The Chiefs quarterback and his wife named their three children after metals with built-in hierarchy. That may have unintended side effects, Laurie Kramer says.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, recently welcomed their third child, a daughter named Golden Raye, who joins siblings Stirling and Patrick “Bronze” Mahomes III.
While the new addition’s name is within the family’s metal theme (with Stirling being a nod to sterling silver and Bronze being their son’s nickname), people such as former Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick pointed out that the names lend themselves to a bit of an inherent ranking, with Bronze drawing the short end of the stick.
“I think the intention was to build unity in the family,” Laurie Kramer, a Northeastern University professor of applied psychology, says of the Mahomes’ naming decisions. “Everybody’s got a metal name in some way, so these kids would feel connected, and it was helping build a family identity around metals which could convey strength and resilience.”
“There could have been some positive intentions,” Kramer adds. “However, when you get names that come with a built-in hierarchy like gold, silver and bronze, there may be some unintended side effects.”
Even for families without metal-themed names, sibling names can play a role in dynamics, whether it’s the youngest golden child or a cherished family name used on one child, but not the others.
Other parents directly name their children after a loved one while many others try to find a unique name in order to help their child develop their own identity.
The way people choose names can reflect their values. Some names are determined by religious or cultural traditions, Kramer said. For example, Jewish people do not name their children after living relatives, but choose a name with the same first letter of the name of a loved one they want to honor.
Others, like Mahomes, might choose names to create a sense of unity, whether it’s adhering to a certain theme or giving their children similar or even the name names (like George Foreman who named all his sons “George”).
“Names are important because we consider that as part of our identity,” Kramer said. “Who we are and who we’re named after has meaning to us. How our parents chose to name us means something. … Our names are an announcement to the outside world of how we or the people who named us want to be seen by others.”
But if there’s a sense that one child has a “less-valued” name, it could lead to feelings of favoritism.
“When kids feel that they’re treated differently from their siblings, by their parents or other relatives, that is linked with a whole host of negative implications for the family,” Kramer said.
This includes poor relationships between siblings and parents, Kramer said.
On the flip side, Kramer said cohesive names — think the Kardashian/Jenner siblings who have names that begin with the letter “K” or twins with similar names — can make it harder for kids to find their sense of identity.
“It can backfire in adolescence when people are searching to define their own identity,” Kramer said. “Maybe those are the people who go with their middle name or come up with a nickname. It’s an expression of one’s individuality and sense of identity which can be healthy and important.”
But whatever may be behind a name, be it an attempt at family unity or to give a child a sense of individuality, it will not necessarily make or break sibling relationships or family dynamics, Kramer said. Not only can those be affected in other ways, but how someone feels about a name is truly individualistic.
“As kids grow, they’re going to have their own thoughts about all these sorts of things,” she said. “But it’s not as important as your closeness to your child or their closeness to each other.”