birth name
Certificate's first entry
A birth name is the name given to a person at birth, as recorded on their birth certificate.
The term distinguishes this original name from names adopted later—through marriage, religious conversion, legal change, or professional use: Her birth name was Margaret, but she went by Peggy.
Celebrities often have birth names different from their stage names.
Chart of ancestors
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- surnameHereditary family identifier
- patronymicName from father's name
matronymic · bloodline · descent · kinship · forebears · heredity · family history · genealogist
Given name at birth
- christenedRitually named, often religiously
- surnameHereditary family identifier
- monikerInformal designation for someone
- appellationName or title given
newborn · namesake · naming ceremony · godparents · christening · bris · honorific
Formal recording of participation
- vital recordsOfficial life event documentation
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
- passportGovernment-issued travel credential
naturalization · court order · affidavit · registry · attestation · authentication · amendment · sealed records
Individual identity, personhood
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- self-identificationClaiming an identity label
- personal historyAccount of someone's life
- self-conceptOne's own identity perception
individuality · personhood · self-expression · belonging · cultural identity · ethnic identity · reclaiming · deadname
family tree
Chart of ancestors
patronymic · matronymic · bloodline · descent · kinship · forebears · heredity · family history · genealogist · roots
forename
Given name at birth
- christenedRitually named, often religiously
- surnameHereditary family identifier
- monikerInformal designation for someone
appellation · newborn · namesake · naming ceremony · godparents · christening · bris · honorific
registration
Formal recording of participation
- vital recordsOfficial life event documentation
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
passport · naturalization · court order · affidavit · registry · attestation · authentication · amendment · sealed records · adoption records
selfhood
Individual identity, personhood
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- self-identificationClaiming an identity label
- personal historyAccount of someone's life
self-concept · individuality · personhood · self-expression · belonging · cultural identity · ethnic identity · reclaiming · deadname · renaming
- namesgiven names, first names, names, surnames, last names
- name typespatronymic, matronymic, nicknames, pseudonyms, pen names
- biographydeath date, autobiography, life story, biography, personal narrative
- identityidentity, personal identity, self, selfhood, self-expression
- surnamesSmith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, Jones
- birth recordscertified copy, registration number, registrar, vital statistics, long form
birth namestage name
Performer's professional alias
pseudonym · pen name · alias · assumed name · screen name