eponym

An eponym is a word based on the name of a real or imaginary person.

The names of many places are eponyms. For example, the U.S. state of Pennsylvania is named after the father of the state’s founder, William Penn.

In medicine, the names of many diseases, procedures, and other things are eponyms. They are often based on the person who first described them or researched them. Examples of medical eponyms include Alzheimer’s disease (named for German neurologist Alois Alzheimer) and the Heimlich maneuver (named for U.S. physician H. J. Heimlich).

Some eponyms are adjectives. Some are based on real people, such as Shakespearean, Freudian, and Kafkaesque, while others are based on imaginary characters, such as Faustian and quixotic.

The word eponym can also refer to the person whom something is named after. Walt Disney is the eponym for The Walt Disney Company.

The adjective eponymous is used to describe someone who has given their name to something or has had something named after them, as in I met the eponymous owner of Sally’s Restaurant at the farmer’s market yesterday. 

Eponymous can also be used to describe things (restaurants, books, movies, etc.) that are named after a person.

It is also often used to describe works of art that are named after their creator or lead fictional character, as in In Robinson Crusoe, the eponymous lead character lives alone on a deserted island for 28 years. 

Example: The word Morrisonian is an eponym based on the name of author Toni Morrison.

The first records of the word eponym come from the 1840s. It’s a back formation of the adjective eponymous, meaning that eponymous came first and was altered to make the noun eponym. It comes from the Greek word epṓnymos, which means “giving name.” Ep- means “over” or “after,” the Greek -onym means “name.” The same ending is used in words like pseudonym and anonym.

Eponym is most commonly used to refer to a word that’s based on a name. Many times, it’s obvious that a word is an eponym, especially when it’s an adjective like Shakespearean. However, there are many words that many people don’t realize are based on names, such as boycott and shrapnel.

What are some other forms related to eponym?

• eponymous (adjective)
• eponymy (noun)
• eponymic (adjective)

What are some synonyms for eponym?

• namesake

What are some words that share a root or word element with eponym? 

• onymous
• homonym
• anonym
• pseudonym

What are some words that often get used in discussing eponym?

• name
• place
• word
• medical
• author
• writer
• founder
• creator
• inventor

Eponym can be used in all kinds of contexts. Eponyms are often words based on well-known people who were pioneers in their field.

I think anyone who knows that APGAR is an eponym and not an acronym deserves a 10.

— Dr. Nina L. Shapiro (@drninashapiro) November 6, 2020

The word "quixotic" is an **eponym** based on the character Don Quixote from Miguel de Cervantes's book of the same name. #WOTD

— Liz Applegate (@LizApplegate) January 29, 2016

Medical eponyms and their connection with Nazi crimes http://t.co/cRu9wG9g

— Kevin Pho, M.D. (@kevinmd) December 18, 2012

Is eponym used correctly in the following sentence?

Enzo Ferrari was the eponym for the luxury car company that bears his name.