name after

name after (third-person singular simple present names after, present participle naming after, simple past and past participle named after)

1. To give (someone or something) the name of another person, place, or thing; to name (someone or something) in honour of

   Synonym: (less common, chiefly North American) name for

   The scientist named his newly discovered species after a famous pop artist.

   The scientist discovered a new species, which he named after a famous pop artist.

• The direct object is the thing named (here, the species). The object of the preposition after is the thing that inspires the naming (here, the artist).

• aftername