Hello Candy, The naming convention in Scotland was generally that the first son was named after the father's father, the first daughter after the mother's mother, the second son after the mother's father and the second daughter after the father's mother. You can check this at the website http://www.nevisuk.net/dgfhs/naming.html which points out that there might be variations. This practice can be very useful in providing clues to relationships - the disadvantage is that you find lots of cousins with the same names and more often than not end up totally confused :-( As far as I know this applies just to Scotland, although I believe many Scottish emigrants will have followed the same practice. My only other experience is in England where names were often handed down from generation to generation, but with nothing like the strict adherence to protocol found in Scotland. However, as Peter suggests, it is as well to be wary: My family (Argyll and Bute) followed the above from about 1800 (maybe earlier - I'm stuck) right down to my father's generation (Glasgow 1904), with one variation in 1875. My grandfather ARCHIBALD HILL's sister - born Dumbartonshire 1875 and as second daughter presumably destined to be called Flora after her father's mother - was named Margaret Flora. Her father's sister Margaret had died a few months before and the new baby was possibly named for her. Regards Madeleine Wales In a message dated 6/11/00 12:14:41 PM GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: << I have heard of a common naming convention, but I've never had an explanation of how it worked. Could someone tell me what the convention is for the first three children of either sex? Also, in what countries and during what time period was this convention most prevalent? >>