Just to complicate matters what about when the first son has two names ie Patrick Francis and the eldest daughter is named Mary Jane their parents name was John and Mary, its all a bit Irish to me . John and Mary's religion was RC . Regards Bill Stafford -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 21 March 2006 17:36 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WEX] Doyle Cyril, I wonder if you could help me with the Irish naming system. I gather that the tradition was/is that the eldest boy is named after the father's father - ie baby's Paternal grandfather and that the next oldest boy is named after the mother's father - ie baby's maternal grandfather. Does that work with the girls? ie is the eldest girl named after the father's mother and the next girl is named after the mother's mother? My grandmother Elizabeth Doyle was the eldest child, so can I presume that her father's mother was also Elizabeth and that therefore my GGgrandfather Edward Doyle was married to an Elizabeth? And that then would follow that the next girl born was named Margaret so therefore my GGgrandfather Patrick Murphy was married to a Margaret? ( Lawrence and Mary followed the tradition when naming the boys, Edward was the eldest boy and Patrick was the next one) Hope you don't mind my asking, but you seem to be a fount of knowledge about these things and I don't know where to go next!!!!!! Tina ==== WEXFORD Mailing List ==== DO NOT post virus warnings, test messages, chain letters, political announcements, current events, items for sale, personal messages, etc.