Distinguishing Between First Name & Last Name

First Name vs Last Name

In general, people around you may not pay much attention to the difference between your first and last names, and may call you by whichever of the two they prefer. Friends and colleagues usually call you by your first name, while in official communication, your last name is often preferred. In Western cultures, the distinction between first and last names is clear. However, the situation can become confusing when the first name appears last and the last name, also known as the family name or surname, appears first, which is common in many Asian cultures. Let’s explore the differences between first and last names. Understanding the difference between first and last names is especially important when filling out forms that require personal information.

Key Takeaways

• First name is a person’s given name, while last name is typically their family name or surname.
• In Western cultures, the first name is the person’s individual name, while in some Asian cultures, the name that appears first is often the surname of the individual.
• First names are usually used in friendly, informal situations, whereas last names are used in formal and official circumstances.

What is First Name?

Regardless of culture, a person’s first name is their given name, though the order of this name in the full name may vary across different cultures. In Western cultures, the name given to a baby at birth or at the time of baptism is called their given name or first name. This name distinguishes them from their family members. For example, if your friend’s given name is Steve and his family name is Smith, it is clear that Steve is his first name. Similarly, if a Japanese person is given the name Hiro at birth, that is his given name and, universally, it is his first name, even though it may not appear first when written in Japanese culture.

What is Last Name?

The last name is typically a person’s family name, as most cultures place their family name after their given name. So, if your friend’s name is Steve Smith, you know that Smith is the last name shared by all of his family members. The distinction between first and last names is usually clear in Western cultures, where the first name is always the individual’s given name or Christian name, and the last name is always the family name or surname.

However, this custom may lead you to expect that your Chinese friend, Wang Lee, has Wang as his first name. In reality, Wang is his family name or surname, and his first name is Lee. Here, Chinese culture changes the way people place their names, but this does not change the universal definition of the last name. Though Wang is not placed last, it is the name that indicates the family name. So, when someone asks for his last name, your friend will say Wang.

What is the difference between First Name and Last Name?

• Definition of First Name and Last Name:
• First name is the name that appears first in a person’s name.
• First name is often the name given to a child upon birth and is also called their Christian name or given name.
• Last name is the one that is used at the end of a name and, in most cases, is the family name or surname of an individual.
• Culture and First Name:
• In Western culture, the first name is the person’s individual name or their given name.
• In some Asian cultures such as Chinese and Japanese, the name that appears first is often the surname of the individual, which is the common name shared by all family members. That is the order it appears.
• However, in the universal context, what is referred to as the first name is the given name.
• Culture and Last Name:
• In Western culture, the name that appears last in someone’s name is their surname or family name.
• On the other hand, in cultures such as Chinese and Japanese, the name that appears last is often the given name or the Christian name of the individual. This is because the placement of names is different in these cultures.
• However, in the universal context, what is referred to as the last name is the family name or surname.
• Formality:
• The first name or the Christian name is used in friendly informal circumstances.
• The last name or the family name is used in formal and official circumstances.
 
Images Courtesy: Oliver Twist and David Copperfield via Wikicommons (Public Domain)