Christian name


Christian name

1. A name given at baptism. Also called baptismal name.
2. A name that precedes a person's family name, especially the first name.
Usage Note: Because it presupposes that an entire society is Christian, the term Christian name when used generically can be taken as offensive in diverse societies. Writers seeking a way to avoid this problem can use first name or forename instead.

Christian name


baptismal name

a personal name formally given to Christians at christening
Usage: Christian name was often loosely used to mean any person's first name as distinct from his or her surname. Nowadays, especially in official documents, alternatives which do not refer to a particular faith, and are therefore more inclusive, are often used: first name, forename, and given name

Chris′tian name`

1. the name given to one at baptism, as distinguished from the family name.

first name

Christian nameforenamegiven name
1. 'first name'

Your first name is the name that was given to you when you were born. Your first name comes in front of your surname.

At some point in the conversation Brian began calling Philip by his first name.
2. 'Christian name'

In British English, people sometimes use Christian name instead of first name. This use is rather old-fashioned.

Do all your students call you by your Christian name?

In American English, Christian name is not used.

3. 'forename'

On official forms, you are usually asked to write your surname and your first name or forename. Forename is only used in writing.

4. 'given name'

In American English, given name is sometimes used instead of 'first name' or 'forename'.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.Christian name - the first name given to Christians at birth or christeningChristian name - the first name given to Christians at birth or christening
first name, forename, given name - the name that precedes the surname
اِسْم مَسِيحِيّالأسم الأول
křestní jméno
krsno ime
skírnarnafn, fornafn
krstno ime
tên thánh

Christian name

nnome m (di battesimo)


(ˈkristʃən) noun
a follower of or a believer in Christ.
He had a Christian upbringing.
ˌChristiˈanity (-ˈӕnəti) noun
the religion of Christ.
christian name (American given name)
the personal name given in addition to the surname. Peter is his Christian name.

Christian name

اِسْم مَسِيحِيّ křestní jméno fornavn Vorname μικρό όνομα nombre de pila etunimi prénom krsno ime nome di battesimo 洗礼名 세례명 voornaam fornavn imię (nadane na chrzcie) nome de batismo имя, данное при крещении förnamn ชื่อที่ตั้งในพิธีชำระบาป ön adı tên thánh 教名
References in classic literature ?
Her Christian name: I always forget her Christian name.
They called each other by their Christian name, were always arm in arm when they walked, pinned up each other's train for the dance, and were not to be divided in the set; and if a rainy morning deprived them of other enjoyments, they were still resolute in meeting in defiance of wet and dirt, and shut themselves up, to read novels together.
Here, of course, he did not find her; and what added to his depression was the discovery that no "Mrs Clare" had ever been heard of by the cottagers or by the farmer himself, though Tess was remembered well enough by her Christian name.
Oh, but his family name isn't Fairfax," said Jessie hastily; "that's his FIRST name, his Christian name.
Did he know my father's Christian name was Fernand, and his family name Mondego?
Hilbery sat editing his review, or placing together documents by means of which it could be proved that Shelley had written "of" instead of "and," or that the inn in which Byron had slept was called the "Nag's Head" and not the "Turkish Knight," or that the Christian name of Keats's uncle had been John rather than Richard, for he knew more minute details about these poets than any man in England, probably, and was preparing an edition of Shelley which scrupulously observed the poet's system of punctuation.
The young man blushed at the sound of his Christian name.

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