former name

USAGE SUMMARY

"former name" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you need to refer to a name that was previously associated with a person, place, or thing. For example: "The city of Columbus was known by its former name, Whiteville, until the late 1800s."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its former name was Odell's.

The New York Times

Tim Blair, said, using Myanmar's former name.

The New York Times

There are references to "Leningrad" and "Video Display Terminals" and "the former name of Zaire," now itself a former name.

The New York Times

And so, I leave my former name behind.

The Guardian - Books

It is Piestewa Peak — not Squaw Peak, its former name.

The New York Times

The report also misstated the arena's former name.

The New York Times

"The former name contained things that are no longer relevant to the group".

The New York Times

bar, have been calling the Los Angeles Dodgers by their former name - Brookly.

The New Yorker

He subsequently became president and restored the country's former name, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Maputo derived its former name from the Portuguese trader who first explored the region in 1544.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Founded in 1966, the group is better known by its former name, Rural Development Institute.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve clarity, after mentioning the "former name", immediately provide the current name in the same sentence. Example: "The country's former name, Burma, is now Myanmar."

Common error

Avoid using "former name" when referring to a nickname or informal designation. A nickname is not a "former name", but rather an alternative or affectionate term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former name" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an appositive or in conjunction with a possessive pronoun. It serves to identify a designation that was previously used, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "former name" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term to refer to a previous designation of a person, place, or thing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile and appears across various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. When using "former name", it is best practice to clearly identify the current name to avoid confusion. While alternatives like "previous name" or "earlier name" exist, the choice depends on the specific context. However it is worth remebering that is disrespectful to use someones "former name" without permission.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous name

Focuses on the idea that the name was used directly before the current one.

original name

Emphasizes the name that was initially given or used.

earlier name

Highlights that the name was used at an earlier point in time.

birth name

Specifically refers to the name given at birth, mainly for people.

past name

Simply indicates that the name was used in the past.

maiden name

Specifically refers to a woman's surname before marriage.

renamed from

Highlights the act of changing the name from a prior designation.

bygone name

Suggests the name is no longer in use and perhaps forgotten.

historical name

Indicates the name has significance in history.

deprecated name

Implies the name is no longer recommended or supported.

FAQs

How can I use "former name" in a sentence?

You can use "former name" to refer to a previous designation of a place, person, or organization. For example: "The city's "former name" was New Amsterdam."

What's the difference between "former name" and "original name"?

"Former name" simply indicates a name used in the past. "Original name" implies it was the first name ever used.

What can I say instead of "former name"?

You can use alternatives like "previous name", "earlier name", or "original name" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use someone's "former name"?

In the case of transgender individuals, it's generally disrespectful to use their "former name" (also known as deadname) unless they have given explicit permission or it's relevant to the context.