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.
And on the flipside, Michael Dell, who owns 40% of his namesake tech company, gained around $122 billion between September of this year and the same time in 2025—nearly doubling his wealth within the span of that year. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 Dean Fryer, the restaurant’s namesake, nursed a pint outside while chatting with creative director Nicholas Blechman. — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 Earlier this week, Kidman herself cashed in on her namesake song’s success, filming a TikTok along to the track with Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal and Dua Lipa. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 Its North American beverage unit, which includes its namesake soda and Gatorade, among other brands, saw organic volume trends pick up, thanks to its functional hydration and zero-sugar drinks. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 8 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 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
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