noun
or pre·no·men (ˈ)prē|nōmən
( plural praenomens -nz ; or praenom·ina -|nämənə, -|nōm- ; or prenomens or prenomina )
Etymology: Latin, praenomen, from prae- pre- + nomen name — more at name
1. : the first name of a person ; especially : the first of the usual three names of an ancient Roman by which he was distiguished from others of the same family
in the name Marcus Tullius Cicero, Marcus is the praenomen
— compare agnomen , cognomen , nomen
2. : the first independent element of a name (as of a place or a biological species)
in the binomial Cynomys ludovicianus, Cynomys is both generic name and praenomen