I'm about to marry into a line of Henry Vern Mclendons. Which means my eldest boy, if I happen to have one, absolutely has to be named this or the family will shun us till death do us part. And the greatest part about this name- the nickname that comes with. Butch.
While it has grown on me as my husband-to-be's name, I don't revel in the fact that everyones gonna be callin my kid Little Butch.
So is it just me, or is Henry Vern/Butch a totally hideous name? :x
Re: Hate this name but i'm stuck with it.
I like the name; hate the nickname so that is where I would draw the line.
You are a parent; you get a say in this and if you don't start speaking up now it will only be harder down the road when they want to feed him junk food constantly/ take him hunting at age five or whatever else they might want to do.
http://oi62.tinypic.com/2w73hq9.jpg
I think I would resent not being able to choose more than anything. You probably wouldn't mind it as much if it wasn't being forced on you.
Henry's a nice name, I'm not a fan of Vern, and Butch is pretty awful.
I wouldn't fight this battle right now - you're not even pregnant and have no idea if you'll even ever HAVE a boy.
That said - there is nothing in the world that would cause me to name my child something I hated. Let them shun away.
In a few weeks, we will find out if I'm having a nice controversy-free girl, or the first boy child in DH's family to break their naming tradition. I hated the name and I'm not going to stick my kid with it. DH was okay with it, but his family pitched a bit of a fit. Luckily it's not their kid - it's ours - and they'll get over it.
~EDD Nov 18, 2017 with my IUI success story~
[spoiler]
There's no chance I would allow someone else to dictate what my child's name will be. I don't care if your kid is the 17th Henry Vern (ick) McLendon. I'm not a fan of juniors, or III, or IV's to begin with
Have you discussed this with your future husband?
Yes, is your future husband as sold on this name as his family is? Or does he just feel 'stuck' like you do?
If you are willing to go along with the tradition, and your husband really wants to pass on his name, I would go with it. Henry is a great name. But I would draw the line at Butch- I would never, ever, ever let my kid be called that by anyone. Its awful.
If he just feels 'stuck' and doesn't necessarily want to pass on the name, you don't have to do it! You can choose another middle name, use Henry as a middle name... and your family will just have to deal with it. I wouldn't let anyone dictate how to name my kid- its your kid, you get to choose. They'll get over it eventually!
Butch is hideous and would NOT be an option for me. Henry is awesome.
But if you hate them both, name your kid something else. I'm not a huge fan of the whole "junior" thing... I think kids deserve to have their own identity without having to share a name with multiple other family members.
I come from a family that has this tradition. i don't think that he are as "die hard" about it (you will NOT be excommunicated if you don't use the name) but yes, the oldest boy is called "butchie" to differentiate from the father. Maybe because I grew up with it, it seems pretty normal to me. Also, the "butchies" in my family are only called that my other family members, not by school or anyone else.
I love the name Henry - it's our LO's middle name! I understand the Vern/Butch issue BUT after his birth nobody will hear the name Vern and why can't you use a different nickname and say it's just easier - like Hank?
Or use his real name - Henry!
ugh - see, I told my DH my strong aversion to juniors and all the family naming tradition drama when we were still dating. No way in hell amd I being told what to name any kid that I carry for 9 months. Luckily, his family had none of that mess and he agreed with me about juniors.
I think this is a discussion that should have happened before you were even married, honestly.
Henry is adorable.
There is no way in hell I would call my child 'Butch'.
I don't get it. Most people i know in situations with family names *don't* have the same nicknames as the other members of their family with the same name has. So There's a Henry, a Hank, a Harry, a Butch, a Junior, a Chip, a Trey.... etc. The fact that your husband is known as Butch is an argument for why your child would not be.
Henry is a great name. Vern,w hile it wouldn't be my choice, is a middle name -- you hardly ever hear it. Big whoop.
Henry is a nice name. I used to have a dog named Butch growing up so that's my association with that name.
If you are totally against naming your child this I would speak up now and get this hashed out.
"For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me the petition which I asked of him." 1 Samuel 1:27
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5
That's a tough position to be in. Sorry you have that challenge to deal with. I would see about using a different name or incorporating part of your DH's name into your son's name. Perhaps you can insist on a different nn?
The name is fine, but HOW MANY is the problem.
No one can dictate what you name your son. Period. I don't care if it's a tradition or whatever. You have the right to name your baby whatever you want.
Let them shun you. It'll be their loss and it'll be over something incredibly stupid.
Why in the world couldn't you call him Henry? Why does he HAVE to have the nn Butch anyway? That all sounds ridiculous to me.
YOU get to name your child. No one else. Butch is a great name for a pitbull, but I think it's awful for a person. FWIW, I like the name Henry, but if you don't you shouldn't name your child that. You have every right to choose a name that YOU love.
I think this is something you should probably work out before you get pg.
And also, why do they all have to have the same nn? That kind of defeats the purpose of a nn. And obviously I'm missing something, but how is Butch a nn for Henry?
Ha! This!
well i've tried talking to him about it and he SAID I could name him whatever I want but that we both have to agree and then i made the point that if we have to name him Henry Vern, I wouldn't really have a choice.
And then he rolled over to sleep
I know he'd feel bad about not carrying on the name but dang.
We can agree on another name. Just ain't feelin the Henry Vern.
BTW, so many replies, I was totally shocked
thank you all for your input, you made some very good points!