Name

n. [A-S. nama, O. Sax. & O. H. Ger. namo, Goth. namō, O. Fries. nama, nema, noma, M. H. Ger. name, nam, N. H. Ger. name, namen, D. naam, Icel. nafn, for naman, Dan. navn, Sw. namn, allied to Skr. nāman, Lat. nomen, Gr. ὄνομα, gen. ὀνόματος, for ὀνόματος, Slav. imja, from Goth. niman, Ger. nehmen, Slav. imati, to take.] 1. The title by which any person or thing is known, understood, or spoken of; appellation; epithet. What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. Shak. 2. Current estimation; reputed character; reputation;—with an adjective, as good or bad. The king's army . . . had left no good name behind. Clarendon. 3. Hence, exalted reputation; distinguished character; renown; celebrity; eminence; praise; distinction. What men of name resort to him? Shak. 4. Continued repute; memory; remembrance. The Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven. Deut. xxix. 20. 5. Those having a certain name; a race; family. The able and experienced ministers of the republic, mortal enemies of his name, came every day to pay their feigned civilities. Motley. 6. A person; an individual. They list with women each degenerate name. Dryden. 7. (Gram.) A noun, a word serving as the appellation or title of a person or thing. Christian name, the name a person receives by baptism, as distinguished from surname. — In name, in profession, or by title only; not in reality; as, a friend in name. — In the name of, in behalf of; by the authority of; in the represented or assumed character of. “I'll to him again in the name of Brook.” Shak. — Proper name. See PROPER. — To call names, to apply opprobrious epithets to; to call by reproachful appellations. — To take a name in vain, to use a name lightly or profanely; to swear by it. Syn.—Appellation; title; denomination; epithet.—NAME, APPELLATION, TITLE, DENOMINATION. Name is generic, denoting that combination of sounds or letters by which a person or thing is known and distinguished. Appellation, though sometimes put for name simply, denotes, more properly, a descriptive term, used by way of marking some individual peculiarity or characteristic; as, Charles the Bold, Philip the Stammerer. A title is a term employed to point out one's rank, office, &c.; as, the Duke of Bedford. Paul the Apostle, &c. Denomination is to particular bodies what appellation is to individuals; thus, the church of Christ is divided into different denominations, as Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, &c.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. NAMED; p. pr. & vb. n. NAMING.] [A-S. namian, nemnan, O. Sax. nemnian, Goth. namnjan, D. noemen, O. H. Ger. nemnan, nemman, nemnan, N. H. Ger. nennen, Sw. nämna, Icel. nefna, Dan. nævne. See supra.]

1Sense 1. To give an appellation to; to entitle; to denominate; to style; to call.

She named the child Ichabod. 1 Sam. iv. 21.

Thus was the building left Ridiculous, and the work confusion named. Milton.

2Sense 2. To mention by name; to utter or pronounce the appellation of; to refer to by distinctive title; to mention.

Old yew, which graspest at the stones That name the underlying dead. Tennyson.

3Sense 3. To designate for any purpose by name; to nominate; to specify.

Thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 1 Sam. xvi. 3.

To name the name of Christ, to make profession of faith in him.

Synonyms— To denominate; style; term; call; mention; specify; designate; nominate.

[See NAMATION.] (Law.) A taking; a distress; also, a thing or chattel distrained. Burrill.