What does forename mean?
The word "forename" denotes a person's first or given name — the personal name assigned at birth, as distinct from the surname inherited from the family line. Formed from the prefix "fore-" (meaning "before") and "name," it literally describes the name that precedes the family name in conventional Western ordering. The term belongs primarily to formal contexts: passport applications, legal documents, academic records, and other paperwork where precision about the components of a full name matters. It is notably more common in British English than American English, where "given name" or simply "first name" tends to be used instead. Although everyday conversation rarely employs it, "forename" remains useful precisely because it names a specific category of name without ambiguity. Its slightly old-fashioned, official flavour makes it instantly recognisable on any form, and understanding it helps readers navigate the vocabulary of names across British and international usage.
nounA person's first or given name, as distinguished from the surname; the name chosen by parents at birth that comes before the family name.
- A person's first or given name, as opposed to their surname.
"Her forename is Amara and her surname is Okafor."
"Please write your forename in block capitals at the top of the form."
"The certificate lists his forename as Elias and his place of birth as Bristol."
Plural refers either to multiple people's first names or, commonly, to all of one person's given names collectively (e.g., forename and middle names).
"The form requires both of her forenames in full."
'Forename' quietly preserves an old naming logic — it's literally the name that comes *before* your family name, a label so formal-sounding it survives mostly on passports and legal forms.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of forename
Forename derives from the English prefix "fore-", meaning "before" or "in front of," attached to "name." The compound arose in Middle English and became established by around the fifteenth to sixteenth century, modelled on the pattern of other "fore-" compounds such as "forefather" and "foresight." It reflects the traditional order of European names, in which the personal name precedes the family name.
How forename is actually used
"Forename" carries a formal, bureaucratic register in British English, appearing chiefly on official documents such as passports, applications, and certificates. In everyday speech, "first name" is far more common, and in American English "given name" or "first name" predominates. The now largely obsolete term "Christian name" was once standard but has fallen out of favour for being religion-specific.
Easily confused with forename
A forename is the personal given name placed before the family name, while the surname is the hereditary family name shared by relatives.