named/called

New2grammarI've been looking for a friend of mine [named/called] Mike.

Is one prefered over the other? What's the difference?

To me, there is no difference.

preferred (typo?)

Yoong Liat, thanks for the correction and answer!

I think there's no difference either, but I think when you have to give a baby a name you "name" it something, not "call". But I'm not sure about things.

Let's call/name this invention "world's destroyer".
Let's call/name her "Mary".
This thing is called/named "world's destroyer".
This girl is called/named "Mary"

Both "named" and "called" can be used, although "called" is more common.

Kooyeen is right that a baby is "named" at birth (given a name).

Thank you, everyone.

New2grammarI've been looking for a friend of mine [named/called] Mike.Is one prefered over the other? What's the difference?

Yes. Named is used a lot more in American English. Americans say things like "He's named Joe". British and other people usually use the word called and would say "He's called Joe".

“called would be used in this example:

My friend, who is named William, is stopping by later. He prefers to be called william, however.