Random question

[lolzabeth.livejournal.com]

What are peoples opinions on naming your child in honour of someone who died young?
My mum wanted to call me Ansley after my great aunt but Ansley died when she was 16 and my mum thoght it was a bad omen. My brother, however, wants to call his daughter Lucy Rose after his friend who passed away a couple of years ago. She was 17.

Sorry if this is a bit depressing but I was just wondering what people thought.

Lovely gesture, nice reminder or bad omen?

Comments

[lizziey.livejournal.com]

my younger brother was killed when he was two, his name wa Thomas.

My younger son was named Christopher Thomas Paul T.

(take out the thomas and it's my husband's name, otherwise he would *not* have two middles)

I think it is an honor.

If my hubby and I have a girl, there is a good chance of her being (Please don't snark...) Meckenzie Theresa. Theresa after my mom who was killed with my brother. Meckenzie because *my* middle name is Meckenziegennette (meckenzie and gennette put together, than pronounced stupidly). (her middle name may also be Paulette instead, to match hubby's middle name)

[lolacat.livejournal.com]

I think it's a nice gesture as long as it's really meaningful to YOU and you like the name.

[wolf-shadow.livejournal.com]

Depends! I think it is mostly a bit of the first two though. I think middle names are more common though. I have my paternal grandmother's name for my middle name as she died suddenly about 6 weeks before I was born. My step-daughter has a middle name for an aunt of her mother who died young.
FWIW, I think I will do it too - I promised my grandmother not long before she died, that if I had a daughter, I'd call her Viginia after her and her mother.

[the-theorist.livejournal.com]

My childhood best friend died when he was 14 (3 years ago) and I'd like to use his name, Brian, if I could.

[lolzabeth.livejournal.com]

I would love to name a boy after my best friend from school who died last year (he was 20) but his name was Callum and, sadly, I don't like the name :(

[shishenbelle.livejournal.com]

I like the idea, as long as you really do love the name. You will have to call the child the name for the rest of his or her life, so you need to like it. Giving a child a middle name as an honor also works.

My best friend passed away 2 years ago at the age of 21, my first daughter will be named Mary _____ i havent picked a middle name for her yet, but i like the name Mary and want to honor her.

Also, my uncle was named Thomas, and he passed away a year ago - one of my sons will have the middle name Thomas for him.

[bellisima87.livejournal.com]

I am really not sure if it is a nice reminder or a bad omen..

I would love to give one of my kids the middle name Anna because it is my granny's middle name and also my great grandmother's name..
One of my cousins died young.. I think she was in her late 20s but her name was Silke and I don't like this name so I won't call any of my kids Silke.. even though it would be a nice reminder.

[krazyhippie.livejournal.com]

My partner is deadset (no pun intended) on a son's middle name being after his Grandpa who died when my partner was 7. I think it's a wonderful way to honor the memory of the father figure in his life.

[krazyhippie.livejournal.com]

Oh and my mom wanted to name my sis Molly after my mom's sister who died at 2 days old, so I guess my family just doesn't see it as a bad omen. The only reason they didn't name my sis that was b/c our last name is Miller and my dad refused to have Molly Miller, lol.

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

Lovely gesture.

It it were a bad omen, you'd hardly be able to name children. Everyone dies.

[beverly-sutphin.livejournal.com]

I think it's a lovely gesture, as long as you like the name.

My cousin (who was more of a brother to me than a cousin) died at 21 while his fiancee was pregnant with their first child. His name was Donald (we called him Don, mostly) and his daughter was named Dawn.

The only problem I've sometimes seen is when someone names their kid after someone who died and that kid gets a lot of grief from family/friends who burden the kid with comparing him/her to the original name-bearer. That is, sometimes the kid is expected to replace or live up to the original name-bearer. I don't know how often this is a problem, but I've heard of it happening.

Having said all that, I won't name my child after my Hubby and his Dad and Grandfather because I think my kid should have his own identity and not have to carry on some family name... plus the family name is Fred(rick) and I am not fond of the name Fred to begin with! It took me a while to get used to it with my Hubby, lol.

[beverly-sutphin.livejournal.com]

lol! I agree.

[lolzabeth.livejournal.com]

I think it was just because she died so young and I was going to be named directly after her. My mum was just being superstitious and thinking it might jinx me.

Personally, I think it's great if you like the name. I actually thought of Lucy Rose before my brother (and Shaun for a boy, which is the name picked for his first son...) He had more links to Lucy so I said he could use it. Hopefully he wont be using it anytime soon lol. I can't imagine him as a father...

[smasharash.livejournal.com]

As long as you do actually like the name then yes, I think it is good. To be honest, I had never actually thought of it as a bad omen, but I can understand why some people would - especially if the person died young. I think middle names are best for that kind of thing though. Also, I think it would be a bit odd taking the whole name of the person who died and using it, I think it's better to use either the first of middle name. So, to me, it's a bit strange your niece being Lucy Rose if the girl who died was also called Lucy Rose. But if the middle of first name was Lucy or Rose then that would be really good.

[lolzabeth.livejournal.com]

Her name was just Lucy. I don't think she had a middle name. If she did it wasn't Rose. We both (me and my brother) just thought it went well :)

[anapology.livejournal.com]

If you love the name anyway, then i suppose it's alright... i'd be more inclined to honour them using the middle name though- I'm all for kids having their own identity & first names chosen for them.

My uncle (John Michael) is named after his older brother (John Michael) who died when he was only a few days old. I think that's really weird to be honest...

[anapology.livejournal.com]

That's more like a family name though...not honouring one person in particular because they died.
& i love the name Anna

[xmidnightlovex.livejournal.com]

My Uncle- William Tyler Jensen passed away 3 years ago. My son who is now 17 months old. His name is Tyler Jensen H.
I knew I would name my child after him but I didn't like the name William because its too popular and old fashion to me. But Tyler Jensen is definately unique and noone else should have that name ;)

[a-purple-dream.livejournal.com]

I think of it as an honor. My mom named my older sister, Lucia aftera cousin that died in birth. But that cousin was named after my grandfather, Lucio. So basically my sister is named after two dead people (3 if you consider the Virgin Mary, in Spanish she is called Virgen de Guadalupe.) So her name is Lucia Guadalupe.

[tinylittlestars.livejournal.com]

My great uncle passed away in 1991, before his daughter (my mums cousin) had her kids. His name was Harry Hatzianaglou (Hatzen).

When his daughters first son was born in 2000, she names him Harry Hatzen Purcell after his grandfather he'd never met. I thought that was cute.

[rockwritergeek.livejournal.com]

My cousin was murdered three years ago and I promised my uncle (his dad) that I'd name one of my sons (if I ever have any) after him It's a good thing too, cause I absoulutely love the name.

Amos.

[fingie.livejournal.com]

Well, my maternal grandparents names were Jerrold Carlton & Coralene Faith and while they didnt die young Ive always wanted to incorporate their names into my first sons/daughters name. I can work with Jerrold or Carlton in my sons name, but Coralene just isnt my style at all. So, my daughter who is due in May is going to be named Adrianna Faith. My boyfriend lost a childhood friend around the age of 13 and refuses to use his name if we ever have a son because its too painful for him. I think it all depends on the person/situation.

[thepastperfect]

I wouldn't call a name a bad omen, ever. I do think it has something to do with how they died. If it's a family member or someone who died young in a time when it was common to die young(er), then it seems less morbid than naming your child after a friend who was murdered or something. And if the name is going to make you sad every time you yell for your kids to come to dinner, it's probably a bad idea.

[georgey629.livejournal.com]

I think it's an honor. My sister plans on naming a future son after her friend who died at age 16. I think it's a sweet idea.