give a name to something—assign a name to a thing:
- Go to a village and ask a peasant what his religion is. He will not be able to give a name to his religion.
give one’s name to something—(also: lend one’s name to something) allow one’s name to be associated with smth.:
- He gave his name to a well-known brand of frozen food.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have someone’s name on it—(also: have someone’s name written all over it)
1. (of a bomb, bullet, etc.) be the instrument of a person’s fate:
- The bomb probably had my name on it in the first place.
2. be especially suitable or intended for a particular person:
- Come on, Paul, there’s one piece of chocolate cake left and it’s got your name on it.
3. be characteristic of a particular person:
- When I heard about the prank, I felt it had Steve’s name written all over it.
See also: put one’s name down for something / put one’s name to something.