Buzz
In Greta Gerwig's 2017 film *Lady Bird*, Saoirse Ronan’s character Lady Bird is dismayed to find herself cast as 'The Tempest' in *William Shakespeare’s* *The Tempest*. While Lady Bird views the role as an embarrassing ploy to include her in the school production, her best friend, Julie (Beanie Feldstein), has a different perspective. 'It’s the titular role!' Julie exclaims.
Whether or not 'The Tempest' should be a character, Julie’s claim holds some truth. Since Shakespeare named the play after the storm, 'The Tempest' is indeed titular. Although that specific role isn’t a person, many of Shakespeare’s titular roles are—think of Hamlet, Othello, and *Julius Caesar*. The Oxford English Dictionary defines titular as 'from whom or which a title or name is taken,' a usage dating back quite a while. In the 18th century, Alban Butler frequently referred to 'titular' saints and patrons in *The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints*. The term also appeared in the mid-1600s in writings by British Jesuit William Atkins, who referred to Medina as 'the titular towne of the greate Duke of Medina,' meaning Medina is named after the duke, and the Duke of Medina is the titular duke of the town.
The term 'eponymous' has followed a similar path. According to Grammarphobia, the noun 'eponym' once referred specifically to a person (or character) whose name was used for something. For example, Henry Ford is the eponym of the Ford Motor Company, and Lady Bird is the eponymous character in *Lady Bird*. Over time, the use of 'eponymous' has broadened in a manner similar to 'titular.' One might refer to Ford Motor Company as 'Henry Ford’s eponymous business,' or describe Lady Bird as a character in her eponymous film.
If you’ve been told that 'titular' doesn’t mean the same thing as 'eponymous,' it’s likely because 'titular' has multiple meanings. Merriam-Webster’s primary definition describes it as 'having the title and often the honors of an office or position without the associated duties, functions, or responsibilities.' For instance, a CEO who enjoys the perks but rarely attends meetings might be called a titular CEO—essentially a CEO by title only.
Since 'titular' has been used in the sense we’ve already discussed for so long, feel free to use it when your best friend lands the eponymous role—whether real or fictional—in the school play.
