---
title: givenName
description: Part of a person's name that is neither their surname nor their middle name.
component: pingds
version: 8.1
page_id: pingds:schemaref:at-givenName
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/schemaref/at-givenName.html
---

# givenName

Part of a person's name that is neither their surname nor their middle name.

|                             |                                                                |
| --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| *OID*                       | 2.5.4.42                                                       |
| *Names*                     | givenName                                                      |
| *Superior type*             | [name](at-name.html)                                           |
| *Syntax*                    | [DirectoryString](s-DirectoryString.html)                      |
| *Equality matching rule*    | [caseIgnoreMatch](mr-caseIgnoreMatch.html)                     |
| *Ordering matching rule*    | [caseIgnoreOrderingMatch](mr-caseIgnoreOrderingMatch.html)     |
| *Substring matching rule*   | [caseIgnoreSubstringsMatch](mr-caseIgnoreSubstringsMatch.html) |
| *Single value*              | false: multiple values allowed                                 |
| *User modification allowed* | true                                                           |
| *Usage*                     | userApplications                                               |
| *Origin*                    | [RFC 4519](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc4519)      |
| *Schema file*               | 00-core.ldif                                                   |
| *Used by*                   | [inetOrgPerson](oc-inetOrgPerson.html)                         |