This verb means to give a name to something, call something by a name, or apply a designation. In Romans 2:17, Paul addresses those who 'call themselves Jews' or 'bear the name Jew'—who take that identity title. Classical usage involved applying words as names to things or calling people by specific names or titles. The middle voice emphasizes self-designation or identification. The multilingual evidence shows interpretive choice: are-called, te-llamas (you call yourself), appeler (to call)—all circling the act of naming or designation, with various emphases on who does the naming.