Eponym

An eponym is a person, whether real or fictitious, whose name has (or is thought to have) given rise to the name of a particular place, tribe, discovery, or other item. An eponymous person is the same as an eponym. In contemporary English, the term "eponymous" is often used to mean "self-titled." The word eponym can also be used for the thing titled.

Other eponyms

• Both in ancient Greece and independently among the Hebrews, a legendary leader of a tribe gave his name to it (as Achaeus for Achaeans, or Dorus for Dorians). The eponym gave apparent meaning to the mysterious names of tribes, and sometimes, as in the Sons of Noah, provided a primitive attempt at ethnology too, in the genealogical relationships of eponymous originators.
• Places and towns can also be given an etymological meaning through an important figure: Peloponnesus was said to derive its name from Pelops. In historical times, new towns have often been named and renamed for historical figures.
• In science and technology, discoveries are often named after the (supposed) discoverer, or to honor some other influential workers. Examples are Avogadro's number and Parkinson's disease.
• In (modern) art
• Some books, films, and TV shows have an eponymous principal character(s): Robinson Crusoe and Daria, for example.
• The term is also applied to music, usually with regard to record titles. For example, Blur's 1997 album was also titled Blur. Many other artists and bands have also served as eponyms of albums or singles, usually as their debut or second release. (Blur is an oddity in that their album Blur was their 5th release.) Some bands, such as the Tindersticks, Led Zeppelin, Duran Duran, and Weezer, have released more than one and are thus referred to in other ways, including number (Led Zeppelin IV) and album art (The Blue Album). Peter Gabriel's first four long play releases were all such. Another more common term is the self-titled album. The band R.E.M. titled their 1988 compilation CD Eponymous as a joke.