Learn English – “Senior” and “Junior” suffixes

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Is it possible to call a child "Jack Watson Junior" if his father is called "Charles Watson"? Is it necessary that the father and the son have the same name to be called "Junior" and "Senior" or is it possible to name a child "Jack Watson Junior" in honor of his uncle, for example, or his grandfather who would be called Jack Watson? Are "Junior" and "Senior" only to be used for fathers and sons without any generation between them?

Best Answer

I wanted to know if it was possible to call a child Jack Watson Junior if his father is called Charles Watson?

No; junior and senior are only used if the names are exactly the same.

Or is it possible to name a child Jack Watson Junior in honor of his uncle for example or his grandfather who would be called Jack Watson?

Technically, a child named after a relative who is not his father should be called "Jack Watson II" (pronounced "Jack Watson the second") instead of "junior". Then if there is a third Jack Watson in the family, he would be "Jack Watson III" ("Jack Watson the third"), and so forth.

(I actually did once know a person who was called "John Smith junior" even though the original John Smith was his grandfather and not his father, but this was unusual enough that people remarked on it, because it is not the normal way to do it.)

Also, junior or senior is almost always written as Jr. or Sr. instead of being spelled out.

Source: The Emily Post Institute, "Men's Names and Titles"

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