If my grandfather's name was Alexander Kellog and my name is also Alexander Kellog, should I use a suffix?

Question

If my grandfather's name was Alexander Kellog and my name is also Alexander Kellog, should I use a suffix at the end of my name such as Jr., I, II??? (I know it's not Junior but I am not sure if the same name skips generation do I still have to differentiate my name from my granpa... ) Hint: Please provide me with a reference if you want your answer to be chosen as best.

My grandfather DID NOT have a middle name, however, I do.

Answer 1

are your middle names the same??

It would definitely not be Jr, as it is not your father but even skipping a generation calls for a differentiation- you would use
Alexander Kellog II - this is something my parents looked into when naming my brother after his grandfather:

Primarily in the United States (and never in the United Kingdom), boys who should be styled "junior" are sometimes incorrectly labeled with the suffix "II", particularly if there is a third or fourth with the same name. Even if a legal title, this is socially incorrect; strictly speaking, "II", pronounced "the second", refers to a boy who is named after his grandfather, uncle, or cousin. The suffixes "II", "III", etc., may also be written "2nd", "3rd", etc.
from : http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Suffix_(name)


from what i remember- if your middle names (assuming you have a middle name) are different- you would not technically be a II and you would use your middle initial as the differentiation- but if you both share the same middle name you would use II

Answer 2

Because you have a middle name and your grandfather did not, you are NOT Alexander Kellog II and should not use a suffix. Generally, suffixes are used when progeny have the exact name as an ancestor.

Answer 3

Do you have the same middle name (or, at least initial)? If not, then you should not need a suffix. For example, the current US president is NOT George Bush, Jr. (despite being nicknamed "Junior") because he's George W. Bush and his father is George H.W. Bush. President Reagan's son, Ron, had the same situation (different middle names).

If you have the same middle name/initial, then...

You should NOT (as you've said) use "junior" since that is restricted to sons.

You said your grandfather WAS, so I assume he died. If so, then you needn't a suffix.

All of this said, if you want to show a special respect for your grandfather, you are welcome to do as you please. While tradition may have some rules, they can over overridden (in my opinion) on matters of honor.

However, if you're trying to do what's correct, then most likely you would not need a suffix, given the skipped generation.

Answer 4

I used to like it, and then I hated it, and now I don't really care for it but I find it tollerable. I greatly dislike the nickname Alex though. I'm not even sure why. Alexander is nicer in my opinion, if the boy is called Alexander instead of Alex. I'd rate it a 5. Alexander Joel Alexander Edward Alexander Tristan Alexander Charles Alexander Bryan Alexander Wesley Alexander William =)

Answer 5

If your middle name is the same then I would say no suffix would be needed...using your middle initial should suffice to distiquish the 2.....IE. George H. Bush----George W. Bush
But if you have no middle name....II could be used because your not the son of you grandfather so Jr. would add confusion.

Answer 6

It would seem to me that if your father's name is not Alexander also then the link has been severed and you have to start the legacy all over again starting with you. So it would come to reason that you would just call yourself Alexander, period. Your son if also named Alexander would be a junior, If he had a son with the same name he would be Alexander the 3rd and so on and so on. These titles are not reserved exclusively for the wealthy.

Answer 7

A suffix at the end of your name is only used if your father or Grandfather with whom you share your name is still living,

Answer 8

I put a year next to name when I run into that problem. Try it several different ways. also I find the mormans family search site is a good place to start and its free. I can't remember the link but look under chruch of latter day saints and clink on the link from there
maybe its familytree.com but thats not quit it. sorry

Answer 9

i dont think so since you are removed by one generation, i dont have any and i share my grandfathers name as well

Answer 10

if your middle initial is different just use it and ask him to use his