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up vote 2 down vote favorite

Something along the lines of 'hero of the occasion', but specifically for birthday? If there isn't, how would you otherwise say that?

('the subject of birthday party', 'the hero of this birthday party', 'birthday's hero' all sound stupid somehow).

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3 Answers

up vote 16 down vote

I have often heard the person in question informally referred to as the "Birthday Boy/Girl". e.g.

The birthday girl was having a wonderful time at her party.

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I've heard this used before, but it feels highly colloquial. – dbkk Jan 8 '11 at 5:15
@dbkk, it is highly colloquial, but there isn't any more formal alternative. Plus, how many times do you have to discuss birthday parties in a formal setting? – JSBձոգչ Jan 8 '11 at 6:04
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Perhaps "birthday gent" and "birthday lady" would do: just formal enough to avoid being inadvertently demeaning by saying "boy" or "girl", and just informal enough to retain some lightheartedness. They're still perhaps a bit posh, but a time for all things, right? – Jon Purdy Jan 8 '11 at 16:17
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If you want a short term, "Birthday Boy/Girl" is the standard terminology, informal as it is. If you really need formality, then you will have to use a longer descriptive term such as "the person whose birthday is being celebrated". – nohat♦ Jan 8 '11 at 18:53
up vote 4 down vote

In a birthday situation, the word 'celebrant' would be generally understood to mean the one whose birthday is being celebrated.

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The word "celebrant" is perhaps more commonly used to refer to someone presiding over a religious ceremony (priest, vicar etc). – psmears Jan 9 '11 at 17:25
@psmears: It depends on the context, situation or environment. Here in the US, this word may not be widely used, but in the part of the English-speaking world where I spent my formative years, celebrant was (and still is) the default term for the person celebrating the birthday; even seven year-olds use and understand this word. – Jimi Oke Jan 9 '11 at 21:02
I'm not contradicting you - just pointing out (for the benefit of those who haven't come across the word) that it does have this other meaning! – psmears Jan 9 '11 at 21:31
@psmears: Point taken! No hard feelings. – Jimi Oke Jan 10 '11 at 2:51
In Virginia, a celebrant is a legal term meaning one who is authorized to preside over a wedding (sometimes a clergyman or a judge but often just someone who registered with the Commonwealth to fill that role) -- not the parties being wed. – Malvolio Jul 19 '11 at 21:51
up vote 4 down vote

Though its usage isn't limited to birthday parties, I like "guest of honor."

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