Christian name
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Tweet n. 1. A name given at baptism. Also called baptismal name. 2. A name that precedes a person's family name, especially the first name. Usage Note: Because it presupposes that an entire society is Christian, the term Christian name when used generically can be taken as offensive in diverse societies. Writers seeking a way to avoid this problem can use first name or forename instead. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.