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ArchivesJr. V Yr.
I read the FAQ, and it states that girls named after their mothers are 'Jr.' I always thought that the proper suffix for females was 'Yr.', standing for 'the Younger.' Where did I get this (meaning did I imagine it, or is it factual), and is this socially acceptable, or an archaic naming practice?
~Rebecca
~Rebecca
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Replies
"Jr." is a masculine suffix (Mike C, take note)
I'm sure Mike C may have had his reasons for stating in his FAQ that "Jr." may be used by either males or females -- and perhaps times have changed to the extent where crossing such boundaries hardly matter any more.
But in proper etiquette circles, the suffix "Jr." is always considered masculine and is never used for a female person.
I quote the long-recognized (yet now deceased) maven of etiquette, Amy Vanderbilt:
"You hear it and you see it in print, but a girl should never be referred to as 'Greta McCarthy, Junior' even if her mother is a very well-known 'Greta McCarthy' whose name frequently figures in the social, business, or theatrical news and who, for professional reasons, may also be known as 'Miss.' It's too bad the parents didn't think to give the poor girl her own identifying name at birth to avert such confusion, but, as it is, the daughter may have her cards read 'Miss Greta McCarthy, second' or, if she prefers, 'younger' but she can't use the masculine 'junior.'"
-- Nanaea
I'm sure Mike C may have had his reasons for stating in his FAQ that "Jr." may be used by either males or females -- and perhaps times have changed to the extent where crossing such boundaries hardly matter any more.
But in proper etiquette circles, the suffix "Jr." is always considered masculine and is never used for a female person.
I quote the long-recognized (yet now deceased) maven of etiquette, Amy Vanderbilt:
"You hear it and you see it in print, but a girl should never be referred to as 'Greta McCarthy, Junior' even if her mother is a very well-known 'Greta McCarthy' whose name frequently figures in the social, business, or theatrical news and who, for professional reasons, may also be known as 'Miss.' It's too bad the parents didn't think to give the poor girl her own identifying name at birth to avert such confusion, but, as it is, the daughter may have her cards read 'Miss Greta McCarthy, second' or, if she prefers, 'younger' but she can't use the masculine 'junior.'"
-- Nanaea
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www.acronymfinder.com does include Yr. as an acronym for Younger. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "Younger" is "Used after a person's name for distinction from an older person of the same name" particularly in the titles of Scottish heirs. However no mention of gender is made. By the way both 'Younger' and 'Junior' are derived from the Latin 'Juvenis', meaning "young".
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And the only use of The Younger that springs to my mind is the two Plinys, the Elder and the Younger; they were uncle and nephew, not father and son, which might be significant?
Once I knew a woman named Maria Elizabeth Helena who was known as Marelna (ma-REL-na); she named her daughter Marelna, just like that, not even a middle name for variety, and announced her intention of referring to the child as Little Marelna to avoid confusion ...
Once I knew a woman named Maria Elizabeth Helena who was known as Marelna (ma-REL-na); she named her daughter Marelna, just like that, not even a middle name for variety, and announced her intention of referring to the child as Little Marelna to avoid confusion ...
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