baby called after dad

[demirose87]

Hi would like opinions on calling a baby boy after his dad. Having a boy in September, my fourth child and DP's first and last, as I'm having my tubes tied after he is delivered by c section. I thought we had the name picked but I've slowly gone off the name as I've realised its more popular than I thought. DP has a really nice name and we've both said it would be a nice idea to call him that name. What are peoples ideas please.

If it's a name that has multiple nickname options then go for it. I'm not a fan of family names but mainly because there might be situations when you don't know who you're calling for or talking about etc

If there is opportunity for them to be referred to as completely separate names then why not? Also maybe give a middle name that he can use as a first name if he chose to later on?

As PP said, still very common in Ireland. My brother and my dad have the same name, and it's never caused any real problems as they have different middle names so we always stress that when making official phone calls/doctors appointments etc. Other people locally tend to refer to them as Big Lila'sDad and Wee Lilia'sBro when they're talking about them, which narks my brother a little, but it's only ever their actual first name to their faces. And if you have a full name/nickname situation going on its not going to be a problem.

As PP said, still very common in Ireland. My brother and my dad have the same name

Yes, but that's not this generation who is currently having children and naming them. My sister is called after my mother, and my brother is called after his father, paternal grandfather, and great-uncle and yes, there were four John Murphys living under the same roof at one point! but I'm pretty sure that happens a lot less now.

My ds actively likes having a name that's been in his family for 400 years..........

Lovely idea. Easier if you can use different versions of it for most of the time, but I love the tradition of naming children after their parents and wish it hadn't (mostly) died out in this country.

I find it naff and boring. Your baby is its own person

I hate the concept anyway and would hate to be named the same as my parent. However I know opinions vary on this. But in your case, I think the fact that you have other children with a different father, makes this complex. The older children could risk feeling "lesser" if the baby not only gets to live with both their parents but shares the other parent's name. I am expressing this really badly but I think it has the potential to cause hurt and to be seen by them as pushing them and their father out. I'm sure that's not your intention but it could be the unintended impact.

sycamore makes a good point

We called DS the same name as DH and DH was called after his dad who passed away several years ago. It's also a name that's common in my own family so I liked the idea of using it.

Fiachra I get your point but my DB is still a teenager so its not that many generations out! Personally I wouldn't do it, but I don't at all think it's a weird thing to do if you're of a mind to do it, iyswim.

Greendale17. How rude.

sycamore, my older children don't know their dad, hes not involved with them, so I'm not bothered about pushing him out. I may as well say the name.. it's Jonathan. My DP has only ever been known as Jon or Jonny, he's never been called Jonathan, which is what I would use for our baby.

Idratherhaveacupoftea- she asked, I gave MY opinion.

It is boring- who wants the same first name as their parent?

demirose87 but how will your other kids feel? Like this baby is even closer to DP than them? They might not but it's worth considering.

A kid named Jonathan is more likely to be called Jon or Jonny when at school. If it were like pp said William and one is Bill the other Will or Edward with Ed and Teddy I think that's different but maybe there are some different Jonathan nicknames in not thinking of right now

Would you be open to Nathan/Nathaniel possible nn Nate
You have an element of DPs name without it being the exact name

My grandad, dad and brother all have the same name and middle names. GD isn't with us anymore but for example, if it was Edward, my dad is Ed and my brother was always Edward until be moved out of home, then he chose to use Eddie.

I don't think my kids would feel left out just because of a name. He has taken them on as his own and have a great relationship, which is what counts.Two of them are girls and my son has the male version of my name, purely because I really liked the boys version. I wouldn't really have a problem with his name getting shortened when hes older as most names are, but we would refer to him as jonathan. Thanks for the replies though, I think it is going to be the name we're going with x