Namesake Confusion - Who's a Junior, Anyway?
Categories: Baby Names
My brother and his wife just had a baby boy (brother's second son)and named him after my brother which makes him a jr. My question is, is it ok to name your second son jr. and not your first son?
- JustAsking
If Richard Mark has a son named Richard Mark, Jr., does Richard Mark Jr.'s son become Richard Mark II or III?
- Not Richard Mark
In America, there are few rules to baby naming. You aren't required to name your first son after dad's father and your second after mom's father. You're free to name for family, friends, strangers or soap opera characters. You can make up a whole new name, or name the baby after the place she was conceived. (You've heard the old "baby Chevrolet" jokes, right?)
Maybe that's why, when we do come across a realm of naming rules, we freak out. Parents get nervous about using Junior, II and III, because it's one of the few kinds of baby naming you can actually get wrong. Not to fear, family-name fans. Here's the Name Lady's quick guide to namesakes.
What's the order? Richard, Richard Jr., Richard III, Richard IV.
Hey, what happened to II? If you're following a direct paternal line, you traditionally don't use the suffix II. A Richard II would be named after a living relative other than the father, such as an uncle or grandfather.
Do middle names count? Traditionally, a suffix is only used for exact namesakes, including identical middle names. That's why President George H. W. Bush's son George W. Bush wasn't a Jr. But some families -- like Ronald Reagan's -- like to tack on a Jr. even when the middle names don't match, to avoid confusion.
Which kids are eligible? A son does not have to be first-born to be named for his father. Many families honor other relatives such as grandparents first, then name later children after the parents.
What if one in the line has passed away? There's no consistent etiquette for this situation. Some suggest that the suffixes are only to be used to distinguish among living relatives, and that if the first Richard is deceased, all his namesakes should "move up" a number. Personally, I lean toward keeping the suffix you were given at birth. It exists to honor and remember your family, a function which continues even after the loved ones themselves are gone.
But I don't wanna do it that way! OK, suit yourself. Family preference is what really determines the suffix, especially nowadays. If you do choose a non-standard usage, don't feel the need to make excuses. Just explain the suffix to anybody who asks, with a smile and a kind word about the relatives you've chosen to honor.
- JustAsking
If Richard Mark has a son named Richard Mark, Jr., does Richard Mark Jr.'s son become Richard Mark II or III?
- Not Richard Mark
In America, there are few rules to baby naming. You aren't required to name your first son after dad's father and your second after mom's father. You're free to name for family, friends, strangers or soap opera characters. You can make up a whole new name, or name the baby after the place she was conceived. (You've heard the old "baby Chevrolet" jokes, right?)
Maybe that's why, when we do come across a realm of naming rules, we freak out. Parents get nervous about using Junior, II and III, because it's one of the few kinds of baby naming you can actually get wrong. Not to fear, family-name fans. Here's the Name Lady's quick guide to namesakes.
What's the order? Richard, Richard Jr., Richard III, Richard IV.
Hey, what happened to II? If you're following a direct paternal line, you traditionally don't use the suffix II. A Richard II would be named after a living relative other than the father, such as an uncle or grandfather.
Do middle names count? Traditionally, a suffix is only used for exact namesakes, including identical middle names. That's why President George H. W. Bush's son George W. Bush wasn't a Jr. But some families -- like Ronald Reagan's -- like to tack on a Jr. even when the middle names don't match, to avoid confusion.
Which kids are eligible? A son does not have to be first-born to be named for his father. Many families honor other relatives such as grandparents first, then name later children after the parents.
What if one in the line has passed away? There's no consistent etiquette for this situation. Some suggest that the suffixes are only to be used to distinguish among living relatives, and that if the first Richard is deceased, all his namesakes should "move up" a number. Personally, I lean toward keeping the suffix you were given at birth. It exists to honor and remember your family, a function which continues even after the loved ones themselves are gone.
But I don't wanna do it that way! OK, suit yourself. Family preference is what really determines the suffix, especially nowadays. If you do choose a non-standard usage, don't feel the need to make excuses. Just explain the suffix to anybody who asks, with a smile and a kind word about the relatives you've chosen to honor.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
laurenhadkins 6-01-2009 @ 10:22AM
My husband was the 3rd of 5 total children, him being the 2nd son. His father was a Junior. They DID not name the first son after him as his mother dispised the name. They ended up having my husband and went ahead and carried on the name through him (even though this was not planned and had not intended to carry on the name obviously being the first son wasnt the 3rd) So my hubby is the 3rd of his name. But we have a 2 year old and DID not name him after my husband...but if we do get blessed with another son...he will be the 4th. Basically I think that "traditionally" it is supposed to be carried on through the first son...but this is not always so anymore as people are shying away from traditional, olds school names and opting for unique, original names.
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donald dowling 8-02-2009 @ 7:32PM
There is a female jockey riding in local thoroughbred races who uses junior (JR) at the end of her name.I find this very unusual-- care to comment??
Reply
Amanda 12-02-2009 @ 3:09AM
I find it amusing that when families name after males, they tend to use Jr, III, IV etc... but in families that follow female naming, the suffixes seem to get lost... I know of a family that is 4 generations of Mary. The first three generations are identical, Mary Ann P. The fourth Mary (rest her infant soul) was given a second middle name as four Marys was just too confusing.
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