[name_f]My[/name_f] husband and I are due in [name_f]September[/name_f] and are working out names. We have decided on [name_u]James[/name_u] for a boy. [name_m]Both[/name_m] of our grandfathers who have passed had the first/middle initials JC. We wanted to go with a “C” middle name to honor both of our grandfathers with whom we were very close.
A family name that has been a middle name for several generations, including my brother, is “[name_m]Cannon[/name_m]”. I thought about using the name, but I know my brother will use this as a middle when/if he and his wife have a boy.
Should I consider the name [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] off limits for this reason?
If so, here are some other ideas we have had:
[name_u]Chandler[/name_u] (maiden name of Great Grandmother whom I was close with)
[name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] (my grandfather’s middle name; seems many dislike this name; would this be a tough name for a kid to bear?)
I really like middle names to have some sort of family tie or meaning.
I don’t think [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] is off limits, as it is already established through several generations of your family, so another repeat isn’t a problem. However I think you should speak to your brother and double check that he wouldn’t mind you using the middle name.
I like both [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] and [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]. [name_m]Both[/name_m] come with some minor issues, [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] really isn’t to everyone’s taste, I know a lot of people strongly dislike the name, and [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] makes people think of Friends. But in the middle spot I don’t really see this causing problems.
Wow, I absolutely [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]. I would go with that out of sheer awesomeness. I wouldn’t consider [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] off limits, but it may be safer to simply ask your brother if he would mind you also using [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] as a middle name, being that it is your family tree too.
In my husband’s family there are tons of [name_u]James[/name_u], first names & middles. I think it would be a big deal if you both wanted to use [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] as a first name but in the middle spot it should be alright - I would talk to your brother though before you make up your mind completely. While I’m not a fan of Chandler (I think of Chanandler Bong) I do think [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] is pretty great. We were considering it as well as it is a family name for us too!
I would ask your brother ASAP. “Hey we really love this name but totally understand if you don’t want us to use it… just lmk so I don’t step on any toes.” If he doesn’t want you to use it (and I can’t say I would blame him), I honestly love both [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] and [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]. [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] is a little more modern, which I think complements [name_u]James[/name_u] quite nicely.
I don’t see why cousins couldn’t share the same family middle name, but you should probably check with your brother and see if he minds. I like both [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] and [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]. I wouldn’t worry about [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] being a tough name to wear–he wouldn’t ever have to tell anyone his middle name if he didn’t want to. I’d personally go with [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] over [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m], though, since you’re already honouring your grandfather with the initials JC.
I’m with @lo7. [name_m]Just[/name_m] ask your brother. I have loved [name_m]Jack[/name_m] for years, but my brother comes from a whole family of Johns, and I was afraid there would be a chance that I would use [name_m]Jack[/name_m] and then he’d have a [name_m]John[/name_m], IV, and call him [name_m]Jack[/name_m], too. I finally just asked him, because I really wanted to use [name_m]Jack[/name_m]. Turns out he pretty strongly dislikes [name_m]Jack[/name_m], and only really wants to use [name_m]John[/name_m]/[name_m]Johnny[/name_m] for his son, if he continues the tradition, so [name_m]Jack[/name_m]'s all mine. If your brother doesn’t mind, I think [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] is great, although [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] is my favorite of the “C” options. I like [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] best with [name_u]James[/name_u], though–it just makes the combo seem so classy and timeless! [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]. Who wouldn’t want to be a [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]? It reminds me of [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Tiberius[/name_m] [name_m]Kirk[/name_m], haha. And I’m sure any little boy would love that! I have loved [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] for years, though, so I’d be happy to meet a little [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Chandler[/name_u].
Good luck!
ETA: I’m with @darlingdoe, too–in my family, at least, there’s a lot of name overlap between cousins. [name_f]My[/name_f] dad has a cousin who shares his first name, and he has a cousin-in-law who is [name_m]Johnny[/name_m], too. I have one cousin who has the same middle name as my little sister ([name_f]Natalie[/name_f] [name_f]Ruth[/name_f]; Jarylynn [name_f]Ruth[/name_f]), and one of my cousins has the same middle as her niece does ([name_f]Jenna[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]; [name_f]Emma[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]). [name_m]John[/name_m] and [name_f]Ruth[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] were my grandparents, so I think there’s a reasoning behind why those three names are used so much, haha, but I think it’s fine if cousins have overlapping middles. [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] is really nice.
I’d ask. Worst case scenario he say’s he would prefer you didn’t use it. But I mean, if you wanna’ butter him up tell him it’s after him. Okay, that’s not very nice if it isn’t true but if you really love a name…
I really like [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Chandler[/name_u]. It’s a handsome combination.
I’d opt for [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cabot[/name_m], [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cole[/name_m] or [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] if your brother agrees.
I agree with the above posters, there is no reason that cousins can’t share a middle name. I cannot even think of the middle names of most of my cousins, and we all grew up very close. I can’t think of the middle names of most of my friends, either. Middle names really just don’t come up that much.
The only reason that I could see it creating awkwardness is if you were both naming a child after a living relative you wished to honor, then it might be hard on your brother if you beat him to the punch, so to speak. But that isn’t the case here, so I can’t image a problem. I would talk to your brother about it, but I would not anticipate it being an issue.
I wouldn’t use [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] as a first name, but it is great as a middle. [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] is a very handsome combination.
I see it this way: To you, [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] is just a family name; one of many family names. To your brother, it’s HIS name. I would never use one of my siblings’ names without their permission and I wouldn’t appreciate them up and using mine without asking
I would use a different C name. I think [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] is a great way to bring the female side of the family into the tradition
I don’t think [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] is off limits. You mention it has been used and established through multiple generations. There is also no way of ensuring that your brother with have a son to use the name [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] for. Especially with a long standing family mn you can’t tip-toe around the potentials in the future. (This might be different if your brothers wife was due shortly after you and you both knew you were having boys - but as that’s not the case…). If you are still worried about it you can talk to you brother about it. [name_f]My[/name_f] FH and his sister have the same mn. It was their mothers maiden name. I have the same mn as my cousin’s daughter - they did not give her the name to honor me, nor did they ask me how I would feel about it - it’s very distinctive and therefore noticeable, but it is a family name and really I’m glad someone else liked it enough to use it.
I like [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] and [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]. Actually I adore [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] and think [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] is really handsome. I personally prefer both of them to [name_m]Cannon[/name_m]. Without knowing what you last name is I would probably go with [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] as I like the flow best.
If your brother doesn’t mind, I think [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cannon[/name_m] is great, although [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] is my favorite of the “C” options. I like [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m] best with [name_u]James[/name_u], though–it just makes the combo seem so classy and timeless! [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]. Who wouldn’t want to be a [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Cornelius[/name_m]? It reminds me of [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_m]Tiberius[/name_m] [name_m]Kirk[/name_m], haha. And I’m sure any little boy would love that! I have loved [name_u]Chandler[/name_u] for years, though, so I’d be happy to meet a little [name_u]James[/name_u] [name_u]Chandler[/name_u]. 