worthy of the name

worthy of the name

Having earned the right to a particular title or designation due to one's skill, integrity, reputation, etc. No physician worthy of the name would prescribe this drug to his patients. There wasn't a single theatre critic worthy of the name in the audience, judging by the totally biased, copy-pasted reviews the play received the next morning.
See also: name, of, worthy
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

worthy of the name

deserving to be so called; good enough to enjoy a specific designation. There was not an actor worthy of the name in that play. Any art critic worthy of the name would know that painting to be a fake.
See also: name, of, worthy
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

worthy of the name

Deserving a name or description, as in Any artist worthy of the name can draw better than that. This expression uses worthy of in the sense of "deserving by reason of merit," a usage dating from about 1300.
See also: name, of, worthy
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

worthy of the ˈname

(also worth the ˈname) (formal) deserving to be called good: Any doctor worthy of the name would help an injured man in the street.
See also: name, of, worthy
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • rate as
  • rate as (something)
  • be (one's) man/woman
  • be somebody's man/woman
  • rank as
  • rank as (something)
  • earn (one's) stripes
  • earn one's stripes
  • earn your stripes
  • cut someone off in their prime
References in classic literature
After having been deprived during the course of 3 weeks of a real freind (for such I term your Mother) imagine my transports at beholding one, most truly worthy of the Name. Sophia was rather above the middle size; most elegantly formed.
Love and Friendship
Besides, such a complete retirement seemed to imply a satisfactory amount of trust in their officers, and to be trusted displeases no seaman worthy of the name.
Mirror of the Sea
From the Conquest until Layamon wrote his Brut, there was no English literature worthy of the name. Had we not already spoken of Layamon out of true order in following the story of Arthur, it is here that we should speak of him and of his book, The Brut.
English Literature For Boys And Girls
But after some few miles of tract the nature of the soil gradually changes and the country shows itself worthy of the name. Cultivated plains soon appear, where are united all the productions of the northern and tropical floras, terminating in prairies abounding with pineapples and yams, tobacco, rice, cotton-plants, and sugar-canes, which extend beyond reach of sight, flinging their riches broadcast with careless prodigality.
From The Earth To The Moon
Remain worthy of the name you have received from one of them, and of the friendship you have enjoyed with the other.
The Black Tulip
The senses have their share in all love between the sexes which is worthy of the name. They had no share in the feeling with which I regarded Miss Dunross.
The Two Destinies
The Unquenchables had done their best to be worthy of the name, for like elves they had worked by night and conjured up a comical surprise.
Little Women
He left a son and a daughter, both worthy of the name they were called upon to bear; the son, a cutter as unerring and exact as the square rule; the daughter, apt at embroidery, and at designing ornaments.
The Man in the Iron Mask
Every man, worthy of the name, deserves some consideration.
20000 Leagues Under The Sea
No man likes to acknowledge that he has made a mistake in the choice of his profession, and every man, worthy of the name, will row long against wind and tide before he allows himself to cry out, "I am baffled!" and submits to be floated passively back to land.
Professor
Capacity for suffering is developed in every human being worthy of the name."
Arrow of Gold
The truth is, as I believe I have since found out, that they have no barber shops worthy of the name in Paris--and no barbers, either, for that matter.
The Innocents Abroad
"It is as I have been saying: for a worthy cause, or a cause which he believed to be worthy, there is no man of my country worthy of the name who would not accept death with the same resignation that he lays his head upon the pillow and waits for sleep."
The Illustrious Prince
First, I think that if our rulers and their auxiliaries are to be worthy of the name which they bear, there must be willingness to obey in the one and the power of command in the other; the guardians must themselves obey the laws, and they must also imitate the spirit of them in any details which are entrusted to their care.
Republic
He thanked his father for his former generous conduct; and he promised him that if he fell on the field or survived it, he would act in a manner worthy of the name of George Osborne.
Vanity Fair