Middle names for baby boy in honor of my grandpa?

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stample · 27/07/2026 21:41

Rowan jonah?

clarrylove · 27/07/2026 21:05

How about Julius? He died in July and it starts with a J and Rowan Julius sounds pretty cool...

FunnyOrca · 27/07/2026 20:50

For what it’s worth OP, I gave my baby an “honouring” middle name and was so excited about it. It literally never comes up. I would just go with Jose or Joe.

Original poster

zeref · 27/07/2026 20:45

Our baby boy is going to be born in September. His name will be Rowan. My grandpa juat passed away a week ago, and i really want to put his name in there as the middle name. My grandpa's name was Jose, and im not sure if im a fan of that. He did always go by "Joe", so I was trying to think of a boys name that began with Joe, that isn't Joseph. Im also conflicted on just wanting to use Jose in general.
What do you think? Rowan Jose? Is there another "Joe" name that sounds good?
Also juat for context, I live in Ontario, Canada.
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OP posts:

ImpunityJane · 23/07/2026 19:01

StationJack · 20/07/2026 15:36

@ImpunityJane , if I wanted to name DD in honour of my gran, but didn't like the name Beryl so give DD the name Pearl instead because it sounds fairly similar, how is that honouring my gran? It doesn't make sense

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The names you used in your example aren’t related, but sharing an initial or a related similar name in honour of a deceased relative is something that is normal in some other cultures. Jewish families often do this for example. Eli and Elizabeth or Elise for example.

TY78910 · 20/07/2026 21:53

I don’t know what it’s like in Canada but in the UK (unless you double barrel a name) you very rarely use a middle name. Sure it’s on documents, but it never comes up in day to day. Both my kids have grandparent middle names and they’re so classic you wouldn’t typically get a child with that name anymore, but nobody would even know they have that middle name. They sign first name last name on everything. We did it to honour family members, and I don’t regret the names. So I would go with Jose.

amandalandmad · 20/07/2026 21:47

Can never understand wanting to use someone’s name- José, not Joe for short but a name like Joe so maybe Jovan?
you end up with a name that isn’t the original name at all so it’s pointless using it. Might aswell not bother

Watchoutfortheslowaraf · 20/07/2026 19:01

Jose is fine. Or as others have said so are Joe, Joel and Jonah. (I love the name jonah)

josiah, joey, josef, jobe,

Shloopie · 20/07/2026 18:54

I'm sorry for your loss.

I think Jose or Joe is the way to go. As others have said those were his actual names and looking for a different Joe adjacent name isn't really honouring him in the same way. Middle names don't have to flow or sound especially pleasing to the ear. You're honouring someone who was an important figure in your life, and that's what counts.

User6761 · 20/07/2026 17:30

StationJack · 20/07/2026 14:21

In 2024, 421 boys, 265 girls (First names at birth by sex at birth, selected indicators), @User6761 .

Interesting that it's becoming more of a male name in Scotland too. I wonder what pronunciation is usually used for the boys as every Scottish female Rowan I know - and the tree - is pronounced to rhyme with cow.

StationJack · 20/07/2026 15:36

ImpunityJane · 20/07/2026 14:58

You don’t have to use the exact name to honour someone as long as it feels like a strong connection to you. This works differently in different cultures too. People can be named in honour by sharing initials.

In this case Joel feels like a good choice to me.

@ImpunityJane , if I wanted to name DD in honour of my gran, but didn't like the name Beryl so give DD the name Pearl instead because it sounds fairly similar, how is that honouring my gran? It doesn't make sense

tinyspiny · 20/07/2026 15:04

Just use Jose or Joe , using any other name isn’t honouring your grandpa as they were the names he was called . If you don’t like those names then forget it altogether , which is equally ok

ImpunityJane · 20/07/2026 14:58

You don’t have to use the exact name to honour someone as long as it feels like a strong connection to you. This works differently in different cultures too. People can be named in honour by sharing initials.

In this case Joel feels like a good choice to me.

StationJack · 20/07/2026 14:21

In 2024, 421 boys, 265 girls (First names at birth by sex at birth, selected indicators), @User6761 .

StationJack · 20/07/2026 14:10

User6761 · 20/07/2026 13:43

Rowan is predominantly given to boys in England, whereas in Scotland I think it's more of an even split. (Although in both countries I only personally know female Rowans). No idea in Canada where OP is.

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whereas in Scotland I think it's more of an even split., @User6761,
Historcally, yes, but a few more boys in 2024 and 2025 Babies’ First Names, 2025 - National Records of Scotland (NRS)

YourWinter · 20/07/2026 13:46

Rowan Joe is fine.
Ro-Jo may become an irritating nickname (or a cute one, if you’re so inclined)!

User6761 · 20/07/2026 13:43

remembranceofthingspast · 20/07/2026 13:26

I've only known Rowan as a girl's name

Rowan is predominantly given to boys in England, whereas in Scotland I think it's more of an even split. (Although in both countries I only personally know female Rowans). No idea in Canada where OP is.

CurlewKate · 20/07/2026 13:35

I think Rowan Joe sounds good.

StationJack · 20/07/2026 13:34

@remembranceofthingspast , Rowan Williams, Rowan Atkinson, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Baby name explorer - Rowan.

It's unisex but mainly used for boys, and it's in the top 50 names for boys in England and Wales.

remembranceofthingspast · 20/07/2026 13:26

I've only known Rowan as a girl's name

Lomonald · 20/07/2026 13:15

I would use Jose or Joe don't play about with it, middle names are often used to honour relatives, they don't have to flow imo. One of my cousins Dd has a diminutive of our grans name as a middle and it is lovely.

User6761 · 20/07/2026 13:10

plasticplate · 20/07/2026 12:54

I think honour names should be the actual name or nickname they were known by so either Jose or Joe either of which is fine.

Agree, if it's to honour someone then surely it has to be their name (either their legal name or a name they used). Both Jose and Joe are fine.

But given your Grandpa has sadly died, he won't be aware of what name is chosen and would probably want you to choose whatever name you want for your baby and not be constrained by his name if there's another you prefer?

Mumoftwoteenagers · 20/07/2026 13:07

plasticplate · 20/07/2026 12:54

I think honour names should be the actual name or nickname they were known by so either Jose or Joe either of which is fine.

I agree.

Plus both Joe and Jose are nice unobjectionable names. So rejecting them seems wrong somehow.

If he had been called “Snozcumber” then maybe!

StationJack · 20/07/2026 12:59

StationJack · 20/07/2026 12:27

The middle name is to honour the grandfather. There's no connection with Jose or Joe, other than Jesse was a forefather of Jesus' father, Joseph.

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Joel, Jonathan and Jonah aren't connected to Jose/Joe either. You might as well suggest Samuel or Solomon.

Rowan Joe or Rowan Jose is fine, whichever you like best.
Joseph would be OK but like pp, the name needs to be the name of the person it's honouring.

damemaggiescurledupperlip · 20/07/2026 12:57

What was grandad’s surname? Would it make a good moniker?