Baby name disagreement.......?

Question

What would you do?
I am due on March, so we will not know the sex of our baby for another 8 weeks. We are picking out names, and we have a major disagreement. If it's a boy, he wants it to be the 5th.
The middle and last name I agreed to, but not a 5th, as his first name is Lewis. What do you think? I don't even call my fiance Lewis, I have always called him Joey, just like the rest of his family. His father is deceased, as he is the only male left in the family. Hopefully it will be a girl, (the third gir!) but if it's not....... is this unfair of me? I really do not like the name, nor do I like the idea of the 5th, 6th, and so on.

Answer 1

Is this family royalty or just wannabes? Usually all this generation name passage is carried on by the 'upper crust' and can have a lot of baggage associated with it. It's not something that I would do to child of mine, but to each his own.

If the name is to be honored, perhaps it would be better as a middle name than as a first name. That way the honor is still there, but you can then drop the required number identification. It might seem like a nice custom but I am sure it will be lost eventually.

Answer 2

Yeah, I know some families get stuck on names, LOL. I always thought guys with numerals after their names were so pompous and country-club-ish, and I also think every child should be allowed his/her own identity, and if you simply must name a kid after someone, it should at least be modified to be slightly different. For instance, you said you call your fiance Joey, so I'm guessing his full name is Lewis Joseph _____ the 4th. Well, then, what if you named your baby Joseph Lewis _____? Then, it would be the 1st, but you could still call him "little Joey" or something.

Or here's an idea- make an agreement that if it's a girl, you'll name her something similar to Lewis Joseph (Louise Josephine perhaps?) but ONLY if you are allowed to pick a completely original name if it turns out to be a boy. It's kind of like a bet, and guys can't resist bets.

Answer 3

I don't know, if you really don't like the name that much, I wouldn't be able to conceed. I can't imagine thinking about how much I dislike the name for the rest of my life!!

Have you thought about the name Joe or Joseph or even Joey if it is a boy?

Have the middle and last name, and then use Joe or Joseph or Joey as the first name. It is his father's nickname so maybe your fiance will find it a good compromise.

I would hope for a girl if I were you hahahahahahaha

Good luck and congrats on the baby!!

Answer 4

I would never number a child. I am completely against it. I do not think you are unfair at all. Use Lewis as a middle name, but move on from the numbering system. Personally, since he is called Joey, I would use that as a middle name. This tradition should end just like giving all the inheritance to the eldest son.

Answer 5

Hopefully it will be a girl then. As for a boy, this tradition has gone on for a long, long time. Even though you really don't like the name Lewis, do you really want to be the one to break this? It's not really that fair to you, but... As for the 5th, it's better than Junior.

Answer 6

I hear you. My son is a JR and that drives me crazy. I was picking the girl name and he picked the boy name. Then when he was born he looked just like his dad. (so he was a JR)

I would use the name somehow. What about Joesph Lewis?
or Joey Lewis?? I wouldn't use a number on the end of the name. Best of luck to you guys.

Answer 7

I know 2 sets of people who are close to me who are juniors and all involved wish they weren't. At the time it seems like a good idea but when the teenage son was living with my step-dad mail and phone calls were confusing. When I was pregnant I was adamant that neither of my kids were going to be named after anyone. I would try to get Lewis for a middle name or something, anything, but a 5th. They need to get out of the rut!

Answer 8

Its a tradition in his family and if he's the only to pass it down you should respect that. It's not like your gonna call him lewis william hall the fifth. The number will not be said like that. Its very proper and you will always more kids so that you can name them what you want. Its a baby with a very important name.

Answer 9

You know, I didn't really like my husband's family tradition of passing on names, either, but it is really, really, REALLY important to my husband. And there is something cool about being the oldest son of the oldest son of the oldest son of the oldest son and having the same name.

My son LOVES the fact that he shares a name with his grandfather and his great-great-grandfather and who knows how many other great-great-great-greats before them. He is honored by this.

We had several nicknames picked out in advance so that my son would have his own unique name in the family. In time, though, he "grew" into the same nickname his grandfather uses -- it just *fits* him somehow.

So...what I would advise you is (a) listen to how important this is to your husband and agree to the name if you have a boy but ask for permission to choose the baby's nickname and (b) think of it as a way to honor your husband's desire and his family's tradition (which is now your tradition, too, because you're part of the family, and most certainly is your son's tradition). It would be one thing if your husband chose to end the tradition, but he likes it and he wants it.

I myself have gone from not liking the idea at all to hoping that my son will someday carry on the tradition.

Your son can be Lewis, Lew, something from his middle name, something from your last name, initials (like L.J. or L.P. or whatever it is) or even something kind of cool based on "five" like Cinco, Nickel (Nick), Pento, Fiver, Fifth, Hooch or Moonshine (he's the fifth, get it?), or whatever.

Answer 10

Yes I think you are being definitely unfair and completely unreasonable too! Your only thinking about yourself and what you like. This is obviously important to him and probably his the rest of his family too. My guess is that naming his son is his way honoring his family and his deceased father. What a horrible thing to do. Give him a break. Think about what is best for your family, making your husband and his family happy and allowing him to honor his people or you getting your way because you don't like how something sounds??? I have a friend whose a 4th. We all call him Bill 4, which he's seems to like. I think your child, if he's a boy would be just fine being a 5th and become his own person regardless of what his name is.