Using family names for children?

Question

My fiancé and I want to name our first children after family members, as a way of honoring our grandparents and great-grandparents. We're hoping to have a son the first time around and are thinking of using our grandfathers' names. However, the name would be Otis Glenn. Otis for his grandfather and Glenn for mine.

Truthfully, I don't mind Otis, and we could call him Glenn if we wanted to and Otis could just be something for his birth certificate and formalities and so on. But a lot of people are reacting badly to the name. It's an older name, but I don't think it's so awful. So I'm wondering what you think about the name Otis?

Answer 1

I really like the name Otis for some reason. And the name Otis Glenn sorta rolls off the tongue pretty well. I doubt the child would get made fun of because it seems that a lot of the "older" names are coming back into popularity. I have seen names such as Jane being used more in a middle name...

Most people will always have their negative reactions, but what is more important is what YOU like. Remember, it's you and your fiance's child, not theirs! :)

Answer 2

You could make Otis the middle name. I personally like the name Otis Glenn. It's cute! Around here, I've noticed a lot of families naming their boys "older" names. Older names are coming back around, which is good! Gives the world some variety. Otis Glenn, call him Glenn. I love it and good luck!

Answer 3

I actually love Otis, and the nickname Otie makes it even more accessible.

For what it's worth -- and I mean this as a positive -- most of his peers won't think of Otis as an "old" name, the way you mentioned some adults reacting. It was recently used for the main character in the movie (and now cartoon) Barnyard, and as such, will simply seem a normal, common name to the current preschool set. Children tend to be perfectly comfortable with names they're familiar with, so this will seem no different than all the little Jacobs and Ethans they know, if that makes sense. I think it's just fine. ;)

And although I'm sure someone would think of that as a negative, a few of the other main characters in the movie were named Daisy, Ben and Miles -- hardly the sort most would describe as tease-worthy, know what I mean?

In other words, I think it's a great choice, and a wonderful way to honor the grandfathers. ;)

Edited to add: In light of the film usage, and just in general, really, just thought it worth mentioning that Glenn seems quite a bit more dated than Otis, so I don't think you'd avoid any of those reactions by switching them or calling him by his middle name. Again, I like the entire name in full, but you have to bear in mind that anyone reacting negatively likely wouldn't be happy with anything but the expected, but overused, choices, such as Jacob, Aidan, Caden Braden (and all the other -adens LOL), Noah, etc. Just tell yourself that next time someone balks, and don't let it phase you. ;)

Answer 4

My wife is one of these children that was given a first name, but always refered to by her middle name. She has HATED it. So I would agree with the answer that says name him what you are going to call him (because if his name is Otis, the first day of school for the rest of his life, Otis is going to be called out and he will have to answer to it).

Otis is apparently associated with negative characters in popular culture, so I would agree that I don't like the name, at least not as the first name.

But I have to say that I also do not like the name Glenn Otis. It doesn't seem to flow off the toung right for some reason. I can't say exactly why, but it Otis is going to be the middle name, you need a first name with at least two sylibals, like Michael Otis, Ryan Otis, etc.

What about grand-parent's middle name? If you limit it to grand fathers but consider middle names as well, that would give you at least four combinations to work with.

If you want to expand the possibilities, but keep it in the family, obviously you can expand possibilities by looking at great-grandparents like you've said... but have you considered maiden names? There are many sir names that make good first and middle names too. What about looking into the mother's and grand-mother's maiden names?

Answer 5

well when i hear otis i think Otie from Garfield and
Milo and Otis
both dogs

maybe you could give hime one as a middle name
like Daniel Glenn or Daniel Otis Glenn lastname

Micheal Glenn

and name the the next boy Daniel Otis

Answer 6

Make Otis the middle name. When I think of Otis and I mean NO offense at all but I think of a dog. As in Milo and Otis. I do know however how you feel about the name thing, When I was pregnat I wanted a girl so bad so I could name her Shayla Louise (louise being my deceased mothers middle name) however I had a little boy I can not imagine my life without and we named him Trey Allan Robert ..Allan after my husbands father and Robert after my father.

Answer 7

Otis is a perfectly good name in and of itself, but it sounds a lot like "odor" and that's probably what's turning people off. I think going with Otis Glenn and calling him Glenn sounds like a good idea.

Answer 8

I think you need to question why you are honoring these people with names. First off, do you know them well enough to know if they are worth honoring? I love honoring family and friends. All of my girls' names honor someone - I want to get that that point across. But I do know that just b/c someone is family, this doesn't necessarily mean they should automatically be honored in such a way. If you still feel like honoring them, of course that's fine. This is just one thing I myself have decided to consider. If this were me, I would go ahead and keep them as second middle names. I do really like the name Hazel and Ruth, btw. Ruth is actually on my favorites list (which I guess is technically worthless for my girls, since I really doubt I'll have more than 3 children, let alone daughters LOL! - Baby naming is still so much fun!)

Answer 9

I agree with you using grandparents names. My brother first son is Jacob Allen middle name after my father and his second son is James Andrew first name after my grandfather. So it would be great. I think it should be Glenn Otis but it does not matter its great.

Answer 10

i think Otis is better as a middle name. glenn otis is nice. and then he wont have to go through the whole "yes my name is otis but I go by my middle name, glenn" eveytime he walks into a classroom or anything :)