I told my son I was named after Thomas Jefferson.
He said, "But Dad, your name is Brian." I said, "I know, but I was named AFTER Thomas Jefferson."
He said, "But Dad, your name is Brian." I said, "I know, but I was named AFTER Thomas Jefferson."
The twist hinges on 'after' meaning 'following in time' rather than 'in honor of.' Jefferson died, Brian was born afterward — technically airtight. The joke exposes how one innocent phrase carries a completely valid alternative reading.
Play the son's confusion as entirely reasonable, then stress AFTER with absolute confidence — like you've been waiting your whole life to deploy this logic.
Perfect for:
The world record for most jokes told in one hour is 549, but quality beats quantity — a single well-timed dad joke can outperform a whole comedy set.
Why can't you hear a pterodactyl going to the bathroom?
Next joke →What do you call someone who tells dad jokes but isn't a dad?
I told my son I was named after Abraham Lincoln.
He said, "But Dad, your name is Dave." I said, "I know, but I was named AFTER Abraham Lincoln."
I told my son I was named after George Washington.
He said, "But Dad, your name is Steve." I said, "I know, but I was named AFTER George Washington."
To the man who invented zero:
Thanks for nothing.
If a child refuses to sleep during nap time,
are they guilty of resisting a rest?
I got my daughter a fridge for her birthday.
I can't wait to see her face light up when she opens it.
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