to baptize / name
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to baptize
To admit someone into the Christian community in a religious ceremony, usually by wetting them with water, and give them a name.
Das Baby wurde am Sonntag in der alten Dorfkirche getauft.
The baby was baptized on Sunday in the old village church.
to name
To ceremonially give a name to something, such as a ship, product, or project.
Das neue Forschungsschiff wurde auf den Namen „Polarstern II“ getauft.
The new research vessel was named 'Polarstern II'.
The name that is given is always introduced with the preposition 'auf' and the accusative. The structure is: jemanden/etwas auf den Namen [Name] taufen (to baptize/name someone/something with the name [Name]).
Sie tauften ihre Tochter auf den Namen Anna.
They named their daughter Anna.
The related noun is 'die Taufe' (baptism/christening). It refers both to the religious ceremony and to the act of naming something.
Die ganze Familie war bei der Taufe anwesend.
The whole family was present at the baptism.
You can tell whether the religious or the figurative meaning is meant from the object. If it is a person (baby, child), it usually refers to religious baptism. If it is a thing (ship, product, animal), it refers to naming.
Der Winzer taufte seinen neuen Wein auf einen besonderen Namen.
The winemaker gave his new wine a special name.
In the figurative meaning of naming, 'taufen' (to name) is often used for ships, new products, inventions, baby animals in zoos, or even storms.
Das Sturmtief wurde auf den Namen „Sabine“ getauft.
The storm system was named 'Sabine'.
to call / name
Nennen can simply mean giving something a name or stating that name. Taufen, by contrast, refers to giving something a name ceremonially. Use nennen for a factual statement of a name and taufen when a naming celebration or ceremony is meant.
Bei der Feier taufte die Werft das neue Schiff „Seestern“.
At the ceremony, the shipyard ceremonially named the new ship “Seestern.”
Die Werft nannte das neue Schiff „Seestern“.
The shipyard named the new ship “Seestern.”
