Namesake

Namesake (sometimes "name's sake") is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that is called after, or named out of regard to, another. For example, if a target person, place, or thing is named after a source person, place, or thing, then the name target is said to be the namesake of the name source. First recorded in 1646 to mean "person named for the sake of someone", the reference to something being a namesake of something else imports a connection between the two that extends beyond sharing similarly looking names to one of a shared name, usually called the same name. Namesake may be distinguished from eponym in that a namesake usually includes a "sake" connection to the source name whereas an eponym name merely is derived from a source name without an additional sake connection.

History

The term namesake was first recorded in 1646 to mean "person named for the sake of someone". Among other recordings, the 1646 usage was carred through in an 1806 publication, entitled A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary, and Expositor of the English Language. Modern day usage has expanded to several uses for the term.

Usage

Using a namesake's name is a relatively common practice in naming children that has given rise to the large number of "Jr.", "III", and other name suffixes. Namesakes are often used in tribute to older, related persons, such as grandparents. Use of a namesake's name in a leadership position may indicate certain things, usually referring to certain traits of the namesake, such as in the use of papal regnal names.

Some commercial entities and products are named after their creators, such as the Trump Tower and Ford Motor Company. Items are also named after people associated with them, such as the teddy bear. This is especially the case with scientific discoveries and theories, such as Gibbs free energy. When the target name merely is derived from the source name without an additional "sake" connection, such usage more accurately may be called an eponym rather than a namesake.

Discrepancies

There has been some discrepancy as to whether the name source or the name target takes the term namesake. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a namesake is a person or thing named after another. In other words, the name target takes the term namesake, as in

"I was named after my grandfather. I am his namesake."

The Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary are not so restrictive. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a namesake is a person or thing having the same name as another. Webster's Dictionary defines "namesake" as "one that has the same name as another; esp. one who is named after another or for whom another is named", allowing the usage of:

"I met a person who happened to have the same name as me. We are namesakes."

By "for whom another is named", Webster's Dictionary allows the term namesake to be used in reference to the name source as in,

"I was named after my grandfather. He is my namesake."

Examples of namesakes

Popular culture

the teddy bear (after Theodore Roosevelt)
the Nintendo mascot, Mario (after Mario Segali)
Daughtry (for its frontman, Chris Daughtry)
Van Halen (for its founding brothers Eddie & Alex Van Halen)
The Jackson 5 (later known as The Jacksons) (for its members Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Michael, Randy Jackson, Rebbie, & Janet Jackson)
Hanson (for its members Isaac, Taylor, & Zac Hanson)
Fleetwood Mac (for its member Mick Fleetwood)

Scientific terms

Von Neumann architecture (after John von Neumann)
Gibbs free energy (after Josiah Willard Gibbs)
Michaelis-Menten kinetics (after Leonor Michaelis and Maud Menten)

Sports

Heisman Trophy (after John Heisman)

Commercial products and entities

Bose Corporation (after Amar Bose)
Cox Enterprises (after James M. Cox)
Craigslist (after Craig Newmark)
Dell, Inc. (after Michael Dell)
The Walt Disney Company (after Walt Disney, one of the company's co-founders)
Godrej Group (after Pirojsha and Ardeshir Godrej)
Heineken International (after Gerard Adriaan Heineken)
Koch Industries (after Fred C. Koch)
Loews Theaters/Loews Incorporated (after Marcus Loew)
Mars, Inc. (after Franklin Clarence Mars)
Morgan Stanley (after Henry S. Morgan and Harold Stanley)
Prada (after Mario Prada)
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (after Martha Stewart)
Thomson Corporation (after David Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet)
Trump Organization and Trump Entertainment Resorts (after Donald Trump)
Ty Inc. (after Ty Warner)
Wal-Mart and Sam's Club (after Sam Walton)
Warner Bros. (after Harry, Albert, Sam, & Jack Warner)
Fox Film Corporation & Fox (after William Fox)
The Jim Henson Company (after Jim Henson)

Professional examples

pope
regnal name

Translation of "Namesake"

Dutch: Naamgenoot, Russian: Тёзка, Swedish: Namne.