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Is it weird or demeaning to name an affectionate pet after a parent who’s passed?

I got a new kitten about a year ago and she was feral at first. (I trapped her on my porch on the anni of my dad’s death, actually) originally I was gonna bring her to the animal shelter so she could be adopted but I ended up keeping her.

She turned out to be the sweetest most loving animal. She prefers me to anyone else in the household. It’s like she is a little wise soul who senses I’m lost. Shes not aloof like most cats - she’s engaged and responsive to just about every single thing I do. Given a choice between sitting in a sunny window or sitting with me, she will pick me. Sleeping on her own on a fluffy blanket, or napping with me, it’s me, and she brings her toy mouse to bed too. She will self entertain sometimes if I’m busy but the second I stop she will tap me, kick me, reach out for me or nudge her nose right into my hand for pets on the head. Even though I officially take care of her, I feel like she takes care of me and her companionship is far more profound than any other animal I’ve had - even some dogs.

I wouldn’t change her name now, but sometimes I think I should have named her after my mom because she was also forever loving and intuitive with a special bond to me. But then I think maybe that’s weird and insulting in some way.
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RedBaron · M
Why? You can be sure the deceased won’t mind or be insulted.

In certain Jewish traditions, babies are only supposed to be named for dead relatives. It’s considered evil and bad luck to name someone for a living relative.
@RedBaron Lol….. don’t think my mom would appreciate us naming a poodle after her.
DoubleRings · 51-55, F
@RedBaron hmmm. what if the “dead” name shares the same name as someone else in the family who is living?
RedBaron · M
@OlderSometimesWiser But if your mom is dead, she is beyond caring about or appreciating anything.
@RedBaron No one can say that for sure. Plus, I knew my mother very well and am quite certain she would not be happy about it. When she was still alive, the matter of naming after dead relatives came up at various times in various forms.

As for the overall question of naming a pet after a deceased parent, I believe that is very much a matter of personal preference.
RedBaron · M
@OlderSometimesWiser Then why did you ask for others to judge? 🤷‍♂️
@RedBaron I wasn’t asking for others to judge. I filled in some background with my second comment to illustrate why I didn’t think my mom would be happy having a poodle named after her.
RedBaron · M
@OlderSometimesWiser But as I said, if your mom is dead, she won’t mind, much less even know.

And I can say that for sure. Nobody has come back to say otherwise.