Definition

1. Noun:

   • A word or phrase by which a person, place, or thing is known, called, or identified: The primary label used to refer to an individual or entity.
   • A reputation, especially a good one: The opinion or esteem in which a person or thing is held by others.
   • A famous or notable person: An individual who has achieved significant recognition or fame.
   • Family lineage or ancestry, especially based on male descent: A surname or family line.

2. Verb:

   • To give a name to: To assign a specific word or phrase as an identifier for someone or something.
   • To identify or mention by name: To specify or state the name of a person or thing.
   • To nominate or appoint to a position: To formally select someone for a role or duty.
   • To specify or state something precisely: To fix or decide upon a particular detail, such as a date or price.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • Please write your name at the top of the form.
  • The company has a good name for customer service.
  • She is a big name in the fashion industry.
  • He is the last of his name.

• Verb:

  • They named their daughter Sophia.
  • Can you name all the planets in our solar system?
  • She was named as the new director of the project.
  • He refused to name a price for the antique vase.

Advanced Usage

• "In the name of": By the authority of or for the sake of.
  • The police acted in the name of public safety.
• "To make a name for oneself": To become famous or well-known through one's achievements.
  • He made a name for himself as a brilliant scientist.
• "To call someone names": To insult someone by using offensive words.
  • The children were calling each other names on the playground.

Variants and Related Words

• Namesake (n): A person or thing named after another person or thing.
  • My nephew is my namesake; we share the same first name.
• Nameless (adj): Having no name; anonymous or too terrible to be described.
  • The donation was from a nameless benefactor.
• Rename (v): To give a new name to.
  • The city council voted to rename the street.

Synonyms

• Noun: Title, designation, reputation, fame, celebrity.
• Verb: Call, designate, identify, nominate, appoint, specify.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Name after (v): To give someone or something the same name as another person or thing, as an honor.
  • The bridge was named after a local hero.
• Name for (v): (Primarily US English) Same meaning as "name after".
  • The scholarship is named for its founder.

Related Idioms

• "The name of the game": The most important aspect or objective of an activity.
  • In business, customer satisfaction is the name of the game.
• "To take someone's name in vain": To use someone's name, especially God's name, disrespectfully or irreverently.
  • You shouldn't take his name in vain like that.
• "To have something to one's name": To own or possess something.
  • When he arrived in the country, he didn't have a penny to his name.

Noun

1. a defamatory or abusive word or phrase
2. by the sanction or authority of
   • halt in the name of the law
3. a well-known or notable person
   • they studied all the great names in the history of France
   • she is an important figure in modern music
4. family based on male descent
   • he had no sons and there was no one to carry on his name
5. a person's reputation
   • he wanted to protect his good name
6. a language unit by which a person or thing is known
   • his name really is George Washington
   • those are two names for the same thing

Verb

1. determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness through a diagnostic analysis
2. give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
   • List the states west of the Mississippi
3. identify as in botany or biology, for example
4. make reference to
   • His name was mentioned in connection with the invention
5. mention and identify by name
   • name your accomplices!
6. create and charge with a task or function
   • nominate a committee
7. charge with a function; charge to be
   • She was named Head of the Committee
   • She was made president of the club
8. give the name or identifying characteristics of; refer to by name or some other identifying characteristic property
   • Many senators were named in connection with the scandal
   • The almanac identifies the auspicious months
9. assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
   • They named their son David
   • The new school was named after the famous Civil Rights leader