c.1412, "act of mentioning by name," from L. nominationem (nom. nominatio), from nominare "to name," from nomen (gen. nominis) "name" (see name). Meaning "fact of being proposed as a candidate" is attested from 1494. Nominate is a back-formation, attested from 1545 in the sense "to call by name," from 1601 with the meaning "to propose for election." Nominee is first attested 1664.