# Word for naming something after somebody?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-naming-something-after-somebody/142827>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 15, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-naming-something-after-somebody/142827 "2002-12-15T02:07:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-naming-something-after-somebody/142827/1 "2002-12-15T02:07:05Z")

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Is there a word for honoring someone by naming something after them (like a building), such as in the George Bush Airport? We were thinking “honorarium,” but that seems to involve paying money.

My dad swears there’s a word for this, but none of us can think of it.

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**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-naming-something-after-somebody/142827/2 "2002-12-15T02:10:15Z")

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Eponymy

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**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-naming-something-after-somebody/142827/3 "2002-12-15T02:10:51Z")

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I think eponymous is what your looking for.

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**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-naming-something-after-somebody/142827/4 "2002-12-15T02:27:34Z")

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Thanks, I don’t think that’s quite right. The root word, “eponym,” is defined as “one for whom or which something is or is believed to be named.” The word I need has to imply naming something for somebody (still living) purposely, to honor them.

It’s close, though.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-naming-something-after-somebody/142827/5 "2002-12-15T02:29:17Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Loopus \*  
> **Thanks, I don’t think that’s quite right.**

Oops. That should be “Thanks, **but** …”