Prenomes

Prenomes is a term that appears in onomastics and linguistics with varying usage, but it is not a single, universally defined concept. In many contexts, it is used as a synonym for a personal given name or forename—the name a person is typically addressed by—though most scholarly discussion uses more precise terms such as forename or given name. In classical studies, the related term is praenomen, the first element of a Roman personal name that precedes the nomen (the gens name). The praenomen was often abbreviated and used within a family or social circle to distinguish individuals who shared the same nomen.

Etymology and related terms: Praenomen comes from Latin prae- ‘before’ and nomen ‘name.’ In modern Romance languages, cognates such as French prénom and Portuguese prenome designate the given name, i.e., the name placed before the surname in everyday use. The English equivalents for general purposes are forename or given name. The spelling prenomes is sometimes encountered in non-English texts or as an anglicized plural form, but it is not standard in formal English.

Usage and cultural context: In cultures that use multiple given names, the first or principal prenomen is often the name most commonly used in daily life, while additional forenames may appear on legal documents or in formal contexts. The distinction between praenomen (historical) and forename (modern) reflects changes in naming conventions over time and across regions.

See also: Forename, Given name, Praenomen, Personal name, Surname.