What are the definitions of “name after”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Give someone a name to remember another person.
I was NAMED AFTER my uncle who died in the war.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “name after”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb name after is to give someone a name in honor of or to remember another person. This is often done to pay tribute to a family member or a close friend.
What are the different verb forms of “name after”?
| Root Verb | name after |
| Third Person Singular Present | names after |
| Present Participle | naming after |
| Simple Past | named after |
| Past Participle | named after |
Example
She named her daughter after her grandmother.
Example
He names all his pets after famous musicians.
Example
They are naming their son after his great-grandfather.
Example
The park was named after a local hero.
Example
The street has been named after the town's founder.
What kind of phrasal verb is “name after”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“name after” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She named her daughter after her grandmother.
Example
The park was named after a local hero.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“name after” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She named her daughter after her grandmother.
Example
The park was named after a local hero.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “name after”?
Good things to know
Does “name after” have an informal or formal tone?
Name after is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversations, as well as more formal settings, such as academic writing or professional discussions.
