Etymology Dictionary

NAME,  that by which a thing or person is called, a designation.  (E.)   M. E. name (orig. dissyllabic); Chaucer, C. T. 3939.—A. S. nama, noma, Grein, ii. 273. + Du. naam. + Icel. nafn, namn. + Dan. navn. + Swed. namn. + Goth. namo. + G. name, O. H. G. namo. + Lat. nomen (for gnomen); cf. Lat. co-gnomen, i-gnominia. + Gk. ὄνομα, Ionic οὔνομα (for ὄ-γνομαν; Curtius, i. 399). + Skt. náman (for jnáman; Benfey).   β. Perhaps from an Aryan form GNÂMAN, a name, designation by which a thing is known; from ✔GNA, to know; see Know.   If so, an initial k or g is lost in all but Latin; a trace of it remains in Russ. znamenié, a sign, token (from znate, to know), but even the initial n is lost in Russ. imia, a name, fame, Gaelic ainm, a name.   Der. name, vb., A. S. nemnan, Grein, ii. 280; nam-er; name-ly, M. E. nameliche, nomeliche, Ancren Riwle, p. 18, l. 17; name-less, M. E. nameles, Chaucer, tr. of Boethius, b. iv. pr. 5, l. 3762; name-less-ly, name-less-ness; also name-sake (= name's sake, the 's being dropped before s following), i.e. oe whose name is given him for the sake of another's fame, Dryden, Absalom, pt. ii. l. 323 (see Sake).   Allied words are co-gnomen, i-gnomin-i-ous, i-gno-ble; also nominal, de-nominate, noble, note, and all derivatives of Know.   Doublet, noun.   ➩ The Aryan form is disputed.