[PzLdr]

I would have named a first son after MY father. Kind of a family tradition. A second son would have been named after the wife’s father.

[zerosix]

You beat me to the "western" at least British Isles, old tradition of naming system: first son after father's father; second son after mother's father (middle usually including mother's maiden name); first daughter after father's mother; second after mother's mother; third of both sexes named after mother and father, never before them. Family tradition stronger than individual whims. Note also, names reflect biblical figures.

Naming after Presidents and other greats didn't really begin in America until mid to late 1800s, if then.

"Tradition" of naming after "stars" didn't begin until early 1900s, down to making up fake names or "unique" spelling of known names, definitely not until after WWII.

[papasmurf]

After our ancestors settled this brutal land, we didn’t have “lineage” to be identified with, or proud of. So we began creating it. Hence we are the capital of same name families.

In my family, my Mom and Dad started a nice tradition. We name our children from our family members’ middle names. Not always, but usually. I’m named after an Uncle on each side of the family. Another, kind of quirky thing that we did, although I don’t think it was on purpose, is 6 out 7 of us go by our middle names.

I wanted to name my kids something, I don’t know, exotically elegant maybe? Like Abramo or Abrianna (Abraham in Italian), but my wife wouldn’t have it.

Figures, I shouldn’ta married a woman named Clarice. LOL

[lmr]

I was named after my Father and his father, my Grandfather. I am ‘III’ or the ‘the 3rd’, my wife wouldn’t allow me to name our son after me, so I had to settle for giving my youngest daughter my nickname as her middle name.

Oh well...