# call after

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/call-after
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to give a child the same name as someone else, usually a family member or a famous person.

For teachers: to bestow a name upon a person, typically a newborn, in honour of a predecessor or relative; transitive and inseparable in this sense.

## Examples

- They decided to call the baby after his grandfather.
- Since her mother was a famous scientist, she was called after her in hopes she would follow the same path.
- It remains a longstanding tradition in many cultures to call the firstborn son after his paternal grandfather to preserve the family lineage.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was called after of his uncle." but "He was called after his uncle." — the preposition 'after' directly follows the verb and precedes the object; do not add 'of'.

## Usage notes

- usually used in the passive voice ('be called after') or with a direct object ('call him after').
- Teaching tip: contrast with the American English preference 'name after'; 'call after' is more common in British English but both are widely understood.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.