name
name
/neɪm/
1 a word or words that a particular person, animal, place or thing is known by
What's your name?
What is/was the name, please? (= a polite way of asking somebody’s name)
Please write your full name and address below.
Leave your name and number (= phone number) and we'll call you later.
Are you changing your name when you get married?
She uses her married name at work.
The singer's real name is Bob Rich.
His full name was William Augustus Grove.
His father was a painter of the same name.
Do you know the name of this flower?
name for something
Rubella is just another name for German measles.
under a… name
The company reopened under a new name.
Collocations
adjective
verb + name
name + verb
name + noun
preposition
by name
by the name of
in somebody/something’s name…
phrases
a change of name
give your name to something
a list of names…
2 usually singular a reputation that somebody/something has; the opinion that people have about somebody/something She first made her name as a writer of children's books.
He's made quite a name for himself (= become famous).
The college has a good name for languages.
This kind of behaviour gives students a bad name.
Collocations
adjective
verb + name
preposition
name for
phrases
somebody’s name is mud
3 (in compound adjectives) having a name or a reputation of the kind mentioned, especially one that is known by a lot of people
a big-name company
brand-name goods
4 a famous person
He is a big name in the world of rock music.
Some of the biggest names in the art world were at the party.
The event attracted many famous names from the past.
The movie needs some names in it, if it’s going to be successful.
Idioms
answer to the name of something
(especially of a pet animal) to be called something
The dog was an ugly brute, answering to the name of Spike.
be somebody’s middle name
(informal) used to say that somebody has a lot of a particular quality
‘Patience’ is my middle name!
a big noise/shot/name
an important person
by name
using the name of somebody/something
She asked for you by name.
The principal knows all the students by name.
I only know her by name (= I have heard about her but I have not met her).
The head teacher knows every child in the school by name.
by the name of…
(formal) who is called
a young actor by the name of Tom Rees
call somebody names
to use offensive words about somebody
Stop calling me names!
drag somebody through the mud/dirt | drag somebody's name through the mud/dirt
(informal) to criticize or say bad things about somebody in public, in a way that is unfair
The paper has dragged his name through the mud.
They feel their agency has been dragged through the mud by the press.
Football's good name is being dragged through the dirt.
drop names
to mention famous people you know or have met in order to impress others
She found him rather irritating to talk to; all he did was drop names.
RELATED NOUN name-dropping
enter somebody’s/your name (for something)
(also put somebody’s/your name down (for something))
to apply for a place at a school, in a competition, etc. for somebody or yourself
Have you entered your name for the quiz yet?
They’ve already put his name down for Eton College.
Have you put your name down for the school play?
give a dog a bad name
(saying) when a person already has a bad reputation, it is difficult to change it because others will continue to blame or suspect them
give your name to something
to discover or invent something which then becomes known by your name
Henry Hudson gave his name to New York's Hudson River.
Extra Examples
go by the name of…
to use a name that may not be your real one
a thief who goes by the name of ‘The Cat’
He goes by the name of Jonno.
have your/somebody’s name on it | with your/somebody’s name on it
(informal) if something has your name on it, or there is something with your name on it, it is intended for you
He took my place and got killed. It should have been me—that bullet had my name on it.
Are you coming for dinner this evening? I've got a steak here with your name on it!
in all but name
used to describe a situation which exists in reality but that is not officially recognized
He runs the company in all but name.
in God’s/Heaven’s name | in the name of God/Heaven
used especially in questions to show that you are angry, surprised or shocked
What in God's name was that noise?
Where in the name of Heaven have you been?
Some people find this use of God offensive.
in the name of somebody/something | in somebody’s/something’s name
for somebody; showing that something officially belongs to somebody
We reserved two tickets in the name of Brown.
The car is registered in my name.
Extra Examples
using the authority of somebody/something; as a representative of somebody/something
I arrest you in the name of the law.
used to give a reason or an excuse for doing something, often when what you are doing is wrong
crimes committed in the name of religion
in name only
officially recognized but not existing in reality
He's party leader in name only.
lend your name to something
(formal)
to let it be known in public that you support or agree with something
I am more than happy to lend my name to this campaign.
TOPICS Opinion and argumentC2
to have a place named after you
somebody’s name is mud
(informal, usually humorous) used to say that somebody is not liked or popular because of something they have done
Your name’s mud around here at the moment!
If you tell our secret your name will be mud round here.
name names
to give the names of the people involved in something, especially something wrong or illegal
He has accused the government of corruption and claims he is prepared to name names.
Detectives believe that a hitman was sent to silence the witness before he could name names.
the name of the game
(informal) the most important aspect of an activity; the most important quality needed for an activity
Hard work is the name of the game if you want to succeed in business.
a name to conjure with
(British English)
(North American English a name to reckon with) a person or thing that is well known and respected in a particular field
Miyazaki is still a name to conjure with among anime fans.
(humorous) used when you mention a name that you think is difficult to remember or pronounce
He comes from Tighnabruaich—now there's a name to conjure with!
put a name to somebody/something
to know or remember what somebody/something is called
I recognize the tune but I can't put a name to it.
I nodded, desperately trying to put a name to the face.
rejoice in the name of…
(British English, humorous) to have a name that sounds funny
He rejoiced in the name of Owen Owen.
a rose by any other name would smell as sweet
(saying) what is important is what people or things are, not what they are called
take somebody’s name in vain
to show a lack of respect when using somebody’s name or when talking about them
(humorous) Have you been taking my name in vain again?
to take the Lord's name in vain
(have something) to your name
to have or own something
an Olympic athlete with five gold medals to his name
She doesn’t have a penny/cent to her name (= she is very poor).
under the name (of)…
using a name that may not be your real name
The room was booked under a false name.
name
/neɪm/
name somebody/something (after somebody)
He was named after his father (= given his father's first name).
name somebody/something (for somebody)
The planet Mars is named for the Roman god of war.
name somebody/something + noun
They named their son John.
adv. + named
He plays the evil scientist, the aptly named Dr Weird.
Rust fungus is so named because of its rusty-coloured spots.
Collocations
adverb
preposition
after
for
in honour/honor of…
2 to say the name of somebody/something
name somebody/something
The victim has not yet been named.
He refused to name his accomplice.
Can you name all the American states?
The manager has named his side for the semi-final.
He correctly named the song from the clip played.
name somebody/something as somebody/something
The missing man has been named as James Kelly.
3 name something to state something exactly
Name your price.
They're engaged, but they haven't yet named the day (= chosen the date for their wedding).
Activities available include squash, archery and swimming, to name but a few.
Chairs, tables, cabinets—you name it, she makes it (= she makes anything you can imagine).
4 to choose somebody for a job or position
name somebody as something
I had no hesitation in naming him (as) captain.
name somebody (to something)
When she resigned, he was named to the committee in her place.
name somebody to do something
Mr Shah has been named to run the new research unit.
Collocations
adverb
preposition
to
phrases
Idioms
Word Origin
Old English nama, noma (noun), (ge)namian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch naam and German Name, from a root shared by Latin nomen and Greek onoma.