It's a direct counterpart to any() and all() - first([0, [], ()]) is None for the same reason that any([0, [], ()]) and all([0, [], ()]) are both False.

If first returned the actual first item in the iterable (regardless of truth value), then it would just be "next" under a different name, which would be rather pointless.

That said, if "first" is deemed too ambiguous, then I believe "filterednext" would be a reasonable more explicit name:

>>> filterednext([0, None, False, [], (), 42])
42

>>> filterednext([0, None, False, [], ()], default=42)
42

>>> filterednext([1, 1, 3, 4, 5], key=lambda x: x % 2 == 0)
4

>>> m = filterednext(regexp.match('abc') for regexp in [re1, re2])

I also believe itertools would be a more appropriate initial home than the builtins.