Given name

Given name is a personal name that identifies a specific individual in a family context. It is often contrasted with a surname, which is a part of a person's name that is shared with other members of their immediate family. Given names are also known as first names or Christian names in some cultures.

Etymology and usage

The term "given name" refers to the fact that the name is bestowed upon, or given to a child, usually by their parents at or close to the time of birth. In many cultures, the given name is traditionally determined by factors such as the names of parents, ancestors, or the circumstances of the child's birth.

Cultural variations

The order in which a given name and a surname are used can vary by culture and region. In many Western cultures, the given name usually precedes the surname (e.g., John Smith), while in many East Asian cultures, the surname precedes the given name (e.g., Smith John). In some cultures, a person may have multiple given names, while in others, a person may have only one given name followed by a patronymic.

Legal status

In most jurisdictions, the legal use of given names is regulated by law and may be changed by a legal procedure. In some jurisdictions, the freedom to choose any name or to change one's name is limited. This may be due to reasons of public policy, to prevent fraudulent identity, or in the case of names, to protect the rights of others to use the same name.

See also

• Surname
• Middle name
• Patronymic
• Matronymic
• Family name
• Personal name

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