Named for

12 replies

WhatKatyDidnt · 01/05/2017 11:08

I've noticed more and more people saying "Baby was named for his grandad" or "Baby was named for the wonderful midwife"...

Surely it should be "named after"?

OP posts:

divingworldchampion · 01/05/2017 11:20

Yes, I agree. Also, the use of 'excited for' e.g I'm really excited for the bank holiday. Again, it's excited about isn't it?

DadDadDad · 02/05/2017 13:47

I believe "named for" is standard American English, so maybe it is creeping into British usage.

EphraimWaite · 02/05/2017 18:37

Hmmm. I'm not sure it's 'incorrect', exactly. It suggests 'in tribute to', or a sort of memorial 'gift' to someone. Doesn't sound quite right, but I don't think it's wrong.

AtlantaGinandTonic · 23/05/2017 22:27

I'm American. I've never heard anyone say someone was 'named for' anyone. I was named after a random stranger being called over a PA system in a shop. I'm wasn't named for that person.

DadDadDad · 24/05/2017 16:34

Well, they don't come more American than Harvard College, which says on its website:

Harvard was founded in 1636 and named for its first donor, the Reverend John Harvard.

I've only ever seen this usage by American speakers, but perhaps they only use it for the naming of institutions, objects etc and not people?

Wheresthattomoibabber · 24/05/2017 16:36

I'm working with a teacher who makes the kids write about what they did ON the weekend.

DadDadDad · 24/05/2017 16:43

But on the other hand, googling [with the quote marks to fix the string]

born California "named for my grandmother"

(or substitute any other state) does seem to bring up plenty of Americans who refer to babies being named for someone.

AtlantaGinandTonic · 24/05/2017 22:16

Perhaps it's a regional thing. America is a big, big place!

DadDadDad · 24/05/2017 22:19

Or your memory may be unreliable.

AtlantaGinandTonic · 24/05/2017 22:20

Wheres don't get me started on the at/on the weekend conundrum! I've made an effort to say 'at the weekend' and then turn around to find a good number of my locally-born colleagues saying 'on the weekend'! DH lived in Australia for a few years as a child and picked up the 'on' as well - that was in the 80s so I can only presume that's how they say it in Aus as well.

AtlantaGinandTonic · 24/05/2017 22:21

Erm, nope. I saw a FB post from a friend earlier (a teacher) and she said 'named after' to refer to a child being named after the other poster in the photo.

AtlantaGinandTonic · 24/05/2017 22:31

This is interesting. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namesake

I shall have to ask folks back home what they think. Purely unscientific, I know, but it would be interesting to see if anybody I know says 'named for' because for me it just sounds weird.

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