Origin and history of nominal

French for "name" (9c.), from Latin nomen (see nominal). It is used in various phrases in English, such as nom de guerre (1670s) "fictitious name used by a person engaged in some action," literally "war name" and formerly in France a name taken by a soldier on entering the service, and nom de théâtre "stage name" (1874). Nom de plume (1823) "pseudonym used by a writer," literally "pen name," is a phrase invented in English in imitation of nom de guerre. Fowler suggests it is "ridiculous for English writers to use a French phrase that does not come from France."

"the view that treats abstract concepts as names only, not realities; the doctrine that common nouns are mere conveniences in thought or speech, representing nothing in the real things," 1820, from French nominalisme (1752), from nominal, from Latin nominalis "pertaining to a name or names" (see nominal). Related: Nominalist (1650s); nominalistic.

Medieval thinkers, especially those of the twelfth century, are classified as being either nominalists or realists; modern philosophers have generally joined in the condemnation of medieval realism, but have nevertheless been mostly rather realists than nominalists. [Century Dictionary, 1895]