Baby Name Central

As if there wasn't enough pressure when expecting a newborn, some awaiting parents also feel the pressure to carry on their family name. When the name is Michael or Sarah, the obligation may not seem like much of a compromise (not dismissing any strong feelings or bad memories associated with those names). But for parents with family names like Lambert III or Bertha, the pressure can be too much to handle.

Worried that your baby-to-be will be the butt of jokes in the sandbox? Is it possible to honor family tradition without scarring your kid for life? Good news: cutting family ties is not the only option. Nowadays, there are plenty of palatable alternatives that will honor your family name and appease anxious relatives.


Surnames
Honoring ancestors by incorporating maternal maiden names into the mix is an option that's increasing in popularity. Surnames such as Cooper, Greenlee, Madison, Kennedy, and Hopkins can serve as first names without doing damage. Or, if the idea of a less common first name is not appealing, using the surname as a middle name may just fulfill the family responsibility.

Switch it up
If the pressure is still on to pay tribute to the family lineage, now is the time to get creative. Taking a family name and using parts, or versions of it, just may do the trick. Names like Franklin can be shortened to Frank and Mabel can be changed to May while still crediting a great-uncle or grandmother. Honoring a new baby girl by naming her after her grandfather can be pulled off by changing Emerson to Emma.

In between
Family first names are not the only hat from which to pull names. Roots extend down the line to middle names as well, which may tickle your fancy more than the family first names you are presented with. Grandpa Frankfurd's first name may not seem like a likely candidate as the baby's namesake, but if his middle name is Alexander or Tyler, it may be the winner.

More middle name options
If all else fails, put the family name as the baby's middle name. Whether it is a surname, a great-uncle's middle name, or simply a name you just cannot see your baby girl surviving the playground with, it may bring comfort to know that middle names are not commonly used. Yet it just may make a great compromise. For those who are set on a first name and middle name that do not branch off the family tree, consider giving the little bundle of joy two middle names. It is a better alternative to waging a family war while your family grows.