full name

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A person's complete name, including first name, any middle names and family name, rather than a nickname or initials.

   Grammar: Often used with a possessive: write your full name.

   Patterns

   • write your full name
   • someone's full name

   Please print your full name at the top of the form.

   Her full name is Maria Elena Santos Ruiz.

   Teachers only use his full name when he is in trouble.

2. 2nouncountable

   The complete, unabbreviated name of an organization, place or thing.

   Grammar: Used when the short form or abbreviation is better known.

   Patterns

   • the full name of something

   The full name of NASA is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

   Few people remember the full name of the company.

   Check the full name of the street before you send the package.

Word forms

Common combinations

state your full name

Please state your full name for the record.

legal full name

Enter your legal full name exactly as on your passport.

use someone's full name

Mom used my full name when I broke the window.

sign your full name

Sign your full name at the bottom.

full name and address

Include your full name and address on the envelope.

Synonyms and how they differ

legal name

Legal name is the name on official documents, which may differ from the name someone usually uses.

given name

Given name is only the first part, so it is narrower than full name.

complete name

Complete name is understood but rare; full name is the usual phrase.

Opposites

Word family

first name noun

the personal name given at birth

middle name noun

a name between first and last

surname noun

the family name

name noun

what someone is called

Commonly confused: full name or username?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “full name”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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