Given name

A given name specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name.

Related Topics:
Name - Family - Family name

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The given name may be single, or several names may be given (the latter are known as middle names). In the latter case, one of them, generally the first, is commonly used while the others are mostly used for official records (Order of names is no longer as important).

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A child's given name or names are usually assigned around the time of birth. In most jurisdictions, the name at birth is a matter of public record, inscribed on the birth certificate or equivalent. In some jurisdictions, mainly civil law jurisdictions such as France or Quebec, the functionary whose job it is to record acts of birth may act to prevent parents from giving the child a name that may cause him or her harm, such as a bizarre or obscene one (in France, by referring the case to a local judge).

Related Topics:
Birth certificate - Civil law - France - Quebec - Judge

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In many European countries, "given name" is synonymous with first name, forename, and (for Christians) with Christian name, but these terms do not apply internationally. For example, the Hungarians traditionally have given names placed after the family names, as do all East Asians and the Vietnamese. The practice of placing given name last in these Asian countries and Hungary has been considered by some a manifestation of the importance of familial collective over individualism.

Related Topics:
Europe - Christian - Hungarian - East Asia - Vietnam - Individualism

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The etymology of given names includes:

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• Aspiring personality traits (external and internal), for example, the Japanese name Miko means child of beauty.
• Objects, for example rock (Peter), spear
• Literary characters, for example Wendy
• Physical characteristics, for example Calvin (means the bald king)
• Another name, for example Pauline (especially to change the sex of the name)
• Surnames, for example Ralph
• Places, for example Brittany
• Day of the week of birth, for example Kofi Annan Kofi = born on Friday etc
• Combination of the above, for example Ashley (means by the ash wood)

Of course there are also names of unknown or disputed etymology, for example Keisha.

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However, in many cultures, given names are reused, especially to commemorate the dead (namesake), resulting in a virtually limited repertoire of names that sometimes vary by orthography. And those namesakes, in turn, were often named after Biblical characters, except for the name Jesus, which is almost always considered taboo or sacrilegous when used as a given name in English-speaking regions. In the Spanish-speaking world, however, "Jesús" is a very popular name, without any negative implications.

Related Topics:
Orthography - Biblical - Jesus - Taboo - Sacrilegous - Spanish

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On the other hand, Mary is almost universally popular among Christians, especially among Roman Catholics.

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Most common given names in English (and many other European languages) can be grouped into broad categories based on their origin:

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• Hebrew names are almost always from the Old Testament. Some have elements meaning God, especially 'el'. Examples: Joel, Michael, Rachel, Joshua, Joseph, David, Jeremy, Rebecca, Adam, Elizabeth, James, Anne, Mary, Sarah, Daniel, John, Susan. There is also a handful of popular Aramaic names e.g. Thomas, Martha.
• Germanic names often are warlike in nature, or have roots meaning glory. The -bert element common in many such names comes from -beraht, which means bright. Examples: Albert, Norbert, Robert, Alfred, Adelaide, Edward.
• French forms of Germanic names. Since the Norman conquest, many English given names of Germanic origin are used in their French forms. Examples: Richard, William, Charles.
• Celtic names are sometimes anglicised versions of Celtic forms, but the original form may also be used. Examples: Caitlín, Ashley, Brian, Brigid, Bríd or Bride, Mòrag, Niamh, Conor, Allen, Guinevere, Fionnghuala, Donovan, Malcolm, Ewan (John), Rowan, Kaylyn, Bronwen, Gwendolen, Seán. These names often have origins in Celtic words, as Celtic versions of the names of internationally known Christian saints, as names of Celtic mythological figures, or simply as long-standing names whose ultimate etymology is unclear.
• Greek and Latin names can be derived from the Greco-Roman gods, or may have other meanings. Many are derived from the New Testament and early Christian traditions. Greek examples: Stephen (from Stephanos), Alexander (Alexandros), Andrew (Andreas), Peter (Petros), George (Geôrgios), Christopher (Christophoros), Melissa, Margaret, Catherine. Latin examples: Laura, Victoria, Mark (Marcus), Diana, Paul (Paulus).
• Recent names come from English vocabulary words. These are usually feminine names, derived from flowers, birds, gemstones and aspiring traits. Examples: Lily, Mavis, Amber, Serenity.
• Recent coinages and variants are created by parents who want to give their child a new version of an old name. Names which are currently in fashion tend to be varied the most. Also, many masculine names have had feminine versions created, especially by adding the suffix -a. Pet forms are informal forms of longer names, usually made by adding -y. Shortenings reduce the size of a long name, for example: Vicky, Pauline, Bob, Tony, Mike. Names may be diminutized, especially in child hood nicknames. In English Robert may be shortened to Bob and then changed to the diminutive Bobby or the name Randall shortened to Randy. In German the names Johannes and Margarethe are diminutized to Hänsel and Gretel.

Other languages provide other names: for example, the name Belle comes from French, so the above should not be thought of as the only sources of names.

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Frequently, a given name occurs in different language varieties. For example, the English name Susan from the Old Testament also occurs in its original Hebrew version, Susannah, and in its French version, Suzanne.

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Slavic names are often of a peaceful character, the compounds being derived from word roots meaning to protect, to love, peace, to praise (gods), to give, and so on. (For a more complete list see List of Slavic given names.)

Related Topics:
Slavic - Roots - List of Slavic given names

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The Chinese and Korean given names are virtually all unique, because meaningful Hanzi and Hanja characters can be combined extensively.

Related Topics:
Chinese - Korean given name - Hanzi - Hanja

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However, some less educated parents recycle popular given names as well. The names of famous and successful persons are also reused occasionally.

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Nevertheless, most Chinese and Korean parents invest a tremendous amount contemplating the names of their newborns before their birth, often with comprehensive dictionaries or with religious guides, formal or informal. Sometimes, especially in traditional families, paternal grandparents are the name-givers.

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In more Westernised Asian locations like Singapore and Hong Kong, many Chinese also take on an English given name in addition to their Chinese given name.

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Many Japanese women's names, such as Yoko Ono's, used to end in ko (子), which means "(girl-)child" in Japanese. This fell out of favor in the 1980s, and has remained outdated since. As a result, while the vast majority of Japanese women born before 1980 have names ending in ko, it is relatively rare for the younger generation.

Related Topics:
Names - Yoko Ono - Japanese

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Most names are either masculine or feminine, but unisex names can be either. Often, one gender is predominant.

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Given name: Popularity distribution of given names ►