Unnamed means not given a name or not identified by name. When a baby is born and the parents haven't chosen a name yet, the baby remains unnamed until they decide. In stories, an unnamed narrator tells the tale without the author revealing who they are.

The word often appears in news reports: “An unnamed source provided information to the reporter” means someone shared details but wanted to keep their identity secret. Journalists sometimes protect their sources this way, especially when revealing a name could get someone in trouble.

Sometimes unnamed suggests mystery or importance through absence. In some Western movies, a main character goes unnamed, which can make the character seem more legendary and mysterious than if they had an ordinary name. An unnamed grave marks where someone is buried but doesn't tell visitors who rests there, which can feel lonely and forgotten.

Scientists discovering new species initially work with unnamed creatures until they formally classify them. A newly discovered beetle might be “an unnamed species of scarab” until researchers study it enough to give it a proper scientific name.