Slate’s Dear Prudence advises a woman who wants to name her son Adam, even though her husband already has a grown son by that name from a previous marriage. The letter writer is really set on naming her son after her late father, but her husband and his ex-wife are against the idea.
Prudie tells the letter writer she can’t name her kid Adam because that would be bizarre. It would be a little weird, but so what? Lots of families have seniors and juniors running around with the same name, and somehow they manage. Kids get named after their uncles and cousins all the time. Why not their much older half-brothers? It’s just an arbitrary social convention.
The letter writer adds that she let her husband name their daughter and she figures it’s her turn. I’m on her side. The parent who gestated the baby should prevail in all naming disputes.
The only important question is whether the existing Adam would feel put out by having to share a first name with his half-brother. If it makes him uncomfortable, then the letter writer should pick another name to honor her father. But if Adam 1.0 gives his blessing, who cares?
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