Namesake

Namesake

Noun · /ˈneɪm.seɪk/

Definition

A person or thing that has the same name as another; a person named after another person or bearing the same name as someone else.

Origin

From name + sake — with sake here used in its archaic sense of cause, account, or purpose (as in for the sake of). The compound namesake therefore meaning one who bears a name for the sake of (i.e., in honour of) another. The word appearing in English from the mid-17th century. Sake in this sense being related to Old English sacu (lawsuit, quarrel, cause), from Proto-Germanic *sakō, related to German Sache (thing, matter, cause). The same sake appearing in for the sake of, for goodness' sake, and for heaven's sake.