General Chat

Neither of my parents were sure where my Christian name came from, but my two middle names are from aunts on either side of my family.
And my two sons have the Christian names of both their Grandpas as their middle names.
I have also found subsequent children being given the name of a dead sibling, which can be very confusing.

The Welsh did it too. Either Ap or Ab then the fathers name. Welsh surnames were anglicised for the ease of the English. For example Ap Rhys (son of Rhys) became Preece or Price, Ap John became Upjohn, Jones etc.

My gran started following the traditional Scots naming tradition until she got to my uncle who should have been named Edmund but ended up being named after her favourite Uncle who died on the Titanic, David.

When she had my Mum (different father) she named her after my Grandads Mum who died tragically young. Cordelia.

Me, I was named after my Mum's friends sister. Thank God it wasn't the friend, Brenda. (No offence meant if your name is Brenda I just think it wouldn't suit me)

I'm not sure about traditional naming patterns. If I'd had kids that would mean somewhere I'd have to name one Donald! (My Dad's name)

The nearest my generation have to the old naming system is that my middle name is my gran's name , but my first name is after her sister who died aged 4!!
Oh how optmistic were my parents ( I was 6 weeks premature and destined to die!)
Neither of my daughters were given 'family ' names, but my grand daughter has her own (very unusual) first name, followed by her gg grandmother's name and g grandmother's name! My grandson's first name is his grandfather's 'family' name which thankfully (due to mispronounciation of Latin) can be shortened to Guy!!! LOL

There are many problems with 'traditional' naming patterns. Younger daughter's fiance is half Italian, he's named after grandfather's on both sides and hates both his names - a lovely Italian first name that's shortened to Bart and a very old fashioned English second name with a romantic Italian surname. Also means they'd have to name their first daughter after me - and I wouldn't wish that on anyone!!!

Maggie, that's a coincidence, my son's name is the shortened version of your grandson's name lol

I got my grandmother's name for my middle name and I hate it. I even got teased a bit at school about it. To make it even worse, I was astounded to discover that name is't even on her birth certificate! It was just something she became known by over the years.

Because of this, I refused to give my children any family names.

I like the response my BIL gave his mother when she was pressuring him to use some of the family names. He said "Mother, you had your opportunity with names. You had 6 kids. Now it's my turn to choose what I want!"

Rose