first-name
UK[ˈfɜːst neɪm]US[ˈfɜːrst neɪm]
n
the name that was given to you when you were born and that comes before your family name
Morpheme Breakdown
first
name
first
foremost
name
appellation
Etymology
The compound "first-name" is a transparent English formation built from native Germanic roots. "First" derives from the Old English superlative form related to "fore," indicating precedence or primary position. "Name" has a deep Proto-Indo-European origin, from the root h₁nómn̥, signifying a word by which a person or thing is known. The logic of the compound is directly descriptive: it identifies the primary or given name, as opposed to the family name which historically came later in Western naming conventions. This compound term concretely reflects the order in which names are typically presented and recorded.
Analysis
Structure: first (foremost) + name (appellation)
- first: From Old English fyrst, first, related to fore (before). Functional role: Adjective/ordinal number used attributively to denote position.
- name: From Old English nama, noma. Functional role: Noun, the core element being identified.
Examples
Please write your first-name and initial on the application form.
In many cultures, using someone's first-name implies a degree of familiarity.
Her first-name is Elizabeth, but she prefers to be called Liz.