Naming babies

Grendlsmother · Post by **Grendlsmother** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:05 am

Watching Crowdie and Cream (repeat) last night and was amused by the christening scene, where one elderly lady asks another "Why have they called the baby Jane, it's not a family name". A man replies "Och, they call them anything they like these days". I just had to laugh thinking how we all depend (perhaps too much) on naming patterns.

Post by **emanday** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:03 pm

I have to say, I do feel for future family researchers.

My brother, sister and I have not given any of our collective 7 children a family first name

True, they all do have family middle names, mainly because we didn't dare not do at least that

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:22 pm

Funnily, 3 of my 4 children do all have names that have since cropped up time and time again as I trace back the generations - purely unintentional.

Post by **emanday** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:25 pm

Sorry, a wee correction - my son DOES have my maiden name as his first name, but I doubt this will be much help in the future

Post by **paddyscar** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:33 pm

The lack of family names will likely be the least of future genealogists' problems.

On this side of the Atlantic, it seems you can name your child anything these days - http://www.babyhold.com/babynames/Popul ... aby_Names/

The Hottest Unisex Baby Names: Taylor, Harper, Logan, Hayden, Dakota

Then there is the issue of spelling, or rather 'creative spelling'
Mackayla, Mickala, Mykayla, Machaela, Mecaylah = Michaela
Britany, Brittany, Britannie, Britaney, Britney, = Brittanny

Then there is a trend to name children after places; London, Montana, Sicily, Brisbane, Sligo - what confusion for genealogists trying to decide if that actually is the child's name, or his place of birth.

At least some still have it together.

Top 10 Baby Girl Canadian Names
Ava (tied with Olivia) Emma, Emily, Sarah, Isabella, Sophia, Madison, Hannah, Chloe,Grace

Top 10 Baby Boy Canadian Names
Ethan, Jacob , Alexander , Joshua , Liam, Logan, Nathan, Matthew, Noah, Owen

Then there's Frances - Francis, Franscis, Franses, Fransess, Phrances

Frances

scooter · Post by **scooter** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:09 pm

All three of our kids are soaked in family names, in fact they don't have any that aren't to do with the family. With the exception of one of the twins, all their middle names are surnames which seems to have confused some of my wife's cousins. Our parents love it, and I think is quite respectful to give a nod to our antecedents, albeit quite a big one! I think my son especially likes the fact that he's named after his Grandfather (they get on fantastically well) and hopefully the twins will like the fact that they are named after our maternal grandmothers, they even have pictures of their Great Grannies on their respective wedding days above their cots.

I think opinion was divided amongst our friends as to why we'd do this, most liked the thought of it, whilst others said we'd wasted the chance to be original. It's all down to personal choice I guess. I do get cross however when traditional names are reformatted to fit in with text-speak, or 'creative spelling' as Francis puts it!

Scott

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:40 pm

Hi Scott

All three of our kids are soaked in family names, in fact they don't have any that aren't to do with the family.

Well, all I can say is "good for you". I feel so sorry for those kids who are cut off from their rightful heritage by names which no longer connect them to those who went before.... it seems a small thing, but those who are named in such a way that connect them to their heritage have, I consider, a huge advantage - they have roots, they have lines, they have a feeling of belonging which others may not experience. It'll not be long before I'm on ma soap box at this rate, but I think it is really important to name children with meaningful and appropriate names to help them to understand who they are in the greater scheme and bigger picture of things.... so good on ya Scott!

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **joette** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:36 am

My sisters gave their girls their "own" first names but gave them family names as middle names.For their boys they gave them family names as first names-Ross & Fraser are uniquely male.One nephew has the name of his three "grandpa's"-one Great-Uncle that James always called that.
My brother gave his boys family names.
There are four generations of Thomas's- in honour of my Grandpa's big brother KIA WW1.

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:40 am

There was a recent news item on Australian radio about children's names. Naming a child after a password would be handy so you don't forget it. http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/st ... tm?desktop

Alan

Post by **SarahND** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:32 am

Currie wrote: Naming a child after a password would be handy so you don't forget it.

The child, or the password?

Cheers,
Sarah