Christian name - first name

◊ 'Christian name'

In British English, a person's Christian name is the name given to them when they were born or when they were christened. Many people have two or more Christian names. Christian names come in front of a person's surname.

Do all your students call you by your Christian name?

`You remember their mother's Christian name?' —-`Margaret, I think.'

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◊ 'first name'

In American English, Christian name is not used. American speakers talk about a person's first name. British people who are not Christians also use first name.

At some point in the conversation Boon had begun calling Philip by his first name.

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◊ 'forename'

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

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◊ 'given name'

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

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For more information about names, see entry at ↑ Names and titles.

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