ferrari | being named after someone

Enzo Ferrari was the youngest of two children to Alfredo Ferrari and Adalgisa Bisbini. His older brother was named after their father, Alfredo Junior (Dino).

In 1916, Enzo's father, Alfredo, and his older brother, Alfredo Junior, died from the Italian flu outbreak. 

Enzo Ferrari went on to marry and have his first son who he named, Alfredo « Dino ». 

His son died in 1956, suffering from muscular dystrophy, in his early 20's, around the same age as his uncle who died.

Then, Enzo had a second son with his mistress, who he named Piero. Piero is now the vice chairman of Ferrari Automotive Company and a successful businessman.

Piero’s daughter, Antonella had a son and named him Enzo, in honor of her grandfather, Enzo Ferrari. 

It may seem noble to honor our ancestors with naming a new life with a family name, but it is the last thing I would personally do. Based on my work, I have seen how heavy it can often be because that new life has to deal with two different destinies, the one(s) who carried the name and the new life.

Naming the great grand son Enzo, could seem like a "better" destiny pattern of success, but what if baby Enzo does not want to be, or isn't, as successful as his great grand father, how is he going to deal with that? 

Naming someone else by honoring the memory of an ancestor is, most of the time, a heavy weight to carry. It holds the ‘curse’ of either repeating the same pattern, the same destiny, or repairing it. 

If you really want to honor that dear family member within your child's name, you can use it as a middle name. But if you ask me, always name your newborn with a new name, as it is a new destiny. 

New Life, New Destiny, New Name. 

Much Love, 
Marine Sélénée