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They Say: Naming Son ‘Junior’ Might Make Him Crazy
My husband is a junior — actually, a II — and never once in three rounds of baby-naming did we consider anointing a III.
It’s not that I’m opposed to naming sons after their fathers (though it can be a hassle — more on that in a second), but my husband’s name is Wayne and he, especially, would like that name just go away.
As I said, sharing names has its drawbacks. Our credit records, social security stuff, mortgage histories and all that get frequently mixed up with our in-laws’. You’d think the social security numbers would keep all that separate, but no. Strangely, my husband’s and father-in-law’s name is very common yet only get confused with each other and not with the hundreds of other Americans with the same first, middle and last.
Finally, the psychological impact on Junior: Back when Seniors, Juniors, IIIs and IVs (ooooo, I know a IV — hey, Paul!) were naming traditions of the upper-crust, Ivy League schools were packed with them, one study done in the 1940s showed. Then, in the 70s, researchers realized mental institutions were filled with Juniors.
Interestingly, there weren’t many IIIs and IVs in the crazy house, leading researchers to conclude that it’s the name “Junior” — diminutive, in the shadow of, never fully mature connotations and all that.
But whatever. Apparently fewer parents are naming sons after their fathers because we’re all hellbent on picking names that they don’t even share with their peers.
What do you think of name-sharing? Anybody go with Junior? Would you/did you name your son (or daughter) after Dad (or Mom)? If so, what do you call them so that your husband doesn’t think he’s in trouble or vice-versa?
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Photo: MSNBC.com
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4 Comments
Toy Kitchen commented on Jun 22 09 at 3:20 pmI’ve never been a big fan of name-sharing. Give the kid his own identity via his own unique family name.
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beep commented on Jun 22 09 at 5:12 pmI am currently pregnant and trying to decide whether I would give a daughter my same first name (with a different middle and last name). I am generally against “juniors” but I think my unusual first name is the nicest name there is… I love its sound and meaning; people regularly compliment me on it when introduced. Of course, there are other beautiful names in the world… should I be finding another one for my daughter, if I have one?
Madeline Holler commented on Jun 22 09 at 7:59 pmBeep and Beep Jr.? I’d say keep looking. Kidding!
That’s something I didn’t bring up but am totally curious about — naming girls after their mothers (or fathers). My understanding is this is a Southern tradition? It’s also why Courteney Cox-Arquette’s daughter is named Coco (read that somewhere).
I wonder if naming your child after Dad looks honorable, while naming your daughter after you looks vain.
Blondegrlz commented on Jun 23 09 at 12:07 amMy husband is a second, my son is a third. I never considered NOT using the name since it was a nice one (and actually getting very trendy these days, especially considering it wasn’t at ALL popular when my father-in-law got it). I don’t think a name has as much effect on a kid as some people think. Being a II or a III can’t be any worse than being named Brynnlynn or Rodanthe or something even odder.
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