What does it mean to name a child after someone?

It’s An Homage. For some people it’s a particular film or book character, for others it’s a famous artist or political figure. If there was a person who meant a lot to you growing up, naming your child after them could be a sweet way to honor them.

Who picks the baby name?

Or the mom can choose the name of the first baby and the dad can name the second baby. You may also agree to have someone else such as a family member, choose a name. Perhaps each grandparent can submit a name, and then decide on one as a family. The good news is that baby naming doesn’t usually get to this point.

How important is a name to a person identity?

Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deep personal, cultural, familial, and historical connections. They also give us a sense of who we are, the communities in which we belong, and our place in the world.

Why do people name their children after family members?

First, a little backstory: The tradition of giving a child the name of his parent—technically known as a “patronym”—goes back several centuries, when a child (usually a first son) was named after a parent (usually a dad) as a symbol of familial fealty.

Who has the legal right to name a baby?

parents
Who Has the Right to Name a Child? Both parents have the right to name their children. If either you or the other parent want to change your child’s name, you both have to agree to the change. If the other parent refuses to give consent, then you need to get approval from the court.

Can You Name Your Baby after someone without using their name?

But if you like the idea of honoring a loved one, and you’re open to some creative name-storming, there are lots of ways to name your baby after someone – without using actually using their name. Read on for nine of my favorite ways to reinvent a loved one’s name to make it fresh and new for your child.

Does your baby’s name reflect more on you or his life?

Choosing your child’s name is a big decision–after all, he’ll be walking around with it for the rest of his life. And according to Laura Wattenberg, author of The Baby Name Wizard, when a child is born, the name reflects more on you than him.

Why do people choose such names for their children?

For parents who choose such names, it’s a possible combination of being a creative person (like actors and musicians) and liking the attention that the name gives not only to their child, but to them for choosing it.

How do you reinvent a name for a child?

Read on for nine of my favorite ways to reinvent a loved one’s name to make it fresh and new for your child. Consider shorter forms and elaborations, translations into other languages, and traditional nicknames. Try looking up the name’s family tree on Behind the Name. (Enter the name.