23 August 2023 , 15:22
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A mum gave her daughter her maiden name as a first name – so she'd always 'have a part of my family'. Caitlin Buckheister, 30, knew she wanted to give her unborn baby her maiden name 'Vaughn' when she found out she was expecting in August 2022.
The mum-of-one felt the name was gender-neutral - meaning she could use it for either a girl or a boy. Caitlin and her husband, Adam, 33, an accountant, had their daughter on May 3, 2023, at 6.17pm weighing 8lbs 3oz, and said Vaughn 'fits her personality'.
Caitlin, who works in marketing and communications, from Nashville, Tennessee, said: "I really like the idea that she had a name from my family as well as taking my husband's name. I thought Vaughn was a cute name for any gender.
Baby Vaughn with mum Caitlin’s dad, Robert Vaughn (Caitlin Buckheister / SWNS)
She was born on May 3, 2023 (Caitlin Buckheister / SWNS)"It really fits her personality. It feels like a special tribute to my family while still having a name of her own." Caitlin said it isn't unusual for people to use a last name as a first name or middle name for their child – and said it was a common occurrence growing up in, Huntsville, Alabama, US.
When she found out she was pregnant, she became set on the idea of naming her unborn baby Vaughn – so they had a bit of her family and Adam's family. They found out they were having a girl at 12 weeks along so decided to give her the middle name Elizabeth.
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Vaughn, now three months old, was born on May 3, 2023, and shares a birthday with her grandad, Robert Vaughn, 65. Caitlin said: "She is a very happy baby. She loves to giggle. She's a talker. She has our blue eyes. She has a cute little smile that I think comes from my side of the family."
Caitlin admits she is lucky to have a surname which can work as a first name for her daughter – and knows it might not work for everyone. She said: "I think I wanted to use a family name for the first.
"I am close with my family. She'll have a part of my family." Caitlin hopes to have more children in the future and wants to use family names for their monikers.