Do you believe the first born son should be named a Jr?
By tink91879
@tink91879 (742)
United States
June 22, 2011 8:10pm CST
My husband is the middle child of three. His brother is the first and is a Jr. When I became pregant with my daughter they asked if we would be naming it a JR if it was a boy. We politely told them no. Than when I was pregnant with my son and we found out he was a boy they asked all the time. I kept telling them Jrs are not for me. I prefer my child to have his own name and middle name after his father. We were recently visiting and my ssiter in-law is pregnant with her 4th child, but its a boy this time and he will be a third since his father is a jr. They once again said if you have another and its a boy will it be a jr? Were surprised your son isnt a Jr. Didnt your husband want a Jr? I again explained to them we dont want a jr. We give our son his name and I believe the middle name should be a name from a family member or someone else special in your life. Is it really that important to have a jr? If you want a jr fine. I dont think it should be pushed onto some one though.
3 people like this
11 responses
@visavis (5934)
• Philippines
23 Jun 11
As I know that kind of naming is traditional way from our oldest father, which beleieves that naming a JR will remember or replacement of the concern father or gradfather. But now it is depense on the parents of what their agreed. Also some country I believe are always having naming traditions.
@tink91879 (742)
• United States
23 Jun 11
Im fine if ppl choose a jr, just I dont think the kids really care for it. There is confusion in the home, they dont like the kiddie nicknames, its easier to let them have their own name and use the middle as a name for some one else. To each his own, I just like giving my kids their own name.
@tink91879 (742)
• United States
23 Jun 11
That works for you great. My brother in-law was insisting on having a Jr. They have three girls and he wanted a boy so he could have Jr. Thats fine, but its not for me. I wish my in-laws would realize this.
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
24 Jun 11
When I was younger, being a junior did bother me, because my elder neighbors would call me by my father's nickname, which kinda annoyed me but like everything else I got used to it. I think you should express to your in-laws how you do not see the need or you do not appreciate them forcing you to name your son a JR. They'll understand.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
23 Jun 11
Whatever name you desire for your kid, you as the parent has the final word. Nobody could push what name they want for your kid. What is their authority as compared to you? Let them know it is not their business to name your child. Go and name your child whatever name you desire for him. That is your prerogative and nobody can steal that from you.
@tink91879 (742)
• United States
23 Jun 11
Thank you, I feel the same way. I wish they would understand this.
@tink91879 (742)
• United States
23 Jun 11
I have no clue. I have clue why 5 years later my in-laws are still wondering and asking why we didnt name him a jr. I have explained this to them so many times and yet they always bring it up.
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
23 Jun 11
Like you, i don't believe in naming a son after their father's, as Jr.
However, specially here in the Philippines, it was customary or it's a belief , that it would be nice if a son be named after the father as Jr. This is according to others, for the name to live on. Huh?
Even if i was given the chance to have a son, i wouldn't want him to be named Jr. I would like him too , to have a distinct name that could really be identified with him as a person.
1 person likes this
@tink91879 (742)
• United States
23 Jun 11
Naming your child is the first gift you will give them. Something they will keep forever. Who is big on hand me downs? Im fine if others choose this, just not for me. I think my in-laws need to understand this, especially since my son is 5 and they still ask.
@angelo315 (232)
• Philippines
23 Jun 11
In the Philippines, we honor the old idea of naming the first son "Jr." But for me, I did not follow that tradition. I believe that the person who receive a name thereby receives an identity. Since no person has the same identity, we should not share a name. The sense of personal identity that the names give us is important to us as individuals. We did not name our first baby boy "Jr". My dear Mylotters, don't get me wrong. I am not against to those people who were named "Jr" or to the person who want to name their child "Jr". I am just stating my point of view. :)
@tink91879 (742)
• United States
23 Jun 11
Well your thinking like me, they each deserve their own name since they will not be the same person.
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
29 Apr 13
No, I do not think parents should have to name their son(s) Jr. If they want to, that's fine. But they should never be forced into it.
Neither of my boys are Jr's. My husband and I just aren't into the whole Jr. thing (at the same time we may just have resorted to that had we not been able to agree on anything we liked better 
). However, our oldest son's middle name is the same as his paternal grandfather. My husband and I didn't do it because we were forced to or to keep some sort of tradition going in the family. We did it because we liked how it sounded with the rest of our son's name.
As for our youngest son, my husband and I had a heck of a time coming up with a first and middle name. So much so, that in the end we gave in and let his parents name him for us. Fortunately, the names they suggested had a nice ring to it. And that's all that mattered as that's all my husband and I had been looking for.
). However, our oldest son's middle name is the same as his paternal grandfather. My husband and I didn't do it because we were forced to or to keep some sort of tradition going in the family. We did it because we liked how it sounded with the rest of our son's name.
As for our youngest son, my husband and I had a heck of a time coming up with a first and middle name. So much so, that in the end we gave in and let his parents name him for us. Fortunately, the names they suggested had a nice ring to it. And that's all that mattered as that's all my husband and I had been looking for. 
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
23 Jun 11
For me yes but in my owned opinion I would not prefer for that it is okay that my child have the name they like.
@atprudente6 (673)
• Philippines
23 Jun 11
It is just a matter of preference. Some father will named their first born son after them while the other prefer different names.
@jameygc (452)
• United States
23 Jun 11
I am with you girl. I think this is a very old fashion tradition. I know a family which all the sons have the same father's name but with different middle name. Where is their originality? Can you imagine? They are four brothers, all with the same name. By the way, my husband's name is the same than his father. When I got pregnant, they asked me but not like trying to pushed me, you know. I gave my son a different name, his own name, and if I get pregnant again will be the same, an original name. I think that is a silly idea to put the same name generation over generation.
@tink91879 (742)
• United States
23 Jun 11
I am definatly to each his own. Im glad they didnt push it on you. It gets so annoying having someone repeat over and over why did you not do a jr? Would you name your next son a Jr? It is old fashioned and its fine, just I like to come up with a name for my child to let them have their own. I think having the same DNA is enough.
@ludyvel04 (311)
• Philippines
25 Jun 11
I don't think it is necessary to follow the child's name after his father's. My firstborn is a boy and I didn't let him have his father's name and add Jr into it. I want him to have his own name. I was long ago practiced and haven't heard often that babies nowadays still use Jr or III.
