Many of us have names that are derived from another person. This was not accidental. It was chosen with the intent of carrying on the lineage’s honor in our lives.

Many Johns exist in the world. But even if you are one of them, you might be different from thousands of others because of who your name is. Is your name John after your father John?

Perhaps your parents were patriots, and named you John Quincy Adams. Namesake Day asks you to discover the history behind your name and celebrate it.

The world has a long tradition in naming people after others, usually our parents or grandparents but also aunts or uncles or famous people whom you hold high.

Namesakes are not just for people. Not at all! Named for the Trump Tower’s builder and for the man who ran it (and was elected president in 2016).

Ford Motor Company was named for Henry Ford, its founder. This is an eponymous nameake. The term eponymous refers to either a person who gives their name to something or a thing that is named after someone.

You can name animals after them, as well. Take for example the St. Bernard Beethoven character in the film of the same title.

Namesakes are vehicles of all kinds. For example, the USS Washington or the USS Gerald R. Ford were named after presidents of the United States. The Chakri Dynasty is also reflected in the name of the Royal Thai Navy’s HTMS Chakri Narebet.

Namesakes can be found everywhere. Namesake Day encourages everyone to look into the history of their name to see if they are your namesakes.

It’s a great way to celebrate Namesake Day by contacting your parents to find out who they are. You might be able to take the person out for dinner or spend the day with them if they are still alive. It is always beneficial to learn about your heritage and roots, and your namesake is a part of that heritage.