Naming a baby after a sibling?

one.juniper · #1 January 23rd, 2012, 07:55 AM

Ok, my boyfriend wants to name the baby after his brother if its a boy.

I thought this was a little.. well odd. I don't have any particular problem with it, I just thought it was weird. I've heard of naming after parents, or grandparents but not siblings. Do people do this?

Being an only child myself I'm out of the loop on the whole sibling relationship thing.

Lucia_mommy · #2 January 23rd, 2012, 08:12 AM

Sure, why not? I'm named after an aunt (so my mother's sister)

wavrunnr · #3 January 23rd, 2012, 09:24 AM

I think it's totally sweet! he must think a lot of his brother. my DD1's middle name (Susanna) is after my DH's sister (Susan) +my mom (Sue)

Aillidh · #4 January 23rd, 2012, 10:13 AM

I think it's great, my family tends to use family names like that. I fully intend to use John (after my grandda and brother), Michael (after my dad), Patrick, (brother), Sean (brother), Brody (for a middle name- brother). If you love it and in honor of a sibling, I definitely think you should use it.

Gaby&Emmy'sMama · #5 January 23rd, 2012, 05:43 PM

I think it's a nice way to pay tribute to a family member

I wouldn't use a family members name for a first name, but both of my girls have family middle names (DD1 has my sisters middle name, and DD2 has my Mum's middle name)

wanting#2 · #6 January 23rd, 2012, 06:17 PM

I wanted to use my brother's name for ds middle name but we could never agree.

Memi · #7 January 23rd, 2012, 07:43 PM

I have my aunt's middle name. I will be naming my first daughter after my brother (who passed away). I really love using family names, however I don't like using their first names as first names. I prefer using them as middle names or a variation of their first name of the sort.

redbirds · #8 January 24th, 2012, 07:15 AM

I'd love to incorporate a MN for my brother, but DH wouldn't agree... It also sounds better if we have single syllable mn's, but yes, it's quite common and very admirable

one.juniper · #9 January 24th, 2012, 07:31 AM

Ahh, I see. Interesting to know its so common. It would be a first name for a first name, so Christopher. I realllllly like the name James but my bf isn't a fan, so I think we are compromising Christopher James. I think that sounds cute.

Thanks for the help! I suppose we ought to ask his brother how he feels about it.... and its all moot if it ends up a girl

My2miracles · #10 January 24th, 2012, 12:03 PM

my cousin is named after his mother's uncle (my uncle too).

The only thing I would bring up is that if it's a close family, it can get confusing just like juniors. My cousin & uncle were both Donald. Cousin became Donny Joe (Donald Joseph) & uncle became Big Don (we don't use uncle/aunt titles in my family just 1st names). My poor cousin had to fight to be called just Don as he got older.

K.A.T · #11 January 24th, 2012, 12:06 PM

Naming a child after a family member is done often. My sons middle name is after a cousin of mine who died from cancer.

Shades of Grey · #12 January 24th, 2012, 06:00 PM

I prefer using family names for middle names. One of my middle names, Lorisa, is for my mom and her twin, Lori and Lisa. My sons middle names are Merrick Hunter for my Dad, Rick Hunt. Our daughter, should we have one, will be Alori (for my mom) Hope (my sisters middle name, she is using Faith, my other middle name) Jocelyn (for my grandma Joyce)... lots of family names lol

MyBubRy · #13 January 24th, 2012, 08:04 PM

My little girl is Ryan (because I quite like gender neutral names, I would have named her Alexandra or some variation, after her father, but my brother, who incidentily is my husbands best friend, named his daughter Alexandria xD) Olivia (after my sister who died when she was 13) Gemma (after Alex's sister and my best friend xD). It's a bit of a mouthful really, Ryan Olivia Gemma, plus she has a hyphenated last name xD. Today I found out through amniocentesis (I have genetic diseases running on my side of the family) that I am having a boy and girl, so there will soon be big debates over email, phone and video call with my husband (he's in the middle of god know's where in the middle east/germany/where ever the hell else the send him) and bets going on between my family over who wins this time xD.

MannyMommy · #14 February 1st, 2012, 07:27 PM

I don't think it is weird. My cousin is named after my dad (First name only) and our nephew is named after my husband (first & middle name).

ashleykathleen · #15 February 1st, 2012, 07:36 PM

I've heard of people doing it but I guess it's not something I could ever do...we use family names for middle names (Kathleen is my middle name and my mom's first name; William is SO's grandpa's first name).

Naming after siblings is out for me...I'm the oldest of 9 so I could never possibly name after everyone and keep it fair lol