# naming

/ˈneɪmɪŋ/ (US) · /nˈeɪmɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/naming
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the act of giving a name

noun · CEFR B1

the process of choosing or giving a name to something new.

For teachers: the act or process of assigning a name to an object, concept, or person for identification.

- The naming of the new park took several months of public debate.
- The naming of chemical compounds follows a strict set of international rules to ensure clarity across different languages.

### 2. a ceremony

noun · CEFR B2

a special event or ritual where a person, like a baby, is officially given their name.

For teachers: a formal ceremony or ritual during which a person is given a name or their name is publicly announced.

- The whole family gathered for the baby's naming ceremony on Sunday.
- Traditional naming ceremonies in many cultures serve as a vital rite of passage, welcoming the infant into the community.

### 3. identifying or choosing

verb · CEFR B1

the action of saying the name of someone or something, or choosing someone for a job.

For teachers: the present participle or gerund form of 'name', used to describe the act of identifying or appointing.

- She had trouble naming all the capital cities in the quiz.
- Naming a successor before the official retirement date helped stabilize the company's stock price during the transition.

### 4. giving a name

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing something that gives or provides a name.

For teachers: functioning as a modifier to describe the act of providing or assigning a name.

- The naming rights for the stadium were sold to a large tech company.
- The committee focused on the naming conventions used in the database to ensure every entry was easily searchable.

## Examples

- The naming of the new baby took several weeks.
- The committee is meeting today for the formal naming of the new research facility.
- Linguists often study the naming conventions of different cultures to understand how social hierarchies and family lineages are preserved through generations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.