Name vs. Named

Name

A name is a term used for identification. Names can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. The entity identified by a name is called its referent. A personal name identifies, not necessarily uniquely, a specific individual human. The name of a specific entity is sometimes called a proper name (although that term has a philosophical meaning also) and is, when consisting of only one word, a proper noun. Other nouns are sometimes called “common names” or (obsolete) “general names”. A name can be given to a person, place, or thing; for example, parents can give their child a name or a scientist can give an element a name.

Caution must be exercised when translating, for there are ways that one language may prefer one type of name over another. For example, the French sometimes refer to Aristotle as “le Stagirite” from one spelling of his place of birth, and English speakers often refer to Shakespeare as “The Bard”, recognizing him as a paragon writer of the language.

Name (noun)

a word or set of words by which a person or thing is known, addressed, or referred to

“my name is John Parsons”

“Köln is the German name for Cologne”

Name (noun)

a famous person

“the big race will lure the top names”

Name (noun)

a reputation, especially a good one

“the school has gained a name for excellence”

Name (noun)

(in the UK) an insurance underwriter belonging to a Lloyd’s syndicate.

Name (verb)

give a name to

“hundreds of diseases had not yet been isolated or named”

“she decided to name the child Edward”

Name (verb)

identify correctly by name

“the dead man has been named as John Mackintosh”

Name (verb)

give a particular title or epithet to

“she was named as Student of the Year”

Name (verb)

mention by name

“the sea is as crystal clear as any spot in the Caribbean you might care to name”

Name (verb)

appoint (someone) to a particular position or task

“he was named to head a joint UN–OAS diplomatic effort”

Name (verb)

(of the Speaker) mention (a Member of Parliament) by name as disobedient to the chair and thereby subject to a ban from the House.

Name (verb)

specify (a sum, time, or place) as something desired, suggested, or decided on

“the club have asked United to name their price for the striker”

Name (adjective)

(of a person or product) having a well-known name

“specialized name brands geared to niche markets”