Naming child after dead father

It's quite common to use grandfather names for baby boys. No pressure at all.

If u r finding it hard, use it as a middle name.

Edward is a lovely name. It's a nice idea.
Your son would possibly have a different nick name to your father so he might be called his own version of the name.
Ted
Woody

It’s very common in Ireland to name babies after family members who have passed away, it’s not something I would do myself though.

I personally think the middle name spot should be used to honour family members whether they are still here or not. Seems a big ask to have it in the first spot for the young one to live up to. That being said Edward does have lots of nickname options

I think it is a lovely idea and a lovely name

I’d definitely check with your mum. If she’s comfortable (really comfortable, not just being polite) then go for it.

My DS is named after my DH’s father. He died when DH was about 3 and , coincidentally on the day I was born, so neither of us knew him. His middle name is my fathers name, who died when DS was 4 mnths old. He is the reincarnation of my dad, spookily so. He looks like him and has the same sense of humour and laid back personality. It’s almost like my dads soul transferred directly to him. I love chatting with him because it’s the closest I get to chatting with my late father, obviously DS doesn’t know this.
We were careful to check with DH’s family before we named him. They were all fine. It’s not a common name but it suits him.

DS1 is named after my granddad who died when I was 11 so obviously he never knew him. But he knows where his name came from but doesn't feel any pressure to 'live up to him' or be like him. To him it's just his name, it's me it means much more to.

Yes, I'd say it's a lot of pressure.

Just before exs DGM died we promised her that if we had a daughter, we'd name her after her. We did about a year later. Very luckily it was an unusual name I'd had on my list for years. Ex didn't last longer as father than DD's 1st birthday. Still glad I stuck with the name on my own terms. Did use a different nickname though.

My grandad was always known as Harry, but his name was Henry James. He died while I was pregnant with DS, (I didn't find out sex), he was so excited to meet the baby, and the funeral was so hard.
When DS was born and we seen that he was a he, Henry James was the only name that would do. He really suits it, and people only ever knew grandad as Harry, so it still feels unique to DS.
Edward is lovely, and you can still make it original for your DS.

I’m not personally a fan of naming children after deceased relatives. I think children should have their own names.

Edward is a great name though. Teddy is a nickname option, if you do go with Edward as a first name.

OP, is your mum alive and if so have you mentioned it to her?

I have a friend who named her son after her dad who had died many years before but under quite tragic circumstances.

When they announced to her mum the baby's name, the mum nearly fainted. She was terribly upset, associated the name with a huge trauma, and they had a row and now rarely speak.

In and of itself I think it's a nice thing but do check with your mum and perhaps siblings before you 100% make up your mind, to avoid any future upset.

Alternatively you could consider using your df's middle name as ds first name.

It’s fine. Loads of people do it.
I personally refused point blank to consider any family names for my kids. Because I didn’t want any arguments about my child’s name, or extra comparisons with any particular person.

My Dad died while I was pregnant with DS2 and we used his first name as a middle name. My mum specifically asked us not to use it as a first name, although to be honest we never considered that anyway.

My DF died while I was pregnant, I now regret not calling my son after him.

My son is named after DH's father, who had died before I met him. We didn't use the exact same actual name but a name I liked better, which had the same nickname/abbreviation which his father used. No-one in his family seemed to disapprove.

That's so touching for him to suggest that! It's a name that means so much to you and continuing it is a lovely idea, I would! X

My son is named after his dead grandfather, DH's Dad.

My son loves it and thinks it gives him a connection to the grandfather he never knew.

Use it for a middle name, much less baggage. I middle named DD Henrietta after my dad who was (obvs,) Henry.

Only do it if you love the name anyway.

I called DS William after my dad (still alive) and grandad (passed away). They all go/went by a different nickname, so it’s a nice connection but not the exact same name. I think Edward is similar with the options for Ed, Eddie, Ned, Teddy, Ted etc.

However I’ve always loved the name William and wanted to use it since I was a teenager. If dad and Grandad had been called something like Neville or Barry, I wouldn’t have even considered it!

I'm named after my dad's niece who died the year before I was born. I've always considered it an honour to carry the name on and even though I never met her I consider it a nice link with somebody that I wish I had known. Go for it says I.