In some families, names are passed along through the generations – from great-great-great-grandfather Frederick to new baby Frederick V. Keeping a name in the family is a great tradition, but the hand-me-down monikers don’t have to travel in a straight line. You can use your family tree – your genealogy – to come up with the perfect name for your baby without resorting to Thomas Jr. or Murray II. Find out how you can come up with a family baby name by using genealogy.

If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to create a family tree. It is important for children to know their heritage and it may even influence your search for the perfect baby name. Researching your lineage is like conducting your own personal history lesson. Not sure where to begin? Write down what you know first; then gather photos, interview relatives, visit courthouses and cemeteries, and conduct online searches to learn more. The internet provides a myriad of tools to help you get started researching your family tree.

As you compile names of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, you’ll soon discover that your own family history is like a baby name book in itself.

First names

The simplest way to preserve the continuity of the family tree is to pass along first names. Many parents pay tribute to relatives this way. While it’s lovely to name your son after his dad and his father and the fathers before him, there are a few drawbacks. For example, if you name your son William after his father, you may find yourself and others referring to the baby as “Little William” or “Willy” or some undesirable version of the name you so carefully selected.

Can’t decide which relative to honor? Consider combining the names of two beloved family members to come up with a new version that’s still easily attributed to your genealogy. If you want to name your daughter after your mother Mary, but your husband wants to name her after his mother Alice, consider Mary Alice. Or take parts of different names to create one new name: combining Grandfather James and Grandmother Anne could become Jane, Jeanne or Amy.

And don’t be confined by gender. If you want to name your daughter after Uncle Michael, consider Micaela or Michelle. Your son’s name can pay tribute to Aunt Stephanie in the form of Stephen or Stefan.

Middle names

Perhaps you have an ancestor whom you adore but whose name is just not right for your baby. Why not check out the middle name as an alternative? If Grandma Agnes has been so good to you, but you just can’t bring yourself to name your baby Aggie, look to see if grandma’s middle name is more suitable. Or use Agnes as your baby’s middle name.

Last names

Decades ago, using a mother’s maiden name as a child’s middle name was a common custom. This is yet another way to preserve the continuity of your family tree. Interestingly, as you research your forebears, you may discover that surnames are not always consistent in their spelling. Many of our relatives were illiterate. Others were foreign and unable to properly convey their last name to administrators. Some feared discrimination, and some had to make changes to accommodate the English alphabet. Shakespeare was also known as Shakespere, Shaxpere, and even Chacsper! You, too, can preserve your pedigree without worrying about the exact spelling. Get creative with the last names on your tree – you may find that some of these surnames translate to wonderful first names. Turn Johnson into John or Weiss into Wes. Convert Mason to Maisy or Andrews to Andie.

Beyond names

Look past the names to the cities, countries, ethnicities and occupations of your ancestors. Cousin Matilda lived in Cheyenne. Cheyenne is a much trendier and current name than your cousin’s name. Great-grandfather Phillip was a tailor, and Taylor makes an ideal name for a boy or a girl. You are descendants of the Caddo Native American tribe; name your son Caden or your daughter Cadence.

There are countless ways to name your baby in a way that preserves your heritage. Start searching – you’ll be amazed by your options.

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