> I have to ask, why is it so common in American culture to have junior/seniors in the first place? Why do people name their children after themselves? One of my former coworkers is an American living in Finland. He has a "III" after his name so I guess that makes him a "junior junior".

Is this practice so uncommon in Finland? It's common here and presumably in other places because people want to leave some sort of legacy behind in the world. In this case it's the name; more than just a family name.

As a junior, I will admit that there are times that it is an inconvenience. One good example is credit report mix-ups. I still have one of dad's mortgages listed in one of my reports, and I've tried to have it removed to no avail. There's also the AARP thing and other things of that sort.

That's one of the reasons that my son isn't a "third." He's named after me and my father, but with enough of a variation that he doesn't need to put the "III" after his name. Or won't when he's old enough to write it. :o)

Gri"don't call me 'Junior'"shny