Changing a child's middle name

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Here's the deal. He knows his middle name is Adolf. People who ask what his middle name is in the future could be met with the response, "It's ____ now, but it used to be Adolf." If he wants to keep it, then let him at this point. If this was a mutual thing - like you brought up the negative associations to the name and he agreed, then I would have changed it. Since he wants to keep it, let him. He'll learn how to handle people saying that he was named after Hitler (which, I'm assuming, is the crux of your concern).


Wife of a PGY-4 Orthopod

[HouseofWool]

Another thing to consider is that as we get further away we get from the atrocities of WWII, the more the youth of today do not have the same visceral reaction to it that older generations have. For Aiden, the name Adolf doesn't have the same connotation. For me, just thinking about 9/11 brings up all sorts of emotions, but the Kennedy assassination doesn't. Yes, it was tragic, but I didn't live it, so it just isn't on my radar in the same way. My guess is that is Aiden's perspective.

And honestly, where I live, there are Adolfs. Not many, but they are here, you can find them in the phone book still.

[PrincessFiona]

Well, we talked and he already had an understanding about WWII. He says he doesn't want to support Adolf Hitler but he wants his family name. I explained that Johannes is his grandfather's name (not Joseph. Oops) and Thomas told him some stories about his grandfather last night. He said he'll think about it.

[HouseofWool]

Kris - I am wondering what triggered this for you. I understand that it has been an underlying issue for a while, but I am curious what pushed it to the forefront recently?

[MrsK]

FWIW, there is a very prominent member of my husband's home town temple whose first name is Adolph. He goes by Ed.

[moonlight]

Kris, I hope you know I have total and full respect for you and your husband's family. I'm just giving you my honest reaction that I would have if I were a person seeing that name in a real life situation. If it were me (that's my only perspective) I would maybe ask him how he got that as a middle name and if he said my father is from Germany or I'm named after my German grandfather... I think my jaw would hit the ground. If he really loves his name then please just leave it until later. Clearly (thankfully!) I'm in the minority with my reaction. On the other hand, I cry just as much when I see the stories about the JFK assassination as I do with 9/11 stories. Perhaps I can be a bit dramatic and emotional.

[PrincessFiona]

Well, I started calling him Johannes banahnes. He loves it.

Ummm. Has someone started the therapy collection fund for my kids yet? Get going on that! LOL

[PrincessFiona]

Kris - I am wondering what triggered this for you. I understand that it has been an underlying issue for a while, but I am curious what pushed it to the forefront recently?

I truly don't know!

[PrincessFiona]

Kris, I hope you know I have total and full respect for you and your husband's family. I'm just giving you my honest reaction that I would have if I were a person seeing that name in a real life situation. If it were me (that's my only perspective) I would maybe ask him how he got that as a middle name and if he said my father is from Germany or I'm named after my German grandfather... I think my jaw would hit the ground. If he really loves his name then please just leave it until later. Clearly (thankfully!) I'm in the minority with my reaction. On the other hand, I cry just as much when I see the stories about the JFK assassination as I do with 9/11 stories. Perhaps I can be a bit dramatic and emotional.

Thank you for your honesty!

[BonBon]

My opinion (fwiw, lol) is that his name is fine. He's a good kid, and no one is going to ever judge him for his middle name.

[PrincessFiona]

Good grief. I'm going crazy over this.
I'll have to give myself a timeline for deciding.

[alison]

I get it, and I'm sorry that you're upset about it. Completely understandable.

BUT, there are many men born in the 30s that have that name. And many women who have super duper Nordic and Germanic names, because it was a nod to what was going on at the time. It makes sense that Thomas' father was named Adolf, and it makes sense that you wanted to honor him in some way with Aidan's name.

If anyone were to question it, Aidan could say it's a German name that belonged to his grandfather. End of story. Unless he wants to change it. Give it a few more years until he understands maybe?

[SoonerTexan]

So I just posted this in alison's baby name thread before I finished the entire post. Check out the last paragraph!

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/12/how-to-name-baby.html

[OrionGrad]

Thanks for posting that ST. Really interesting article.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

So I just posted this in alison's baby name thread before I finished the entire post. Check out the last paragraph!

http://waitbutwhy.com/2013/12/how-to-name-baby.html

Interesting! We had many people in the 70+ sect tell us that Aubrey was a boy's name


Wife of a PGY-4 Orthopod