Christian name
noun /ˈkrɪstʃən neɪm/
/ˈkrɪstʃən neɪm/
- (in Western countries) a name given to somebody when they are born or when they are christened; a personal name, not a family name
- We're all on Christian-name terms here.
Culture namesnamesApart from their surname or last name, most British and American children are given two personal names by their parents, a first name and a middle name. These names are sometimes called Christian names or given names. Some people have only one given name, a few have three or more. Friends and members of a family who are of similar age usually call one another by their first names. Young people often call their aunts and uncles and sometimes even their parents by their first names. Outside the family, the expression be on first name terms suggests that the people concerned have a friendly, informal relationship, although it is also very common for strangers to call each other by their first names. When writing their name Americans commonly give their first name and their middle initial (= first letter of their middle name), for example George M Cohan. Both given names are used in full only on formal occasions, for example when people get married. In Britain many people sign their name on forms etc. using the initials of both their given names and their surname, for example, J E Brooks, but may write Joanna Brooks at the end of a letter. The full name (= all given names and surname) is usually only required on official forms.Parents often decide on given names for their children before they are born. In some families the oldest boy is given the same name as his father. In the US the word junior or senior, or a number, is added after the name and surname to make it clear which person is being referred to. For example, the son of William Jones Sr (Senior) would be called William Jones Jr (Junior), and his son would be called William Jones III ('William Jones the third').Many popular names come from the Bible, for example, Jacob, Joshua, Matthew, Hannah, Rebecca and Sarah, though this does not imply that the people who choose them are religious. Other people give their children the name of somebody they admire, such as a famous sports personality, or a film or pop star. In Britain the names William and Harry became common again after the sons of Prince Charles were given these names. In the US Chelsea was not a common name for a girl until President Bill Clinton's daughter Chelsea came to public attention.Names such as David, Michael, John and James for boys and Catherine and Elizabeth for girls remained popular for many years. Others are fashionable for only a short period. Names such as Trevor, Herbert, Cyril, Doris, Gladys and Joyce are out of fashion and are found mainly among older people. Websites list the names which are currently popular.People who have a cultural background from outside Britain or the US may choose from an additional set of names.Topics Family and relationshipsc1