# What Does 'First' Mean In The Title Of A Business? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2022, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-first-mean-in-the-title-of-a-business/964532 "2022-05-17T04:31:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-first-mean-in-the-title-of-a-business/964532/1 "2022-05-17T04:31:37Z")
_The First Baptist Church of Minnesota_ or _The First Bank of New York_. I could go on and on. What does it mean when a place or business calls itself the _first_? Are they the first ones to take that title? Or are they first in importance? Or like Heinz’s _57 varieties_ does it essentially mean nothing? Just a random way to refer to one’s self? As in my examples, you do have to admit it is often used to refer to banks and churches, I have noticed. Though if I am wrong, please correct me, with an example, please. I couldn’t be the first (no pun intended) to wonder this 🙂 . I’m serious. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-first-mean-in-the-title-of-a-business/964532/2 "2022-05-17T04:41:32Z")
In the case of banks, “First National” means that the bank (or its predecessor) was the first bank in the city or region in which they originally operated to get a federal charter as a “[national bank](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/national-bank.asp).” You see it so often in banks because, until relatively recently, U.S. bank laws prohibited banks from operating in multiple states, and so, the banking industry was fairly decentralized – banks traditionally competed with each other at the local or (at most) state level. Being able to claim that “First” title in one’s area was traditionally seen as prestigious. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-first-mean-in-the-title-of-a-business/964532/3 "2022-05-17T05:10:21Z")
I just learned that _First Hawaiian Bank_ in Hawaii started out as _Bishop & Co._ in 1858 and didn’t change its name until 1969. And yes, it’s the first bank established in the territory of Hawaii. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First\_Hawaiian\_Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Hawaiian_Bank). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-first-mean-in-the-title-of-a-business/964532/4 "2022-05-17T09:05:15Z")
And let us not forget the [Fifth Third Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Third_Bank). ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-first-mean-in-the-title-of-a-business/964532/5 "2022-05-17T14:08:33Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And let us not forget the [Fifth Third Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Third_Bank). But if we remember the improper fraction bank in this thread we should point out that its naming is etymologically distinct from “First” meaning “literal first”. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-first-mean-in-the-title-of-a-business/964532/6 "2022-05-17T14:27:19Z")
Covered by The Master [here](https://www.straightdope.com/21343473/what-gives-with-fifth-third-bank). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-first-mean-in-the-title-of-a-business/964532/7 "2022-05-17T16:38:56Z")
I noted that, in that column, Cecil quoted Jenny (a.k.a. TubaDiva). 😢 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-first-mean-in-the-title-of-a-business/964532/8 "2022-05-17T21:34:18Z")
Just want to mention that in my city there is a Second Baptist Church. I wonder what’s up with that. If it matters,its attendees are almost exclusively Black. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-first-mean-in-the-title-of-a-business/964532/9 "2022-05-18T03:18:05Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > Just want to mention that in my city there is a Second Baptist Church. I wonder what’s up with that. It seems likely that it was simply the second Baptist church to be formed in your city.