Appoint vs Name

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Appoint

Formal Top 2,000 (common) C1 verb

Name

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 noun

Most formal: Appoint Most common: Name

	Appoint	Name
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //əˈpɔɪnt// 🇺🇸 //əˈpɔɪnt//	🇬🇧 /["/neɪm/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/neɪm/"]/
Meaning	To choose someone for a job or position.	A word that shows who someone is.
Example	The board will appoint a new CEO next month.	My name is Sarah and I love to read.
Register	Formal	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	C1	A1
Part of speech	verb	noun
Collocations	appoint a committee, appoint a representative, appoint a task	Christian, first, given, have, bear, carry, appear, sound…, imply something, badge, tag, plate, by name, by the name of, in somebody/​something’s name, a change of name, give your name to something, a list of names, big, good, bad, have, become, make, name for, somebody’s name is mud, big, familiar, famous
Antonyms	dismiss, remove, revoke	unknown, anonymous
Common mistakes	Confusing with 'appoint' vs 'assign'; appoint is for formal roles., Using 'appoint' without an accompanying object., Incorrectly conjugating 'appoint' in different tenses.	Confusing 'name' with 'title', forgetting they are different concepts., Using 'name' as a verb incorrectly, such as 'I name the car'., Not capitalizing proper nouns when referring to names.
Usage notes	Typically used in formal contexts like hiring or assigning roles. Not suitable for informal conversations.	Use 'name' when talking about someone's personal title or identity. Avoid using it in very formal documents where titles may be more appropriate.

See it in real clips

the Romans would suspend democracy and appoint one man to protect the city.

Appoint

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

Name?

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

You have a name, an inheritance.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

Just her name.

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

Name?

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

You have a name, an inheritance.

Name

Frequently asked questions: Appoint vs Name

What's the difference between Appoint and Name?

Appoint: To choose someone for a job or position. Name: A word that shows who someone is.

Which is more formal: Appoint and Name?

Appoint is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Appoint and Name?

Name is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Appoint and Name?

Appoint is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Appoint and Name the same CEFR level?

Appoint: C1, Name: A1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Appoint and Name?

Appoint: verb, Name: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Appoint: The board will appoint a new CEO next month. Name: My name is Sarah and I love to read.

Can I use Appoint and Name interchangeably?

Not always. Appoint and Name are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.