Children were not always named immediately. While modern practice is to name children at birth (if not before), this was not always the case for one reason or another. It is not uncommon to see “unnamed” or “baby” as the first name on a birth certificate. A couple may have waited until they could arrange for a christening to name the baby, because they could not decide, or other reasons.
This post on our sister site looks at possible unnamed children in the 1880 United States census.
2 Responses
An interesting tidbit. I used to work with a guy who was known as S.B. He said he was never named and was called Sonny Boy.
Now, I can’t say for a sure if this was true, but it’s what he said.
The rate of infant mortality most assuredly had everything with not naming the baby immediately, from what I’ve learned. Such a concerning practice to be sure. It is what it is. I’ve learned to just roll with the punch on this one.