It turns out that often the first name given to a child followed a traditional pattern. Many countries have their own naming traditions.
Obviously, these are only a guide. Many people might have chosen a family member’s middle name when naming a child, or made their own unrelated choice. It’s also possible that family tensions can play a part, with people avoiding one of the naming patterns so as not to name a child after a member of the family whom they disliked.
English and Irish naming patterns
- First son – named after the father’s father
- Second son – named after the mother’s father
- Third son – named after the father
- Fourth son – named after the father’s eldest brother
and for girls:
- First daughter – named after the mother’s mother
- Second daughter – named after the father’s mother
- Third daughter – named after the mother
- Fourth daughter – named after the mother’s eldest sister
Scottish naming patterns
This is the most common one, but there are variations.
- First son – named after the father’s father (variation is after the mother’s father)
- Second son – named after the mother’s father (variation is the father’s father)
- Third son – named after the father
- Fourth son – named after the father’s oldest brother (variation is after the father’s paternal grandfather)
- Fifth son – named after the mother’s oldest brother (variation is after the mother’s paternal grandfather)
and for girls:
- First daughter – named after the mother’s mother (variation is after the father’s mother)
- Second daughter – named after the father’s mother
- Third daughter – named after the mother
- Fourth daughter – named after the mother’s oldest sister (variation is after the mother’s maternal grandmother)
- Fifth daughter – named after the father’s oldest sister (variation is after the father’s maternal grandmother)
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