Certainly the term 'forename' has been in common use since I was a child several decades ago. A Christian name is that 'given' through baptism and has little to do with the secular process of civil registration. Even in the nineteenth century there were many people who did not follow a Christian faith. The term forename is therefore much more accurate rather than a gesture of political correctness. It also contrasts with those societies where the family name is placed first. An even more accurate term is 'given name', but I suspect that would upset Barry even more! :-) Peter Hendy-Ibbs >BTW - just out of interest, why the use of "forenames"? This is a word I'd >never heard of until about ten years ago. The people whose names we are >transcribing were overwhelmingly Christian, and would certainly have used >the term "Christian name" themselves, as I have always done and still do. >"Forename" seems to me to be anachronistic; an imposition of political >correctness. If I were given to using the language of the politically >correct, I'd say that the use of the term "forename" in a C19 context was >offensive. But I'm not, so I don't. I just refuse to use the term myself. > >I hope that doesn't offend anyone. > >Barry Johnson >Monmouthshire > > >