# namely

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈneɪmli/ · frequency rank #6,936

## Definitions
1. Specifically; that is to say.
2. Especially, above all.

## Etymology
From Middle English namely, nameliche, namelike, equivalent to name + -ly. Cognate with Saterland Frisian nämmelk, West Frisian nammentlik, Dutch namelijk, German Low German nämlich, German nämlich, Danish nemlig, Swedish nämligen, Icelandic nefnilega.

## Easily confused with
- **names** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/namely-vs-names)
- **navel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/namely-vs-navel)
- **nicely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/namely-vs-nicely)
- **name** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/name-vs-namely)
- **named** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/named-vs-namely)
- **naively** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/naively-vs-namely)

## Common misspellings (9)
`anmely`, `naemly`, `namelly`, `namelyy`, `nameyl`, `namley`, `nammely`, `nmaely`, `nnamely`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/namely