Skip to main content

given name

A given name is a person’s personal name, usually given at birth and used before the family name.

In plain English

This is the personal part of someone's name, not the shared family name. It is usually the name assigned at birth and it comes before the family name.

In context

Here, "given name" requests the person's personal name used before the family name in the applicant details.

Situation
Navigating benefits and public-service applications, evidence requests, and decision status
What it communicates
labels a personal-name entry field in the applicant details section.

Meaning limits

The term alone does not establish whether the person still uses that same personal name now.

Examples

“Although the sisters share a family name, each has a different given name.”

Core meaning

“On the application, she entered Amina as her given name and Khan as her family name.”

In context