What does "name" mean?

1. (identification) the word or words that a person, thing, or place is known by. 2. (reputation) the opinion that people have about someone or something. 3. (computing identifier) a unique string of characters used to identify a file or data. 4. (to give a title) to give a name to a person, animal, or thing. 5. (to specify or mention) to say the name of someone or something, or to choose a specific time. 6. (to appoint) to choose someone for a particular job or position.

name — meaning, definition & examples

Word

01identification

A1 · Beginner Countable noun

n. the word or words that a person, thing, or place is known by.

n. a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known, addressed, or referred to.

“Please write your full name at the top of the application form.”

“The explorer insisted that the local name for the mountain be preserved on all official maps produced by the expedition.”

Synonyms

title appellation designation

02reputation

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. the opinion that people have about someone or something.

n. a person's or entity's reputation, especially regarding character or professional standing.

“The company has a good name for providing excellent customer service.”

“After years of dishonest dealings, the merchant found it impossible to clear his name in the small trading community.”

Synonyms

reputation standing character

03computing identifier

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a unique string of characters used to identify a file or data.

n. a unique string of characters used as an identifier within a system or database.

“You need to choose a unique user name to log into the website.”

“The system administrator warned that the domain name must be registered before the website could go live.”

Synonyms

identifier handle

04to give a title

A2 · Elementary

v. to give a name to a person, animal, or thing.

v. to give a specific name to someone or something; often used in the passive voice.

“They decided to name their new puppy 'Buster' because he was so active.”

“The city council voted to name the new bridge after the local poet who had campaigned for its construction.”

Synonyms

callchristendub

05to specify or mention

B1 · Intermediate

v. to say the name of someone or something, or to choose a specific time.

v. to mention or specify someone or something by name; to identify a particular instance or value.

“Can you name the three largest cities in your country?”

“The witness was asked to name the individuals she saw leaving the building on the night of the robbery.”

Synonyms

identify specify mention

06to appoint

B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal

v. to choose someone for a particular job or position.

v. to designate or appoint someone to a particular role, office, or duty.

“The president will name a new minister for education next week.”

“The board of directors is expected to name a successor to the outgoing CEO during the annual general meeting.”

Synonyms

appoint designate nominate

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “name” in context.

01. name age 02. names please

PIE word *h₁nómn̥ Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥ Proto-Germanic *namô Proto-West Germanic *namō Old English nama Middle English name English name From Middle English name, nome, from Old English nama, noma, from Proto-West Germanic namō, from Proto-Germanic namô (“name”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁nómn̥ (“name”). Cognates Germanic Cognates: Yola naame, name, naume (“name”), North Frisian Naam, neem, noome, nööm (“name”), Saterland Frisian Nome, Noome (“name”), West Frisian namme (“name”), Alemannic German Naame, namä, noame, nomu, nàmund (“name”), Cimbrian naamo, name, nåm (“name”), Dutch naam, name (“name”), German Nahme, Name (“name”), German Low German Naam (“name”), Luxembourgish Numm (“name”), Mòcheno nu'm (“name”), Vilamovian noma (“name”), Yiddish נאָמען (nomen, “name”), Danish, Faroese and Norwegian Bokmål navn (“name”), Icelandic nafn (“name”), Norwegian Nynorsk nabn, namn (“name”), Swedish namn (“name”), Gothic 𐌽𐌰𐌼𐍉 (namō, “name”). Indo-European Cognates: Latin nōmen (“name”) (whence Spanish nombre (“name”)), Russian имя (imja, “name”), Ashkun nām (“name”), Kamkata-viri nom, num (“name”), Prasuni nom, nëmë (“name”), Waigali nām (“name”), Sanskrit नामन् (nā́man, “name”). Possible cognates outside of Indo-European include Finnish nimi (“name”) and Hungarian név (“name”). Doublet of nomen and noun.

From Middle English namen, from Old English namian (“to name, mention”) and ġenamian (“to name, call, appoint”), from Proto-West Germanic *namōn (“to name”). Cognate with West Frisian neame (“to name; to mention”). Compare also Old English nemnan, nemnian (“to name, give a name to a person or thing”).