namesake

[ neym-seyk ]

noun

1. a person or thing named after another or whose name is given to another person or thing:

   Little Dora lay asleep in the arms of her namesake, great-aunt Dora.

   The memory of Robert and Signe McMichael is honored in their namesake, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.

2. a person or thing having the same name as another:

   The cities of Hyderabad, Pakistan, and Hyderabad, India, are namesakes.

namesake

/ ˈneɪmˌseɪk /

noun

1. a person or thing named after another
2. a person or thing with the same name as another

Word History and Origins

Origin of namesake¹

First recorded in 1640–50; alteration of name's ( name + 's ¹ ) sake ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of namesake¹

C17: probably a shortening of the phrase describing people connected for the name's sake

Example Sentences

Aside from fronting his namesake band Dio from 1982 through 2010, the diminutive singer was known for his piercing vocals and being among the first rockers to flash the famed devil horns hand gesture.

From Los Angeles Times

Her administration recently deployed hundreds of troops to Sinaloa, in northern Mexico, where a war between rival factions of the state’s namesake cartel is raging.

From Los Angeles Times

Jamison began dancing for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965, a year after meeting the company’s namesake at a fruitless television audition.

From Los Angeles Times

With the ATP, he competes on the Challenger Tour, the namesake of “Challengers,” a recent Zendaya-starring film that highlighted the difficulties of life as a middling pro.

From Los Angeles Times

If the Dodgers are down 6-5 in the ninth inning, would Holmes mind if his namesake comes in and gets knocked around a bit?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brand
• flag
• label
• nickname
• sign
• signature
• style
• term