Looking for a name for an African American baby boy that honors his heritage but doesn’t make him feel like he stands out in a white family with sisters [name_u]Reese[/name_u] and [name_f]Cora[/name_f]
Ask his birth family for ideas?
4 Likes
We definitely are but some birth families prefer that the adoptive family picks it.
1 Like
I agree that asking the birth family, and members of the AA community that you are friends with is very important. I would also encourage you to do some research through the history of [name_m]Black[/name_m] Americans and the African diaspora around the world. You can read the biographies of many scientists, educators, journalists, Civil Rights fighters, athletes, doctors etc and get great name ideas not only from them directly, but across their family trees and through multiple generations.
5 Likes
[name_f]My[/name_f] first thought was [name_u]Freddie[/name_u] in memory of [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] [name_m]Douglass[/name_m]. [name_u]Reese[/name_u], [name_f]Cora[/name_f] & [name_u]Freddie[/name_u] 
Also [name_m]Henry[/name_m] ([name_m]Hank[/name_m] [name_m]Aaron[/name_m]) and [name_m]Jack[/name_m] ([name_u]Jackie[/name_u] [name_m]Robinson[/name_m]) would be heroes a little boy might really enjoy having a link to.
You might examine the life & poetry of [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] [name_m]Brown[/name_m]; [name_u]Reese[/name_u], [name_f]Cora[/name_f] and [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] sound lovely together to me.
I agree that research and conversation are key to lead you to something that is truly special and meaningful!
2 Likes
How about Lewis after John Lewis? I think it would be especially meaningful considering he just passed away. James after James Baldwin would be lovely too, as would be Ralph or Ellis/Ellison after the writer.
Maybe [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Martin[/name_m] after [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Lewis[/name_m] and [name_m]Martin[/name_m] [name_m]Luther[/name_m] [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Jr[/name_m].? Or possibly [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] [name_m]John[/name_m] or [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] for John Lewis and Maryland Rep. [name_m]Elijah[/name_m] Cummings?
I also like the many other suggestions made on here, including @Peanut’s suggestion of [name_m]Sterling[/name_m].
I also agree with @Lussinatta and @Peanut would be worthwhile to find something “truly special and meaningful”.
I understand. However, if possible I would acknowledge the individual heritage of your son, rather than pretending that African Americans are a homogenous group. His race is not the most important thing about him, and it seems like you’re trying to name him as though it is.
4 Likes
Perhaps the birth family would like you to use his biological father 's or a grandfather’s Or a surname as a middle as a way to honor his birth family and then you could choose a first name you like with that name, that fits with your older children and has a solid meaning.
Definitely not the most important, but just as many people get on here and ask for Scottish names to honor their Scottish heritage, etc, I’d like to have some ideas for how to honor his heritage. We’ll also ask birth family, as well as consider giving one of our family names, but we’re considering all the factors that go into considering a name. I just didn’t ask for the other factors, because you are don’t know my families names, but I could ask you a more general question like names that honor African heritage.
2 Likes
I understand what you mean by wanting a name that honors the ethnicity that he actually is. [name_f]My[/name_f] best friend was adopted from Korea into a White family with a Polish surname. Her parents gave her the most waspy sounding name you could imagine. She’s always told me how she wishes that they would have kept her Korean surname as a middle name at least so that her heritage was honored. It’s something that has stuck with me, since I always wanted to adopt kids myself.
That said, I’m not sure how wise it would be to involve the biological family in this decision making process. It could open the door to weird power dynamics that are not in the child’s best interest. But I’m also unclear as to what kind of adoption this is and what the circumstances around the adoption are, so it’s up to you. I’m just saying that I would think long and hard before doing that.
All that aside, here are my naming ideas that I don’t think were mentioned already:
Reese, [name_f]Cora[/name_f], and [name_m]Langston[/name_m]. ([name_m]Langston[/name_m] [name_m]Hughes[/name_m]).
[name_u]Reese[/name_u], [name_f]Cora[/name_f], and [name_m]Booker[/name_m]. ([name_m]Booker[/name_m] T. [name_m]Washington[/name_m]).
[name_u]Reese[/name_u], [name_f]Cora[/name_f], and [name_m]Marvin[/name_m]. ([name_m]Marvin[/name_m] [name_f]Gaye[/name_f]).
[name_u]Reese[/name_u], [name_f]Cora[/name_f], and [name_u]Miles[/name_u] ([name_u]Miles[/name_u] [name_u]Davis[/name_u]).
[name_u]Reese[/name_u], [name_f]Cora[/name_f], and [name_u]Ellington[/name_u] ([name_u]Duke[/name_u] [name_u]Ellington[/name_u]).
[name_u]Reese[/name_u], [name_f]Cora[/name_f], and [name_u]Idris[/name_u] ([name_u]Idris[/name_u] [name_f]Elba[/name_f]).
4 Likes
I love these ideas of using an influential African American namesake. [name_u]Freddie[/name_u] and [name_u]Sterling[/name_u] would sound really nice with [name_f]Cora[/name_f] & [name_u]Reese[/name_u]!
I think it’s very admirable to respect your adopted sons race. Nameberry had a great post about black names a while ago. You can find it here: Names Have [name_u]Power[/name_u]
Within that post are links to lists of black heroes, trailblazers, artists, activists, athletes, and firsts in history.
1 Like
I would suggest:
[name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]
[name_m]Elijah[/name_m]
[name_m]Darius[/name_m]
[name_m]Malachi[/name_m]
[name_m]Xavier[/name_m]
From my understanding, these names are popular/common among the African American community.
Reese, [name_f]Cora[/name_f] and…
[name_u]Freddie[/name_u]
[name_m]Deion[/name_m]
[name_u]Laken[/name_u]
[name_m]Lachlan[/name_m]
[name_m]Tavon[/name_m]
[name_m]Vashon[/name_m]
We adopted a multi racial little boy a few years ago and we included his biological family in the name processing. They didn’t have any suggestions offhand, so we had a short list and asked them what their thoughts were. We picked the name they chose and it has been a sweet link/story. We are quite close to them, but have had periods where communication was less frequent. Having that connection was a tangible way to show that we have an open door for them.
As for names, I love the idea of powerful, historical figures. Any child would be lucky to be named after men like [name_m]Fredrick[/name_m] [name_u]Douglas[/name_u] or [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Lewis[/name_m] so it is win-win!
3 Likes
That’s so nice that you want to honor his birth-heritage. [name_m]Can[/name_m] I suggest that you choose another name to go with it that ties him into your specific family? Maybe an honor name of some sort? That way he’ll feel that his name connects him with both his bio-heritage and his adoptive-heritage as well.
(Like, that you’re not just linking him to his personal past and setting him apart from the rest of the family in it.)
1 Like