A distinct name is used for a particular category or a certain object. It is used by Xunzi (313?-238 BC) in contrast with “general name.” A name should denote the nature of a thing. Things in the same category that have unique features can be referred to by “distinct names.” Subsets within that category with further characteristics of their own can in turn have a higher-level “distinct name.” A distinct name with the broadest reference is called “broad distinct name.”

Sometimes we wish to speak of them in part, and so we refer to them as “birds and beasts.” “Birds and beasts” in this case is a broad distinct name. We can break it down to make ever more distinctions, drawing finer distinctions within fine distinctions until no more distinctions can be made. (Xunzi)