your good name

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English

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Etymology

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In modern South English, likely calque of Bengali ভালো নাম (bhalō nam), Hindi शुभ नाम (śubh nām, literally good name), and similar collocations in other Indian languages.

Good has a sense similar to honourable, as in older English phrases such as “good sir” or “your good wife”.

Phrase

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your good name

  1. (respectful, South Asia, also archaic UK) Your name.
    • 1838, Bentley's Miscellany: Proceedings of the Wide Awake Club, page 361:
      ‘Society ought to be proud of such men as you, Mr. – what is your good name, sir?’ – ‘Phiggins, at your service.’
    • 1972, Narinder Chadha, The drop out:
      'That must be your nick name. But what's your good name ?' 'I ain't get any bad name only one name Goofy.' She laughs. 'It's a funny name for a man.'
    • 1998, Civacaṅkari, Knit India Through Literature: The East:
      The man moved a little away and cleaned himself. "And your good name?" "You can call me Satyadas."
    • 2004, Michael Muhammad Knight, The taqwacores:
      “What's your good name?” I asked him. “Marcos,” he replied.
    • 2004, James O'Reilly, Larry Habegger, Travelers' Tales India: True Stories:
      What is your good name, sahib?