While a noun names a person, place, thing, or idea a proper noun gets more specific. It gives us the actual name of the person, place, thing, or idea. The actual names of people are proper nouns.So are the names of states, streets, rivers, oceans, countries, companies, institutions, churches, and more.hile a noun names a person, place, thing, or idea a proper noun gets more specific. It gives us the actual name of the person, place, thing, or idea. The actual names of people are proper nouns.