What's in a name Meaning in English

expression

US

WUHTS-in-uh-NAYM

UK

WOTS-in-uh-NAYM

Definition

This phrase means that the name of something or someone is not important; what matters is the person or thing itself. It originates from Shakespeare and questions the true value of names.

Usage & Nuances

Literary, often used humorously or philosophically, especially to downplay the importance of names. It comes from Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet.' Usually rhetorical rather than literal.

• Spanish: ¿Qué hay en un nombre? - El nombre no es lo importante (expresión literaria)
• Portuguese (BR): O que há em um nome? - O nome não importa (expressão literária)
• Portuguese (PT): O que há num nome? - O nome não é relevante (expressão literária)
• Chinese (Simplified): 名字重要吗？ - 名字没那么重要（文学说法）
• Chinese (Traditional): 名字重要嗎？ - 名字沒那麼重要（文學用語）
• Hindi: एक नाम में क्या रखा है? - नाम का महत्व नहीं (साहित्यिक अभिव्यक्ति)
• Arabic: ما أهمية الاسم؟ - الاسم لا يهم (تعبير أدبي)
• Bengali: নামের কী গুরুত্ব আছে - নামেই বা কী আসে যায়
• Russian: имя не важно - что в имени
• Japanese: 名前に意味はあるのか - 名前は関係ない
• Vietnamese: tên có quan trọng gì đâu
• Korean: 이름이 무슨 상관이야 - 이름이 뭐가 중요해
• Turkish: isimde ne var - ismin ne önemi var
• Urdu: نام میں کیا رکھا ہے
• Indonesian: apa arti sebuah nama - nama tidak penting

Example Sentences

He said, "What's in a name?" to show the name doesn't matter.

basic

What's in a name when everyone still respects her?

basic

Juliet asks, "What's in a name?" in the famous play.

basic

People always argue over brands, but really, what's in a name?

natural

Call it what you want—what's in a name if the meaning stays the same?

natural

She changed her company's name, but customers didn’t mind—what’s in a name?

natural