Start to plead: I must have name (5)
I believe the answer is:
begin
'start' is the definition.
('begin' can be a synonym of 'start')
'plead i must have name' is the wordplay.
'plead' becomes 'beg' (begging is a kind of pleading).
'must have' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'name' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation e.g. on forms).
'beg'+'i'+'n'='BEGIN'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for begin that I've seen before include "Initiate" , "Found" , "Make a start" , "Clandestine, furtive" , "former Israeli Nobel peace prize winner" .)