I feel bad. Should I feel bad?

Sounds just like memory tears, combined with emotions from hearing the news of your choice of name. But in a good way - it's a gesture like no other. But by all means, have a conversation with him and ask, "Are you okay with that?" I guarantee he'll say he wouldn't change a thing.

You should most definitely speak with your dad about this. My guess is that the tears were a mixture of happy and sad, tears of memories. You could easily begin by asking him how he feels about his granddaughter being named after his mother. It may make him happy that you chose name her his mother's name, but it will be likely that every time he hears her name it will bring memories of his mom to him. Depending on the relationship he had with his mom this may be a good thing or a bad thing. Everyone grieves differently and for varying lengths of time. Some people, especially men, take a long time to go through the grief process, so hearing his mother's name possibly is causing him to deal with issues he hasn't yet dealt with despite the fact she passed away 17 years ago. Talk to your dad and get things out in the open before the baby arrives.

Those tears were happy tears. Since you are naming your baby after your grandmother she must have been an amazing woman. I think your dad is not only feeling emotional about his mother but overwhelmed with Joy that his daughter loved his mother, your Gramma enough to name her first daughter after her. I would ask him though. I'm sure he would be glad to tell you! Vallie is a beautiful name!

Ask. It's a very personal thing, and it may be something he's very happy about and just couldn't express at the moment because of the emotional weight of it, or it could be a really painful reminder.

My mother passed away when I was 2, and my father never really recovered from it. To this day - I'm 36 - he cannot deal with it when I bring her up, and I know that every time he looks at me, he sees her and it hurts. Unhealthy? Yes, but I understand it. I wanted to give one of my children her name, but I just couldn't do that to my dad, or to a kid who wouldn't have a clue why they were so resented by their grandfather.

Grief and loyalty to the dead is different for everyone. I know my father will grieve for my mother until his dying breath; while some people "get over it" relatively soon.

I imagine they were bittersweet tears. I'm sure he won't have an issue with you naming your daughter after her, but it's natural for someone to shed a tear occasionally when reminded of their loved one, I imagine he welled up because he was wishing she was here to see her granddaughter and imagining how touched she'd be to know that you're naming her after her. Bring it up by all means, it's good to get things out into the open, and I'm of the opinion that you should never be afraid to mention a lost one no matter how much time has passed - it's through words and memories that people stay alive after their death, and I think your dad will know this.

I don't know your father but if I was your father, I would be crying tears of honor that my daughter was naming her only girl after my mother. Yes he might've been feeling a tad bit sad because I'm sure he misses her but I'm sure he is greatly honored that you're naming her Vallie.

Bring it up to him if you like. If you do, just ask him something like "when i was talking to you last night and told you I plan to name the baby Vallie; I just wanted to make sure you were okay with that because you started to cry."

Awww....a girl! FUN!

To answer your question, I'm sure it was a bit of both. My husbands brother passed away at the age of 24 back in February 2008. It was a definite shock and a horrible accident. His name was Jason.

Anyway, fast forward to now, and my husband and I are expecting a baby boy. His name will be Connor Jay....Jay after Jason. When we told my MIL, she got really teary-eyed as well. But, she is now proudly telling everyone what her second grandchild's name will be.

I think it's just a bit of both. Happiness that someone they love's name is going to live on, but it also reminds them that THAT person doesn't live on.

I would just let him bring it up, I think. If he *does* have a problem with it, he will let you know, I am sure.

Congrats again!

Nina, it was happy tears. I named Eli (middle name) after my brother and when I told my mom, she cried. She told me that that was one of the most special things anyone has ever done and she was very very honored by it. I'm sure he feels the same. It's emotional, but in a good way. It's a pretty incredible thing to keep that name in the family. She lives on through your daughter! :)

Yeah, I'm out. I lose. ;p

I think you already know this...

We decided to name our son after my MIL the night she died. I was 7mo pregnant. I had decided I wasn't going to tell anybody for a while. BUT when my husband's grandma asked me if I had decided on a name while we were at the funeral, I started sobbing. My husband had to tell her because I couldn't. Then, of course, she started crying too. I couldn't say my son's name for weeks without crying.

All of her family loved the name, and they were so happy that a part of her will always be with him. It was so bittersweet though. My MIL's death had been so hard on all of us, and bringing up a name so close to her's just seemed to make us think of her and miss her more. But our baby was the blessing our family so badly needed - the news of my pregnancy came right after she found out that her cancer had returned, and 2mo and 2days after her death our son was born. He was our greatest joy in a time of immense sorrow.

Talk to your dad. I'm sure he's so proud that you will be naming the baby after his mom, even though it's sad to think that she's no longer here.

Those tears were happy, sad, proud....all of the above. He teared up because of all his mixed emotions, and that's a good thing. It's good to let your feelings out. Talk to him about it. He will tell you how amazing it makes him feel that you will be naming your daughter after his mother, the woman that was his creator and providor.

Good luck and congrats girl!

No, you should not feel bad. It is the greatest tribute in the world to have a child named after you; I am sure the tears were happy tears.

I love the name, and congrats on your little girl =)