FIRSTNAME

First name, also called given name or forename, is the part of a personal name that is given to an individual at birth or chosen later and used to identify the person in everyday life. In many Western cultures, the first name precedes the family name, and people may also have one or more middle names that are used less often in daily speech.

Terminology and form usage vary. The terms first name, given name, and forename are largely interchangeable in English. In historical or religious contexts, the term Christian name is sometimes used. In identity documents and data systems, fields are often labeled as first name or given name, and may be distinguished from surname or family name and from middle name.

Cultural and linguistic variation shapes how a first name is chosen and experienced. In East Asian cultures, the family name often appears before the given name in written form, which can affect everyday usage. In many Arabic- and Hispanic-speaking communities, individuals may have multiple given names; only the first or the preferred one is commonly used in daily life. Indian naming practices frequently include several given names and multiple surnames or regional identifiers. The first given name can carry personal, familial, religious, or ethnic significance and may be used alongside or instead of a middle name.

Legal, social, and technological contexts influence how first names are recorded and recognized. Naming conventions can affect identity verification, gender presentation, and form entry in digital services. Some people choose to use a nickname, a middle name as their primary name, or a different order of names in different settings. See also: forename, given name, middle name, surname.