given name

/ˈɡɪvən ˌneɪm/

//ˈɡɪvən ˌneɪm// noun

"given-name" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“given name” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The personal name chosen for a child, usually by their parents.

Corpus desk

Index EN-given-name · given name · English

given name · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "G" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for given name
PropertyValue
Headwordgiven name
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɡɪvən ˌneɪm/
Letters10
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “given name” in English

given nameranks outside the top 100,000 English headwords, in the long tail of specialist, archaic, or seldom-used vocabulary, exactly the territory where a reader stops mid-sentence to double-check spelling.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

given name is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈɡɪvən ˌneɪm/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for given name, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

This headword's origin isn't recorded in our source data, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct English form is given name, spelled G-I-V-E-N- -N-A-M-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The personal name chosen for a child, usually by their parents.
  2. 2
    A name bestowed by oneself or another, as opposed to the name given by one's parents.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how given name appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Japan: Use family names first, followed by given names, but be aware that some may introduce themselves to Westerners with their given name first.
  2. This may explain why some Chinese Americans write their Chinese name backwards. For example, the Chinese characters to Ching Tien Chay′s name show that his given name is really Tien Ching.

Synonyms

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "given name"?
"given name" is spelled G-I-V-E-N- -N-A-M-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɡɪvən ˌneɪm/.
What does "given name" mean?
As a noun, "given name" means: The personal name chosen for a child, usually by their parents.
How do you pronounce "given name"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "given name" is /ˈɡɪvən ˌneɪm/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "given name" come from?
"given name" is a English word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list