

From New York Times

“Our Chin state used to be peaceful, but this is a new experience for us,” said one of the resistance fighters, who would be identified only by his tribal forename, Salai, for safety reasons.

From Washington Post

It is quite a common Spanish surname but less so as a forename.

From BBC

Like others, Kim, who declined to given his forename, is betting on Beijing’s push for tech self-sufficiency to counter U.S. trade sanctions and bans.

From Reuters

Related Words

• given name