Meaning & use
forename
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Meanings
nouncountableBritishformal
The name your parents give you at birth, used before your family name.
Grammar: Countable: use 'a forename' or 'forenames' with a plural verb.
Patterns
- a person's forename
- forename and surname
- first/middle forename
Please write your forename clearly on the form.
Her forename is Elizabeth, but everyone calls her Beth.
The passport shows his forename as James.
nouncountableBritishformal
All the names you are given at birth, as opposed to your family name.
Grammar: Often used in the plural 'forenames' to mean all given names.
Patterns
- forenames and surname
- list your forenames
The form asks for your forenames in full, not just initials.
On official documents, his forenames are listed as John David.
Word forms
| plural | forenames |
|---|
Common combinations
- forename and surname
- Please write your forename and surname at the top of the page.
- middle forename
- His middle forename, David, is rarely used.
- full forename
- The certificate requires your full forename, not a nickname.
- forename of
- The forename of the author is often abbreviated.
Synonyms and how they differ
- first name
- Much more common in everyday speech and in American English; forename is more formal and typical of British documents.
- given name
- Used in formal or official contexts, especially in American English; it can include middle names, while forename usually refers to the first name only.
Opposites
Word family
- forenamed adjective
- Mentioned by name earlier; a formal word used in legal or official writing.
Commonly confused: forename or surname? forename or nickname?
forename vs surname
A surname is your family name, shared with relatives, while a forename is your personal name given at birth.
forename vs nickname
A nickname is an informal name used by friends or family, not the official name on your documents.
Practice
On a British passport application, which word means the same as 'first name'?
Choose one answer.
'Forename' is the formal British term for the name given to you at birth, before your family name. 'Surname' is the family name, 'nickname' is informal, and 'signature' is your written name.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “forename”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.