UK naming conventions

Question

WikiTreer Debra Downs let me know about this webpage: http://www.familyhistoryalive.com/Naming-Conventions.html  This is an excellent article about naming conventions in the UK.  In short, 

• the first male child was named after his father's father.
• the second male child was named after his mother's father.
• the third male child was named after his own father.
• any subsequent male children could be named whatever the parents wished, but usually were named for a favorite brother or uncle of the father.

A similar pattern applied for female children. That is:

• the first female child was named after her maternal grandmother.
• the second female child was named after her paternal grandmother.
• the third female child was named after her own mother.
• subsequent female children could be named whatever the parents chose, but usually were named after other females in the mother's family.

So given this arrangement, I should be looking for a father of my Earliest Known Ancestor with the name William.  HHmmm.  Back to the books. . . 

Comments

That pattern sounds like the traditional Irish pattern, although even then it may not have always been used, I 'd be weary of using it for England, wher I don't think a strict order was ever used, or at least I have yet to come across it.

Answer 1

Conveniently too sometimes the mother's or grandmother's  maiden name was given as a middle name.