Naming a Child after a Family Member
(408 Words)
Seen as a great honor, the practice of naming a child after a family member is conducted in many cultures throughout the world. Such a practice offers both benefits and challenges. Parents should be aware of these when making such a decision.
Benefits
It honors the family member
Whether the family member is the father or someone else, the person is likely to feel very honored by having a new baby named after him or her. It may be especially poignant for a grandparent or an elderly family member. It can be a way of saying thank you for all that he or she has done over the years.
Continues a family tradition
In some families, the firstborn son is always given the same name. It could be a tradition passed down for many years, and something the parents feel bound to continue.
Makes it easy to choose a name
Choosing a name for a baby can be very difficult. It may be hard to compromise between the spouses. If you simply choose to use someone else’s name, then this process can be much easier and avoid the stress and hassle of finding a name.
Challenges
Causes a rift between family members
Unless the child is named after the parent, choosing one family member can be a tricky thing. Other family members may feel bad that they were not honored in that way. For instance, if you choose to name the child after one grandfather, then the other grandfather may feel insulted. He may feel like you chose the other as more important. This could even potentially cause a rift in the family in severe cases.
Causes confusion
Especially if the child is named after someone in the same household, it can cause confusion. When someone calls, you’ll always have to ask which one. In many families, they will call the child Jr. or a nickname. It can still get confusing, however.
The child wishes for a unique name
The child may prefer to have a unique name. He or she may not like being named after someone and prefer to have his or her own moniker. This may be especially felt if he or she must be called something other than his or her name to avoid confusion.
Whether to name a child after a family member is a large decision. Parents should weigh both the benefits and challenges when deciding whether it is right for them.