Comments on: How Important Are Family Names?

By: Bea

Bea — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 23:44:30 +0000

My first name, Baylie, was one my mother just happened to like. But my 1st middle name is one that was my mother’s, my (fraternal) aunt’s and both my grandmothers’ middle name. The 2nd middle name is a surname from my father’s side.

I like the combination idea; a name just because you like it with a family name.

By: Family Names: Why They’re Most Important for Parentless Parents – Baby Name Blog - Nameberry

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:30:37 +0000

[...] names are important to nearly three-quarters of expectant parents, according to a nameberry poll , but for parents whose own mother and father have passed away, choosing a name that honors them and [...]

By: Nancy

Nancy — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 05:22:01 +0000

I was named for my dad’s favorite aunt, Nancy. When I got into genealogy and started researching our family history, I discovered no less that 11 “Nancy’s” on that tree. Yikes! It was apparently a very popular first name paired with a lot of shorter names, i. e., Nancy Ann, Nancy Lee, etc.

By: AcornsAndOaks

AcornsAndOaks — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:13:08 +0000

I’m a big fan of family names, I can’t think of a bigger honour than to give your child the name of someone you care about. My son’s middle name is my father’s name, Martin (and one that’s been used in my family since the 1600s) and my daughter’s middle names, Catherine Anne, are my SIL, Grandma’s first and mother’s middle names. When they ask why we gave them their names, we can say their first names are their own because we love them, and their middle names are after amazing, wonderful people who love them, and who we hope they will grow to be a little like.

I suppose what I really, really like is names that are after *someone*special – not necessarily family. I really couldn’t do giving a child a whole name based on it sounding cool, for me it needs meaning.

By: Anastasia

Anastasia — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:54:01 +0000

All my siblings and I have at least one family name. My first name is the feminine version of my fathers, and my middle name, Eleni, is my grandmothers name, Helen, in Greek.
My four brothers have first and middle names that are family names. My sister only has her middle name as a family name, it is also our grandmother and mothers middle name, and now my niece’s middle name.
But they were all names my parents liked, which I think is very important. We all like our names too.

Family names are nice, I have no problem with them, but then again I have no problem with names that parents just like.

By: smismar

smismar — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:57:45 +0000

I think a child should have a first name that is their own, but I like family names in the middle. In fact, I prefer it. I don’t see much point in a random middle name with no reason behind it other than that the parents just liked it. My daughter’s middle name is IHO my mother and MIL (Carol + Sharon = Caron). Any future kids will also have middle names that honor family in some way – either an actual name, a variation, or a surname.

By: lezlie

lezlie — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:52:58 +0000

My siblings and I were all named after family. My name is my maternal granddad’s, with a slight tweak: my name has a z where his has an s. My sister inherited our dad’s middle name, Quinn, which she goes by. My little brother was named after a great great and has Washington as a middle name; good thing mom liked his initials, JW. I rather enjoy the fact that my parents had so much respect for their families!

By: Dani

Dani — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:30:58 +0000

I know that when I have a son I’d like to name one of them Joseph Colin after both my grandfathers. Other than that, I have my own names that I like for my other kids (when I have them of course!)

By: Cedes

Cedes — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:14:42 +0000

My parents gave family surnames to each of us kids as middle names. My brother lucked out with the rugged Blackford, my sister got the very prim Stoll and I ended up with the nearly unpronouncable Morier. However, I did know my great-grandmother who carried Morier as her maiden name, so I do appreciate it, even if no one can say it correctly =/

By: Jaycee

Jaycee — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:23:32 +0000

I used family names for my daughter but rather than looking for names i looked for people. You don’t have to use the exact same name to honour someone you love or loved.

My Daughter is named after my father, i simply used the feminine form of his name. Her middle name is the nickname of my aunt who was greatly supportive to me during my pregnancy. So whilst my daughter does have family namesakes she does not necessarily have the same name.

Some examples

Brianna versus Brian
Cecilia versus Cecil
Linda verses Lindon
Rose versus Ross
Bobbie versus Robert
Reggie versus Reginald
Ethyl versus Ethan

And i think you get the picture. I am still honouring the person by using their name for my child… i just prefer the opposite sex )