芳名

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 芳名 is read as ほうめい. It is a formal honorific noun for another person’s name.
• Basic usage: It appears in official contexts such as 芳名帳, a guest register, or in announcements naming honored donors.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Not for one’s own name
  • Because it is honorific, a speaker does not ordinarily call their own name 芳名; it refers respectfully to someone else’s name.
• Formality versus 名前
  • It is more ceremonial and respectful than everyday 名前, fitting receptions, donor lists, and formal events.