Genealogy Chat

Have recently discovered one of my 2xG Aunt's with birth certificate just saying Girl and no name. The birth took place on 23rd April and was registered on 2nd May. You would think 10 days was long enough to think of a name! Any ideas? Have to go out now so will check back later.

Sometimes it happened because the baby died and both events were registered at the same time. Not always though - my friend's Mum was registered as female. When her father got to the Registry office, he couldn't remember which way round the 2 forenames were supposed to be. Rather than do it wrong, he didn't give a name at all!! Jay

I think it's possible that the baby died (unless you know otherwise!!) and they just decided not to use a name that they might wish to use subsequently. I think that if the baby had survived, there would be more likelyhood of a name being added in the last column on the certificate where you can add 'name given after registration'. I'm not certain of any of this though. Kath. x

My Nana was born in 1903 but her Irish birth certificate shows that her name was not added until 1967! Why I don't know?! Perhaps she needed a copy of it to get her passport? Claire

A relative of mine registered her child as just male as she was giving the baby up for adoption and chose not to name him.

My Gran's niece was only registered as 'Female' but I have her Baptism certificate which proves her name and date of birth. She survived, married and had children. So I think perhaps as her mother had lost so many other children they were playing safe and didn't name her until she was Baptised. Perhaps your relatives did the same. Just a thought. Regards...Teresa

my brother in law born 1974 is just named male. His mum was ill after the birth and the last thing on their minds was his name!!!

My wife's grandad was from Dublin and we have a number of birth certificates for his siblings. However those born in the Rotunda maternity hospital were all registered by the hospital staff as Girl or Boy. Most frustrating as we are having one hell of a job to work out who is who.

Thank you all for your replies. She did survive so that's not it. It just crossed my mind that perhaps baby was ill so perhaps they thought she would not survive? Cheers Anna x

I was extremely late naming my youngest, so she was nearly registered as 'female'. I also know a lady whose youngest (as was my eldest) was actually registered in the hospital! This lady hadn't decided on a name for her son, so said 'Just put a mark'. 'Mark' (the registrar put that as his name) must be in his 30's now!! maggie