Regal name for a novice (5)
I believe the answer is:
royal
'regal' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'name for a novice' is the wordplay.
'name' becomes 'roy' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'for' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'novice' becomes 'L' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'roy'+'a'+'l'='ROYAL'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for royal that I've seen before include "With kingly status" , "Regal, majestic," , "Shade of blue" , "What we may get used for individual" , "one in palace?" .)