baptismal name

baptismal name (plural baptismal names)

1. A name given at baptism (christening).
   • 1685, Charles Cotton (translator), Essays of Michael, Seigneur de Montaigne, London: T. Basset et al., Volume 1, “Of Names,” pp. 538-539,

     Will not Posterity say, that our Modern Reformation has been wonderfully exact, in having […] proceeded so far, as to quarrel with the Ancient Baptismal Names of Charles, Lewis, and Francis, to fill the World with Methusalems, Ezekiels, and Malachies, of a more Scriptural sound?

   • 1779, William Gilpin, Lectures on the Catechism of the Church of England‎, London: R. Blamire, Volume 1, Lecture 1, p. 9:

     A custom had generally obtained, of giving a new name, upon adopting a new member into a family. […] In imitation of this common practice, the old christians gave baptismal names to their children, which were intended to point out their heavenly adoption, as their surnames distinguished their temporal alliance.

   • 1846, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, chapter 6, in Lucretia‎, volume 2, London: Saunders and Otley, page 234:

     “John Walter Ardworth, commonly called Walter; he, like me, preferred to be known only by his second baptismal name. […] ”

   • 1940, Graham Greene, The Power and the Glory‎, London: Heinemann, Part 2, Chapter 1, p. 85:

     they had been lovers—if you could give that name to a relationship in which she had never used his baptismal name

• baptismal, Christian name, saint's name

• given name, first name