Mononym

Mononym

ˈmänəˌnim

Noun

  • A person’s name consisting of one word, typically a first name without a surname.

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Example Sentences

“‘Beyoncé’ is one of the most recognizable mononyms today.”

“John wanted to use his first name as a mononym, but he worried it wasn’t exciting enough.”

“The singer was trying to use a mononym, but ‘Alice’ wasn’t unique enough to catch on.”

Word Origin

Greek, late 19th century

Why this word?

“Mononym” combines the Greek “monos,” meaning “alone,” with the suffix “-onym,” referring to a name. A mononym (one-word name) is often a first name, but celebrities are always stretching the limits. First-name-only celebs include Madonna (Louise Ciccone), Beyoncé (Giselle Knowles), and Prince (Rogers Nelson). Some — including magician (Raymond Joseph) Teller and musician (Stephen) Morrissey — use their last names. Other mononymous stars, including Sting, Bono, Pink, Lorde, and Eminem, use nicknames or names they’ve chosen for themselves.

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ˈpēk(w)ənt