Does the origin come into play when naming your baby?

Question

I have a question, and it's obvious that I haven't named anybody before. When you decide the name for your kid, does it have to be the origin of your last name? Obviously, some people have a Spanish first name but a Irish last name.

Just wondering if the origin of the name ever comes into play when deciding this, or if you can name the first name freely without worrying about origins. I guess this goes for middle names too.

Thanks!

Answer 1

It does not have to be the origin of your last name. Most people choose a name because they like the way it sounds. Others choose it for its meaning and still others do choose a name because of its origin.

Basically, you "can name freely."

Answer 2

It doesn't HAVE to be. However, a really ethnic sounding family name doesn't usually go so well with a really ethnic sounding name from another culture. It ends up sounding odd.

The interesting thing is that most names of Great Britain origin and not considered very ethnic in USA and Canada. That's becasue of the immigration history. Similarly, a lot of western European names (German, Swedish, Italian, etc.) aren't seen as all that ethnic sounding either. Same reason.

But if we get into Middle Eastern names, or Asian names, or African names, or Eastern European names, these are less familiar to us and end up seeming more ethnic sounding.

Answer 3

I think that for the most part people name their children by what they like the best, sometimes people do think about the orgin of the name, but I dont think it matters unless it means something to you to name your baby with a name that is the same orgin as the last name.

Answer 4

I picked the name I liked with no thought to origin

Answer 5

You can name a baby Rodriguez McKenzie if you want to...they are a little weird....But there no rule that says you hace to stick with names like Molly or Bryce---which sound more McKenzie-ish than Rodriguez. I ran across one of these the other day. I wish I could remember who it was because it was funny.

Answer 6

This is a personal preference.

For us, the origin of our boys names WAS important...to my husband :) lol My husband is from Scotland and is VERY proud of his heritage. But a lot of people just pick a name they like.

Answer 7

I think for majority of people it doesn't matter. Some wish to honour their background, and some have to name for religious reasons. In my case my daughter's name is Hebrew. But her last name is French. Her father is French Canadian and Hungarian. I am Polish/German/English and Irish. So, her name was what we liked and what sounded right to us. :)

Good question!

Answer 8

Nope, but some combos sounds dumb.

I didn't want my kid to have a name that sounded like his parents couldn't agree.

Also, different groups have different traditions. Irish Catholics usually have Irish names, and often name for saints. Jews tend to have Jewish names and name for their deceased relatives....

Answer 9

anything goes except for the husbands last name ....keeping this assures you & your family from not getting lost in the family tree etc..