namesake

noun

name·​sake ˈnām-ˌsāk How to pronounce namesake (audio)
: one that has the same name as another
especially : one who is named after another or for whom another is named
His grandson and namesake is the spit and image of him … —Robert Graves

Examples of namesake in a Sentence

How much did President George Bush influence his son and namesake George W. Bush?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Lightning Jewel Orchid, Macodes petola, has dark green leaves with reflective yellow lines, living up to its namesake. — Dr. Matthew Lisy, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026 He was ousted from Dior and his namesake fashion house in 2011 following racist and antisemitic outbursts at a Paris bar. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 31 July 2026 Surveyors voted for Buc-ee because of his namesake’s clean bathrooms and the fact that the gas station has become a road trip landmark for tourists. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026 The Leadville 100 run started in 1983 as a way to revive its namesake town following the closure of the nearby Climax Molybdenum Mine. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for namesake

Word History

Etymology

probably from name's sake

First Known Use

circa 1635, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of namesake was circa 1635

Rhymes for namesake

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Browse Nearby Words

namer
namesake
name tag
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Cite this Entry

“Namesake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/namesake. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

namesake

noun
name·​sake ˈnām-ˌsāk How to pronounce namesake (audio)
: one that has the same name as another
especially : one named after another

More from Merriam-Webster on namesake

Nglish: Translation of namesake for Spanish Speakers

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