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

The 37-year-old singer released “Eusexua” in January as both the namesake of her record and a term she coined to describe a transcendent state of being.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The company said it would focus on its namesake brand and develop new basketball products on its own.

Read more on MarketWatch

The company said Thursday the separation will allow it to focus on its namesake brand, with plans to develop new basketball products.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Chuckwalla National Monument is more than an epic expanse of towering rocks, hidden canyons, ghost flowers, smoke trees and its namesake lizard.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Its namesake Pepsi soda has lost market share to competitors like Dr. Pepper and Sprite.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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