Any opinions on naming a baby after his father, my baby would be the 5th?

Answer 1

I am in a similar situation. Our future child should we have a boy will be a 4th. While I understand the need for a child to have his own name, own identity...it is also important to honor family traditions and show your husband that he and his family are as important as you and yours. Give the child your husband's name as his official name, and you pick his nickname. It's a great way to compromise in this situation. Our son will be a John Edward and we're going to call him Jack.

Answer 2

My husband and I are only currently TTC, but we discuss names and we've just had this same discussion a couple of weeks ago... actually turned into an argument. If we have a boy he'd like for him to be a 3rd - I also dont like his name, he doesnt have a middle name and I would do it if it was his name and not something that his dad had 1st , but I just cant see naming my son after his father. Hubby's name is Joe Doe Jr. and I offered a compromise to say ok we'll name him Joseph Doe (I dont like Joseph either but I figured its a compromise) and technically he'll still be Joe... he says no, b/c thats not his name.

In addition to that he already has a son that he did not name after him when he had the chance, but his name begins w/ a J.. he says he regrets it now, b/c I dont want the name and he felt it was sacred and something that he would save for his future wife. I'd just like for our son to have his own name, one that "we" both agree on and definately have a middle name. So I say no, dont do it!!

Answer 3

I wouldn't do it, personally.

My grandfather is a junior, and has always hated the hassles it has caused. Beyond the usual mail and phone confusion -- "Did you want BIG John or little John? John or Johnny? Johnny or Sonny?" LOL -- you also have to consider credit mix-ups, medical history errors, refusal of coverage, etc. Not to mention the fact that he's always resented not having his "own" name, so I suppose some identity issues are to be expected as well. In fact, this has bothered him to the point that he asked us NOT to name a child after him in any way, because he simply doesn't feel it would honor him so much as his father. Not that it's a horrible association for him or anything, but just to stress the point that he didn't feel it needed to be passed along to yet another generation or would in any way be a reflection of him, since it was never technically "his" name to begin with (according to his line of thinking). The man's in his 70s ... obviously he's had quite some time to think this through (and get over it, if it were just a minor annoyance ... apparently it goes beyond that LOL).

Oddly enough, my grandmother was able to talk him into letting her name their first son the exact same first name, only with a different middle. It simply happened to be the very name she'd always wanted to use for a child, so she was somehow able to sway him by pointing out that my uncle would still have his own identity, given that the middle names were different. ;) Quite cunning of grandma, certainly, but of course it's easy to predict what followed. The SAME exact hassles my grandfather hated having to deal with all his life, only now they were threefold (with his father, "John Matthew Doe, Sr.," himself, "John Matthew Doe, Jr." AND his own son, "John Alexander Doe" -- you get the idea LOL).

Given all that, I could never name my child for someone living in the same household ... at least not completely. And to be honest, I definitely wouldn't want to continue the "tradition" past the second, or at the very least third, generation. That just tends to come across as less any sort of honor and more pretentious or simple egoism. Not my style. Perhaps your husband would agree to simply giving the child his first or middle name as a middle, or even carrying on both as two middle names, thereby giving him his own first name to use on a daily basis? I'd definitely look for an acceptable alternative. Good luck!

Answer 4

If a name has already been in a family for four generations, it is probably very important to them that the new baby have the name. If you absolutely *hate* it, you can always get creative.

My husband's family has a tradition that the first son's middle name should be his father's first name. Problem is, my husband's name is Noah and I *hate* that as a middle name (none of the first names I liked went with it). So as a compromise, my son has my husband's middle name (and therefore, my husband's father's first name) as his middle name as well. It wasn't *exactly* tradition, but no one really complained either.

Good luck to you!

Answer 5

Oh gosh. That has to drive you a little crazy at family get togethers. My grandpa and his oldest son are both Ken. My father and my fiance are both named Dan. Too many doubles.

If it means alot to your husband that his son gets his name, and you're okay with it... then go for it. If you don't like it, I'd mix it up a bit. Add a more modern first name, and use either the first or middle name for your son's middle name.

Good luck.

Answer 6

I think Terri Pettit is cute but I don't think it flows with Elle but it's up to you if you have decided as that wasn't your question. I actually like the Terryl for a girl like somebody mentioned up abit. It also makes Elle flow aswell. For I boy I say Terry Luke Pettit as he could always shorten it in the same fashion your Dad did. Hope I helped!

Answer 7

At some point it has to end. My husband wanted to name our son after him( also would have been a 5th). It not that I don't like his name, I just think everyone needs their own name. Good Luck!

Answer 8

If you're willing to do it, you're a better person than me..... over my dead cold body would I have a son named after the father! And the 5th to boot! NOOOOO way!

I'm not even willing to give my son my husband's first name as a middle name! No, no, no...

People go on about the son having the father's name... guess what? He'll have his last name, that's a son (or daughter, really) getting the father's name.

Answer 9

My husband is Roscoe III and he loves his name.

If it's a good name, why not?

On the other hand, he wanted to name his first daughter a family name - Wilhelmina. Over my dead body!

Answer 10

well if its really importasnt to him u should consider it. but if its a reallly awfull name then u should also consider that. my sis is also pregnant and hers will also be the 5th. and shes going through with it cus its important to him and she knows he will bug about it eventhough she doesnt like it. if its something like ugene henry pahnky the 5th. i would have to think about it twice. but if its a cute name i dont c y not. but its ur decision.