Naming a daughte after her mother?

Question

I don't get why society thinks it perfectly normal to name sons after their fathers, yet ridiculous for daughters be named after their mothers. I suggested I might want to name my daughter after me and my family sneered, yet my father is named after my grandfather, and my brother after my father...Part of me just wants to do to be a rebel against sexist views like that, but on the other hand I think its better to give a child his/her own unique name and identity. Anyway, just curious on a more general samples views.

Answer 1

Kudos. What a fantastic question! I had never really considered the "junior" thing when considering patri-kyriarchy. But you're so right - it is.
Giving the Father's name to the Son is the process of handing down the reigns, so to speak, giving that son the rights over the household in the case that something happens to the father. But as society has changed, so too should our practices... right?
So, theoretically, naming your daughter after you is completely subversive to the system. I would say go for it, but I think "Junior"s smack of egoism.

Brava! Great question from a great mind!

Answer 2

My dad wanted to name me after my mom, and she told him he was crazy. She thought it would be "weird and creepy" (her words) to have a child with her name. I feel the same way (I can't imagine looking down at my daughter and calling her by MY name). That's just us, though. If a mom wants to name her daughter after her, then I don't think it's any different from a father naming his son after him.

I think that the reason it's more normal for sons to be named after fathers than for daughters to named after mothers is because the privilege of naming the baby was typically given to the mother, and naming a child after someone else is a great honor. Honoring someone very dear to you is sweet, but honoring yourself might seem conceited - like saying "I don't want my child to aspire to something better than myself. I am my child's ideal." I'm not saying that *I* feel this way... just that some people do, and that's one reason why things are the way they are. Sexism might be a contributing cause, but it's probably not the only factor. In a society dominated by women who give birth, are more babies named after mothers than fathers? It's an interesting question.

Answer 3

I don't like naming anyone after a parent. It's horribly confusing. Not just mail that arrives at the house, but credit scores, criminal records, etc. People get really screwed sometimes, when a company mixes up the father's and son's accounts, for example.

Also, the younger one picks up annoying nicknames like "junior" or "little Bobby."

You can show respect by using a family name as a middle name. That's enough for me.

Answer 4

I agree. I have heard of it though. Remember I Love Lucy?
Lucy Arnez Her first name was actually Lucele(not sure of spelling)
She naned her daughter Lucy.

You can do it and call the kid by the same name or you can use her middle name. or use a nickname that comes from your name. Or use your name as the middle name.

Don't let your family do it again. Hopefully your daughters generation will get past all this sexist crap.

Answer 5

I agree. I have seen a few families that have give the daughter the same first name, but a different middle name. If you really think about it, I wonder why it is that way. Whats the difference?

Answer 6

I think you should do what you want no matter what people think, but if your looking to name your child after someone of importance name her after your mother or grandmother so she still has a hr own identity but also a meaningful name...but just go with your gut :)

Answer 7

actually...in some cultures its the norm, for instance, in italian families (I'm italian) it is custom for the first born daughter of the first born male on the father's side to be named after the great-grandmother, and then the 2nd born daughter to be named after the great grandmother on the mother's side.

then the 1st born daughter of the 2nd child (male or female) to be named after the grandmother on the father's side, adn the 2nd after the mother's side...

and so on and so on....same with the boys. thats why in italian families there are so many

maries
marys
anns
lousie or lousia, etc


and so many
michaels
joeys
paulie
davids etc

my mother went against the norm...I was named Nicole, nobody in my family is named nicole..I was suppose to be concetta (kon-chet-a)

however, I didn't want to name my daughter louisa, I like Brianna and her daddy isn't italian anyway, he is german/irish (huge criminal act in an italian family lol) his last name is german, so I wanted her to have an irish first name...so we named her Brianna, and instead opted to put my name as her middle name, so she has an German, Irish, Italian name.
we are now having our 2nd daughter, and dispite the fact that she is a girl she will have her father as a middle name...Joe, and her first will be Peyton, we are going to call her PJ. (another crime in an italian family...oh well)

Answer 8

I would recommend it! I was named after my mom...her name is Kathy and when my parents named me the named me Kathi. They changed the spelling to help out. I go by my middle name when I'm around my family tho. And i have considered naming my child after me if i have a girl. Ad i would also change the spelling to Cathie....i look at it as tho it a tradition starter.

Answer 9

Well, there is nothing wrong with it if you like "juniors". But, I myself don't think it's worth the confusion later on. When people call the house years from now. You'll be asking to which one would they like to speak to. I think it might be nice to give your first name as your daughter's middle name.

Answer 10

I have a friend who's family does things a bit different.

The mom passes her name to the daughter as her middle name.

Ex.

Mary Claire
Nicole Mary
Jada Nicole
etc.