Binomial nomenclature was first proposed by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century. It quickly became the accepted standard for naming species, and it is still used today. Binomial nomenclature is a useful system because it provides a unique and unambiguous name for each species. This makes it possible to identify and communicate about species without confusion.
The genus name is a general term that refers to a group of related species. The species name is a more specific term that refers to a particular species within a genus. For example, the genus *Felis* includes all of the species of cats, including the common house cat (*Felis catus*), the lion (*Felis leo*), and the tiger (*Felis tigris*).
Binomial nomenclature is not just used for naming animals. It is also used for naming plants, fungi, and other organisms. For example, the scientific name of the common daisy is *Bellis perennis*.