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1. Alec Baldwin is really Alexander Rae Baldwin III. Before he was a big star, he went by “Alex.”
2. Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. His parents divorced when he was 12, though, and he dropped the last half of his name.
3. Lon Chaney, Jr., wasn’t really a junior. He was just billed that way in order to capitalize on his father’s success. His real name was Creighton Tull Chaney.
4. Hank Williams, Jr. Same situation there – his real name is Randall Hank Williams, but he goes by Hank, Jr., to honor his dad. Hank III – really Shelton Hank Williams – is a simiar situaiton.
5. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, Jr. (Franklin and Eleanor’s daughter). Yep, women can have the designation, too, but it’s pretty rare. Most women who are named after their mothers have a different middle name, and thus there is no need for the “junior.” But when the names are exactly the same, a junior can be added to lessen confusion on legal documents and the like.
6. Jimmy Fallon is actually James Thomas Fallon, Jr.
7. Eddie Vedder was born Edward Louis Severson III. His parents got divorced when he was only a year old, though, and he took his stepfather’s name – Mueller. He took his mother’s maiden name, Vedder, when he dropped out of high school during his senior year and moved to Chicago.
8. Robert Redford’s full name is Charles Robert Redford, Jr.
9. Johnny Depp was born John Christopher Depp II. This is slightly unusual because most people opt for “junior” instead of “II,” but there’s no legal reason it can’t be II. Lots of times when families do this, it’s because they don’t want their children to get the nickname of Junior. Is this a cheap excuse to put up a picture of Johnny Depp? …maybe.
10. Vincent Price was a junior. His father, Vincent Leonard Price, Sr., was the president of National Candy Company. His grandfather made the family millions when he invented and sold “Dr. Price’s Baking Powder,” which was the first cream of tartar baking powder.
Are you a junior? Or a III? Or something even more? We don’t have any names that run in the family, so I’m unsure of how the whole thing works. Do you sign the “junior” part when you’re writing checks and stuff, or can you just ignore it if you want? Share your story in the comments.
Comments (61)
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And, of course, Johnny Depp’s son, Jack, is really John Christopher Depp III. So I guess it all works out. :D
posted by Allison on 3-2-2009 at 3:50 pm
I’m not a junior or a number, but I knew a guy named Cranford Delano Newell IV. Not just a junior, but the fourth unfortunate person to be named in this fashion. You can’t even really fashion a nick name out of that or go by your middle name. He went by Cranford and survived childhood, so go figure. I just hope his future wife says no to a fifth version.
-stephanie
ReCaptcha 17th Unknown
posted by SM on 3-2-2009 at 3:56 pm
I once read an article about a statistician named Harry Balzer Jr. That means that after enduring such a name, his dad decided to share the pain.
posted by Reed on 3-2-2009 at 4:00 pm
My son is the 5th William in a row. My great-grandfather was William Frederick[last name], Grandpa was Jr, Dad was William, but had a different middle name, I’m William Frederick III, and my son’s William Frederick IV. I sort of figured that I couldn’t just stop the naming line. Might as well carry it on.
Interestingly, my grandpa and dad and I started life as Willy, then went to Will. Grandpa was in the Navy in WWI, and dad was in the Merchant Marine in WWII. At that point they both switched to Bill. I never made the change, probably because I never served. Interesting to see that the family calls my son “Willy,” but his friends call him “Will.” Will he switch to Bill at some point?
posted by Will on 3-2-2009 at 4:01 pm
My aunt and my grandmother are both Elizabeth Marie, but my aunt goes by Liz and my grandmother goes by Betty, so no one ever knows she’s technically a jr.
posted by Caitlin on 3-2-2009 at 4:06 pm
I was under the impression there was a difference between Jr. and II. A junior is a only used for children named after their fathers but II can be any male relative, including a grandfather.
posted by QuakerGlue on 3-2-2009 at 4:08 pm
my step-father is a jr and he often got confused with his father… mostly by creditors whom sr owed. it was a huge hassle and once messed up his credit report. i promised then that i would never make my child a jr.
posted by tiffany on 3-2-2009 at 4:14 pm
The way I’ve always heard it, if a person is named after their father,they are a Junior. If the name is a re-used family name that isn’t necessarily the father’s, like if a baby is named the same name as his grandfather when his father has a different name, he’s a II. You can be the second or the third or more if generations are skipped between using the name especially if the name is from the mother’s side of the family instead of the fathers. Like if a mother wants to name her son after her father instead of the baby’s father, he’d be a second.
Technically, you could be a second even if the first person in your lineage to have your name was generations and generations back, but no one ever does that (except maybe Kings?). It would cause confusion rather than eliminate it. If you have your great-great-great granddad’s name,and you’re just common folks, no one is likely to confuse you with him,so you don’t need a suffix at all.
posted by Melissa on 3-2-2009 at 4:14 pm
My full name is Walter George Glascoff IV. My son is Walter George Glascoff V. I wasn’t doing to saddle him with the same name, but at the time he was born, all five Walters were still alive (5 generations!), so I figured to go with it. Also, as my father was fond of saying, we are either long on family or short on originality. Either way, now there are just the two of us, and we have quite a legacy.
posted by Walter on 3-2-2009 at 4:20 pm
I don’t carry a family name, but I did go to high school with a Billy Williams who was a William Williams III.
And every single one of my cousins who have daughters chose my grandmother’s middle name as their little girls’ middle name. It’s sweet, and the name in question is beautiful, but I think it is an odd precedent to set and we’ll see who the first cousin is to break it…
posted by Chris on 3-2-2009 at 4:24 pm
My mother tells me that if I had been a boy, I would have been Charles Everett (last name) III, after my grandfather and (since there’s no rule it has to be direct) my uncle. Then, she would have called me Trey for short. As it happened, I later dated a Trey who earned the nickname for being the third in his line.
posted by Chelsea on 3-2-2009 at 4:24 pm
My son is also William John the fifth. He is the fifth generation to be born in America. My husband only uses his suffix when signing legal documents.
#3- My husband started as W.J. and now goes by Billy, but we totally dislike Willy for our son. How old was your son when he decided to be Will? We call our son that now, but I am afraid that his friends will call him Willy till hes like 30
posted by Dayna on 3-2-2009 at 4:25 pm
We have numerous guys named “James” in my family, but no Jrs. Different middle names. It gets funny when there is a party.
“Hey, Jimi/Jimmy!”
“Which one?”
“Jimi D!”
“Which one?!”
“Little Jimi D!”
All of that just to get my brother, and not my dad, uncle, cousin, or cousin-in-law. When you consider that little Jimi D is 35 years old and 6′3″ tall, it’s even funnier.
posted by Danyel D on 3-2-2009 at 4:30 pm
I know a guy who is a IV. The family calls him “Ivy” because of the Roman numerals.
posted by Meghan on 3-2-2009 at 4:41 pm
I’m named after both my grandmothers, which is one of the reasons I insist on both my first names (the other is because it’s fun telling geeks “Hi, my name is Mary Sue!”) Most people have problems understanding the entire two-name thing, and I’ll introduce myself as Mary Sue and have people say, “Nice to meet you, Mary”.
I’m also the fourth Mary born to a Victor. If I have a son and name him Victor, the chain will have been unbroken for almost two centuries.
Of course, that means I’ll have to, you know, have a son. I’m not looking to rush things.
posted by Mary Sue on 3-2-2009 at 4:43 pm
My mom and I are both Tricias. She gave her middle name to my big sister so I’m not a junior. To avoid confusion growing up she was Trish and I was Tricia.
posted by Tricia on 3-2-2009 at 4:45 pm
I am Edward John III. But I’m actually the fifth Edward in my family, at least as far as I can see. I’ve already decided not to continue the sequence if I have a son.
I usually sign the III on important things like my driver’s license or checks. If it’s a bar tab or something I leave it off.
posted by Ed on 3-2-2009 at 4:46 pm
When I was growing up my friend Trip (short for Triple) was Mark Vincent (last name) III.
posted by Sue on 3-2-2009 at 4:50 pm
My grandmother Margarat (called Pearl) named her daughters the following:
Margaret (called Margaret)
Margaret(called Marge)
Margaret (called Pearl)
Margaret (called Peggy)
Jackie (my mother)
When asked why she named my mother Jackie she would say “Her father could remember more than one name…” Whoops. She was a bit of a scarlet lady and not exactly discreet about it either…
posted by Mandragora on 3-2-2009 at 4:50 pm
My wife’s grandfather, her father, her brother and nephew are all Gilbert with different middle names. Grandpa has always been “Gil”, dad is always “Gib” or “Gibby”, brother is “GW” (middle name is William) and my nephew is “GR” (ryan).
My roommate in college was Charles R. (last name) III. We called him Chuck. His dad was Charlie. An unwitting freshman asked Chuck once what they called his grandfather. Chuck calmly replies “Nothing, he’s dead.” After the normal color came back to the freshman’s face, Chuck laughed, and told him that granddad was called “Chick” by the family.
posted by Jonathan on 3-2-2009 at 4:54 pm
I am the VI. If I ever find a young woman that will marry me you better believe that I will pass this name on to my son. The pressure is unbelievable.
posted by John on 3-2-2009 at 5:10 pm
Speaking of a Billy Williams, Mr. Colt 45 himself, Billy Dee Williams is actually William December Williams Jr. I wonder if Lando Sr. was actually born in December because Lando Jr. wasn’t…he was born in April.
posted by andy on 3-2-2009 at 5:13 pm
On my mother’s side of the family, the first sons were all named Jake, and the middle name was an initial to represent their mother’s maiden name. So my uncle is Jake L., as my grandmother’s maiden name began with an L. No name, just an initial.
posted by Kyla on 3-2-2009 at 5:19 pm
My dad is the third Ralph in his line. What’s just a bit weirder is that Ralph is on my mom’s side too! Both my maternal grandfather and his father went by Ralph.
If I ever have a son, maybe…just maybe…it’ll be one of his middle names.
posted by Kieran on 3-2-2009 at 5:28 pm
My mom wanted to make my brother a junior, but my dad didn’t like the idea so my brother has my dad’s name as his middle name. Both my dad and grandpa had the same middle name so if I have a son, I want him to have that middle name too (Malcolm). Also I was named after my great-great grandmother (Catherine Naomi), but since she was long dead before I was born, there wasn’t any confusion.
posted by Catherine on 3-2-2009 at 5:32 pm
My friend in high school was a V. He went my “Quint”. Most people thought his name was actually Quintin.
posted by Andrew on 3-2-2009 at 5:40 pm
You forgot a pretty famous “Jr.”
Robert Downey Jr.
posted by Ellie on 3-2-2009 at 6:10 pm
My uncle is Buford II.
My grandfather, who was away fighting at Guadalcanal with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, left specific orders that his son would not be named Buford Junior. My grandmother, being crafty, got around it by naming him the second.
My grandfather wasn’t pleased, and my uncle goes by his initials.
posted by K on 3-2-2009 at 6:24 pm
@Meghan: I know a guy named Ivy for the same reason! Wonder if it’s the same person….
My cousin was Benjamin Blake (last name starts w/ a B), and though he was technically a junior, we called him Trey because his initials were BBB.
Blake is the most common name in my family, started by my grandfather. As a result, I have one uncle and four cousins named Blake, and with any luck, if I have a son one day, he’ll be able to carry on the tradition.
My husband has three Uncle Jim/Jimmys, and one cousin Jimmy (who, understandably, goes by James now).
posted by Lynley on 3-2-2009 at 6:43 pm
Two stories:
My grandfather (mother’s father) was a Jr. until he enlisted for WWII. My grandfather, Frank Jr., had no middle name, which the Army didn’t like. So he dropped the Jr. and adopted J. as his middle initial until he died in the 90s.
—–
My other grandfather (father’s father) “named” my father after himself. I use quotation marks because my grandfather was William Wemp and went by Bill. So when they named my father, they wrote on the birth certificate Bill Wemp Jr. He’s not technically a junior, but he still uses it.
My parents tried to name my brother Bill W. III (shortening the middle name which my father hates). The state of Ohio didn’t like that and argued that my father wasn’t even supposed to be a junior so they couldn’t name their kid III. So my brother is David.
posted by Lindsey on 3-2-2009 at 6:46 pm
I am the 5th Lydia in my direct line.
Lydia Hayes
Lydia Vannie Lou
Lydia Elizabeth
Lydia Caroline
Lydia Chistine (that’s me)
Our daughter, should we have one, will be named Lydia Gail.
Every other one goes by Lydia. The evens go by the middle name.
posted by Lightlylilly on 3-2-2009 at 7:03 pm
Actually, you’re right about the two Hank Williamses being different names, but Sr. is Hiram Williams and Jr. is “Randall Hank.” Hank Williams, III is actually a third different name, “Shelton Hank.”
posted by Dave on 3-2-2009 at 7:12 pm
i know a guy named John [last name] IV. he wants to name his kid John [last name] V so people can call him “Johnnie Five!”
posted by obie on 3-2-2009 at 7:59 pm
I am a junior and cannot stand it. Nothing to do with my dad, but being a Jr has caused much confusion especially when I became an adult and started having credit cards, etc. When my son was born I had already decided long before that I would not continue the string.
I never use “Jr” unless forced on things like deeds. There is one benefit, however. When I get a piece of mail I do not recognize addressed to “Jr” I know it is spam from someone who purchased my info from my mortgage company. So I can just pitch it without opening.
posted by BJ, Jr on 3-2-2009 at 8:01 pm
I used to babysit a family that the dad went by Chris and the son went by Christopher.
Also, once I was at a place waiting to get a haircut and they called out “Paul Two” and someone yelled out “It’s Paul the Second!” He too must not have wanted the nickname Junior.
posted by AG on 3-2-2009 at 8:17 pm
You want awkward? I have a friend named Kimberly whose FATHER is named Kim (or Kym).
I remember calling ther and asking for Kim, hearing a deep voice tell me “This IS Kim.” I always wondered how that came about.
posted by Bert on 3-2-2009 at 8:33 pm
My boyfriend is a II but I call him junior sometimes just to make him angry.
posted by ditzen on 3-2-2009 at 8:53 pm
So, I’ve got the opposite issue of being a junior or II or anything. Both my father and I are John R. Bejarano, but the R.’s stand for different things. Therefore, I’m not a Jr., II, or anything else.
For practical purposes, I always went by “J.B.” growing up, but then many people assumed that those were my first and middle initials. I ended up with some people referring to me as “J.B. Bejarano” asking me what the B. stood for. Uh… Bejarano.
In any case, if anyone in my family or family’s friends calls me “John” I wouldn’t respond, but if anyone outside my family or family’s friends call me “J.B.” I wouldn’t respond. Odd? Yes.
posted by John Bejarano on 3-2-2009 at 8:54 pm
I was named after my grandpa, so I’m not really a junior. But I do have the same first name as my dentist as well.
posted by Isaac on 3-2-2009 at 9:22 pm
Re: Mary Sue
Since I go to school in the south, I have many friends with “double” first names – “Emma Kate, Mary Foster, etc”. People don’t understand why they are so offended when they’re addressed by only part of their name. It would be like someone introducing themselves as “William” and everyone referring to them as “Bill” without asking.
posted by Lanna on 3-2-2009 at 10:32 pm
I am none of the above, but I knew a kid in elementary school whose name was, I think, King James III.
posted by Sammy on 3-3-2009 at 2:28 am
I have the same first, middle and last names as my dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa, but I am the third. When they came to America, my grandpa was told he was Sr because he was the oldest one on the boat. My dad’s other grandpa has the same first name but different middle and last names.
On my mom’s side, my aunt and grandma have the same name but my aunt does not go by Jr or anything. My grandma also told me that she got her name because her grandpa loved the name so much that he gave the name to one of my grandma’s aunts and also had 3 wives (not at the same time) with that same name.
posted by Jake on 3-3-2009 at 7:04 am
My mom is a Junior without the actual title of Jr. My grandmother and her are both Virginia Janet, of course my mom has a different last name now, and she goes by Ginny while my grandmother goes by Ginger.
posted by Jess on 3-3-2009 at 9:44 am
I am Alan Jr. My family has called me AJ since birth. This is great because there was already an author called AJ Cronin. If I could only figure out how to get his royalties…
posted by AJ on 3-3-2009 at 9:56 am
I used to work with a guy who was a XIII – no lie. Sure enough, his son is XIV. The best part is that one of his really good friends is a XX or XXI, I don’t remember which (I never met him).
posted by Steve on 3-3-2009 at 9:59 am
As soon as I hit “submit” on that last comment, I didn’t think it sounded right. The guy I used to work with is an XI and his son is XII, not XII and XIII. Still, a pretty impressive line.
posted by Steve on 3-3-2009 at 10:07 am
Late to the game but I had to share. My brother is a Jr. When I was a teenager I knew a family who had the same last name as my family. The father and oldest son in that family also had the same first name as my father and brother, John. They used to tease me that if I married the other family’s son, I could have a father, brother, father-in-law, husband, and potentially a son, all named the same thing. I told them that was the kind of thing that could drive a person insane, and I was close enough to the edge of that cliff without their help.
One of my cousins is a III. Since they’re all Robert, and Sr and Jr are still alive, we call them Bob Sr (or just Senior), Bob, and Rob.
posted by Jen on 3-3-2009 at 10:22 am
I’m a “II”, and it’s always been explained to me through various sources that there is a difference between “II” and Jr. Junior is added only if the father (or mother) has the exact same name and essentially the “first” (not named after another family member). The second is added if that person was named after someone other than the father, like a grandfather, uncle, great uncle, etc. I was named after my grandfather, and at no time in my life was it even suggested that I was a junior.
posted by Will on 3-3-2009 at 11:17 am
My husband a “II”. On his license he is listed as II, on his birth certificate he is listed as a II and on our marriage license he is listed as a II. The funny this is people try to correct the “II” by changing things he has filled out to junior. Like he did something wrong!
On the downside – Being a junior is quite often a pain. Constantly having to explain that “that’s my dad” gets tedious.
We were blessed with 3 daughters – no reason to continue with a III.
posted by Karen on 3-3-2009 at 11:21 am
my boyfriend is a jr., so when I’m “angry” with him or he’s not paying attention, i pull out his full name then throw on the junior after a brief pause for effect.
that and I went to high school with Harry Cox IV. Now that’s a name.
posted by erinbrianne on 3-3-2009 at 11:48 am
I had a college room mate who was a “II” (NOT a “Jr.” – it made a BIG difference to him) – he would get all mad when documents would put his name as “Jr.” instead of “II”.
I went to high school in Northern California with a Robert Banks V (I forget his middle name). One time, my family went on a trip to St. Louis – to see the Gateway Arch. There is a history museum beneath the arch, and in there, there was a statue of a Civil War solider named “Robert Banks” – and he was the spitting image of my friend from high school! We always speculated that it was his great-great-great grandfather.
posted by Steve on 3-3-2009 at 11:54 am
I am a “II” and am named after my father. As the article says, my parents didn’t want me to be called Junior when I became an adult.
posted by Lawrence on 3-3-2009 at 11:54 am
I was named after both grandmothers and my mom..
mom’s mom was Mary Juanita – she went by Juanita
dad’s mom was Mary Salome – she went by Mary
mom is Mary Joyce – she goes by Mary
I’m Mary Michelle and go by Michelle
My sister got mom’s middle name as her middle name – Jennifer Joyce
posted by Michelle on 3-3-2009 at 12:34 pm
My dad is James John Joseph D. Grandpa was John Joseph James D. His dad was Joseph James John D.
He never even wanted my brother to be “James”. Didn’t want to go near the Jr thing. He had a cousin who was a Jr and his credit got really messed up by Sr. My dad wanted my brother to be “William”. I have 2 other brothers. Neither is a William.
posted by Danyel D on 3-3-2009 at 12:43 pm
I really have nothing of value to add to this conversation but I just wanted to state that when I was little, back in the mid 80’s, Vincent Price in those Time Life commercials scared the crap out of me…
Although, while at Virginia Tech, I got the birthday card of someone with the same name as me, I opened it not knowing what it was and there was a check inside, made out to me…well, not to me, but you know…so being the honest person I am, I emailed him to come get it and when he showed up, turned out I knew the guy, just didn’t know his last name…yep, nothing of value…
posted by C on 3-3-2009 at 12:52 pm
My father is a III. His father is a Jr and his father Sr. My dad had 2 girls, I was blessed as having his last name as my middle name. My little sister is Noelle Morgan (last name) IV. He wasnt haveing any boys, so she ended up with the title.
I think its hilarious.
posted by Cassandra on 3-3-2009 at 1:17 pm
My friends went to high school with a Frank Mabry, Jr. IX.
Yes, you saw that right. I don’t get it, either.
posted by Liz on 3-3-2009 at 2:38 pm
I have a cousin (Kyle) who was named after his father and in an effort to discourage him being called junior, he became a II. We always refer to him as KII (kay two) or KyII. I don’t think he has ever been referred to as “the second.”
posted by Bri on 3-3-2009 at 3:07 pm
Mary Sue- I was also named after both of my grandmothers and actually both my grandpas. They are both Donald and one of my grandmas is Donna, as is my mom. My other grandma is Ann, which led to Dawn-Ann.. I love my name, and most people are good about calling me that. Friends and some family call my Dawnie though, which is fine since i know them..
posted by Dawn-Ann on 3-3-2009 at 3:45 pm
My husband is a II named after his dad. Their first name is Danny- people are always trying to correct him by saying his name must be Daniel. His dad goes by Dan and he goes by Danny.
His mom wanted us to continue the line, but neither of us wanted to. She kept pressing, so one Christmas we went to Build-A-Bear and built her a teddy bear and named it Danny Carlton III.
posted by Katie on 3-5-2009 at 4:12 am
Technincally, I’m a 3rd, not a III. I sign my name as Roger Edward (Lastname), III – even on my important stuff like my mortgage, but my birth certificate says ‘3rd’ on it.
I actually got called on that when I went for my security clearance. I politely informed the security officer that naming conventions are a bit different in Thailand and that substituting III for 3rd is perfectly fine. I didn’t insinuate that he was an idiot, nope, not at all.
posted by Roger on 3-6-2009 at 11:39 am