# Jr., III, etc. -- would you keep it going with your kid? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785 "2006-04-07T22:24:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/21 "2006-04-08T08:55:05Z")
I’m a Jr., and I think if I had a son, I would just skip a few numerals and give him IX just for the hell of it. Looks fancy. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/22 "2006-04-08T09:10:12Z")
Jr, III etc is one thing, my husband’s family has an even more complicated naming thing. Grandpa is Firstname Lastname Dad is Firstname Given-name Lastname Son is Firstname Maternal-Grandpa’s-Given-name Given-name Lastname Apparently, my son (if we have one) will be expected to carry this insanity on- four first names, with his given name as the fourth- I don’t think so! ---
**Author:** ![Doom\_Slinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Doom\_Slinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doom_Slinger)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/23 "2006-04-08T14:20:32Z")
> [@ArchitectChore](#): > > Have you considered using the first two initials? ::shudder:: I’m even less a fan of the two-initials-as-a-name thing than the Jr/III. That’s how my parents distinguished me from my dad when I was really small, and even then I remember hating being referred to by my initials instead of my name, even if my name was the same as Dad’s. (It didn’t help that those two initials are also slang for a common sex act.) When I was starting kindergarten, the teacher asked me on the very first day if I would rather be called by my initials nickname or by my proper first name, and I chose my proper first name without hesitation and haven’t looked back. Some family members (I’m looking at you, Sis) still call me by the initials, but usually only to annoy me. > [@Lorenzo](#): > > It causes a lot of confusion when the phone rings. Yeah, this was the big problem for me, especially when I was a teenager and sounded just like my dad on the phone. My mother insisted that my friends who called for me ask specifically for “[Name] Jr.” so she wouldn’t have to keep asking “Senior or Junior?” My friends were generally good sports about it when they called, although one female friend did point out that girlfriends shouldn’t have to specify “Jr.” when they called, since my dad wasn’t talking to very many teenage girls on the phone, was he? Mom was not amused. > [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > I’m a Jr., and I think if I had a son, I would just skip a few numerals and give him IX just for the hell of it. Looks fancy. 😃 I’ve thought about that, but if I were going to do it, I’d pick a Roman numeral that has more letters. Maybe XVIII. Even fancier. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/24 "2006-04-08T15:13:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No. Please for the love of god no. This will cause endless problems for him in his later life. One dude I know had the Government assume he was dead when his father passed away. ☹ Identity theft. Credit problems. > > Sure, give him your first name- **OR** your middle name. But not both. Ah, I must clarify; in my family it’s just the first name, not the middle name. The middle name is the maternal grandfather’s first name, a neat way of honoring both sides of the family. I agree that using both names is excessive; since my Dad is Richard J. and I’m Richard C., it prevents any real legal confusions. My first son will be Richard D. I sounded a lot like my Dad on he phone and someone it confused people, but it’s no big deal. I love having his name. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/25 "2006-04-08T16:10:06Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I sounded a lot like my Dad on he phone and someone it confused people, but it’s no big deal. I love having his name. My mom and I sound fairly similar on the phone, but what is more disturbing is that at the age he is now (10) my SON sounds just like me on the phone. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/26 "2006-04-08T16:21:09Z")
I am a woman with the same first name as my mom, who was in turn named after HER mother. I hope to have at least one child someday. I’m not sure if I’ll continue the tradition or not with my own daughter. I enjoy having a rather unique name with some tradition behind it…but it does make things a little more complicated when it comes to keeping identities straight. Oh, and my brother is technically a Junior, but I doubt anyone outside the family realizes it. He and my dad didn’t get along very well, so I’m pretty sure he doesn’t like being a junior. I actually think I take after my dad a lot more than he does. Funny how so often guys dream of having sons but then end up with “daddy’s girls”. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/27 "2006-04-08T16:44:58Z")
From books on naming I’ve read, the convention for “Jr” and “III” and so on was to distinguish between **living** people with the same name in the same family. If you are a “junior”, your father is a “senior”. But once your father dies, you don’t need the “junior” anymore. The number suffices were not intended to indicate dynasties among people who weren’t nobles or royals. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/28 "2006-04-08T17:46:21Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > From books on naming I’ve read, the convention for “Jr” and “III” and so on was to distinguish between **living** people with the same name in the same family. > > If you are a “junior”, your father is a “senior”. But once your father dies, you don’t need the “junior” anymore. > > The number suffices were not intended to indicate dynasties among people who weren’t nobles or royals. So, does that mean the current President of the United States actually could be referred to as Bush II? Or does that work with personal manes, not family names? (George II?) Personally, in that particular case, I find “Bush the Elder” and “Bush the Younger” to be somewhat clearer. ---
**Author:** ![Doom\_Slinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Doom\_Slinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doom_Slinger)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/29 "2006-04-08T18:26:42Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > From books on naming I’ve read, the convention for “Jr” and “III” and so on was to distinguish between **living** people with the same name in the same family. > > If you are a “junior”, your father is a “senior”. But once your father dies, you don’t need the “junior” anymore. > > The number suffices were not intended to indicate dynasties among people who weren’t nobles or royals. Interesting – I hadn’t heard that that was how the convention began. However, my birth certificate clearly includes “Jr.” as part of my given name. In the eyes of the government, at least, I’m a Junior until the day I die, regardless of whether dear ol’ Dad outlives me or not. > [@Sunspace](#): > > So, does that mean the current President of the United States actually could be referred to as Bush II? Technically, W. doesn’t have the same name as his father. 41 is George \*Herbert \*Walker Bush, while 43 is merely George Walker Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/30 "2006-04-08T18:46:18Z")
When my sweetie and I were preparing for the birth of our first son, we considered naming him after my paternal grandfather, which would’ve entitled him to have “IV” after his name. We eventually decided against it, but only because there were other names which were more appealing to us. Instead, for him and later his two younger brothers, we’ve used first names we like, then family/historical names for their middle names. I didn’t - and don’t - have any problem with “Jr.” or any Roman numeral after the full name, but I understand it’s not for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/31 "2006-04-08T19:38:16Z")
My husband is a Jr. and dislikes his name intensely for the reasons outlined by many other posters. In general he has found having the same name creates too many problems with indentification. If we have a boy the child will not be given the same name as his father. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/32 "2006-04-08T23:42:24Z")
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Steve Zahn’s character in _Happy, Texas_: Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr. Not only did his dad have that name inflicted on him, he turned right around and did the same to his own son! ---
**Author:** ![Orville\_mogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aeb1de/32.png) [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/33 "2006-04-12T11:04:07Z")
I am actually a V. And the full name is a somewhat unusual sounding one, so people naturally have assumed that there is some sort of royalty, though there isn’t. I agree with **BobT** that the numerals greater than III should not by used unless you are part of a proper dynasty. On my birth certificate I am called III, which was in reference to my then living grandfather. In fact, family lore has it that I am a XIV. I used this for years as party conversation until a couple of years ago when I did some geneology research in Scotland and found that we couldn’t prove the full name beyond the 5 generations. I honestly don’t know where the family idea of XIV came from. I don’t have kids yet, but I am really undecided on what to name a son if I have one. As I mentioned, the name is not terribly cool, and I want to spare the kid the teasing I received (as probably did my dad, his dad, etc, etc). But there is definitely some pressure in the family to carry on the tradition… ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/34 "2006-04-12T14:20:30Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > From books on naming I’ve read, the convention for “Jr” and “III” and so on was to distinguish between **living** people with the same name in the same family. > > If you are a “junior”, your father is a “senior”. But once your father dies, you don’t need the “junior” anymore. > > The number suffices were not intended to indicate dynasties among people who weren’t nobles or royals. This is the same info I remember reading in etiquette books, and I usually get annoyed with people who don’t seem to care about it! But that’s mostly because of my dad’s reaction to his name. He was a Junior, and told me once that as much as he mourned his dad’s passing, he was very eager to finally dump the Jr. from his name. Not that many people used his real first name, at least not at work. There he was always Hank or Henry (for obscure reasons related to an old radio show), and his full first name with everyone else, though I often wondered why he didn’t shorten it. He would not name my brother after himself, even though his dad was still alive then. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/35 "2006-04-12T14:59:57Z")
I’m either a VI or VII myself - down to the middle name. I always just attributed it to coming from a long line of unimaginative Polacks. It never really bothered me - no one ever called me “Junior,” tho as a kid older folks often called me by the diminuitive form of the name. And I pretty much liked and respected my dad, so I didn’t mind the continual reference to him, especially now that he’s dead. Never knew my paternal grandfather. Broke the string with my son. Main reason is simply that the name is somewhat “out of fashion,” and that we had another name we preferred. Also didn’t want to risk any of the possible confusion or resentment issues - tho I did not experience them myself. Since I didn’t really know many of my ancestors and don’t have a close relations with much extended family, the whole “dynastic” thing didn’t mean much. My son has said he prefers his name over mine, so it worked out well. Looking back, I think we kinda punted on his middle name. Nothing horrible, just not of any significance. Probably would have preferred using my first name as his middle, instead of what we chose. ---
**Author:** ![Jimson\_Jim\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@Jimson\_Jim\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimson_Jim_1)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/36 "2006-04-12T16:03:39Z")
I am a III. Legend has it my mother wanted to name me Shamus but she since I was delivered via emergency C-section my dad got to the birth certificate first. It didn’t cause any real confusion in the family. I was the only one to actually use the name. Grandpa was always “Mac”. The grand kids all called him Grandpa Mac. My dad was “Mick” or Uncle Mick to my cousins and I was Jimmy. Until I entered school and insisted I be called Jim. However when I made the mistake of refinancing the house through the same lender my dad had used there were massive issues with misreported credit. There will not be a IV if we ever have kids. While I like the name it’s time to break the tradition. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/37 "2006-04-12T18:19:56Z")
My dad was a Jr., then his dad (my grandfather) died in WWII. He got adopted by my grandmother’s new husband and they changed his name to what it is now. I would be a III had he not died. As it stands, I’m a Jr. and I named my oldest son III. We currently have no problems with it in our house. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/38 "2006-04-12T18:42:19Z")
Most. Certainly. NOT. Why parents can’t be satisfied with having their last name carried into the next generation is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/39 "2006-04-12T21:09:59Z")
I’m a Jr. who did not want my son to be the III. I do have a unique middle name that my paternal grandmother apparently just made up and I did want to keep that chain alive, so my son has a different first name than me but the same middle name. I wish I knew her inspiration for the middle name, but she died when my dad was young and her brothers and sisters all claim they have no idea where the name came from. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785/40 "2006-04-13T15:35:52Z")
I’m the third Ed in my line. I’m a Junior. Grandpa was Edward Joseph Dad & I are Edward Patrick I will not be continuing this tradition. To “avoid confusion” they attempted to call me “Ted”, and the immediate family (Aunts/uncles/cousins/parent/siblings/Nana) still call me that, but to everyone else (work, friends, wife), I’m “Ed”. I simply got tired of correcting official type folks “Yes, my name is Edward, call me Ted”… and the “Oh, like the Senator!” (I escaped from MA, I want nothing to do with the Sr. Senator) So I simply stopped correcting teachers and the like in Jr. High (7th grade). We will be continuing the middle name if our next (and last) child is created as a boy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jr-iii-etc-would-you-keep-it-going-with-your-kid/351785.md?page=1)