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puneralissimo t1_ivyum42 wrote

You'll be named after your father about 10-15% of the time, with no increase in prevalence.

Unless, of course, war were declared.

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mehnimalism t1_ivz023m wrote

I have a sneaking suspicion this was in memory of fathers who were killed.

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Doortofreeside t1_ivzeeuo wrote

The immediate jump after the declaration of war makes me think it's also that fathers were away from home at that time.

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mehnimalism t1_ivzem2s wrote

Ah, you know what, you’re right. I’d say memorializing is the small trend after and absence is closer to 80% of cause.

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poupadis t1_ivzmeim wrote

for sure.

similarly, people about to leave for war might want to leave a reminder for their child in case they died

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Pretlik t1_iw22hqw wrote

I never thought about it that way. My grandfather was born after his father was send off to fight in WW2, so he never met his dad. But he does share a name with him. My great grandfather died fighting in the war and his son got to live on with the same name.

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grundhog t1_iw14vyu wrote

Name the kids after the dead father to better secure support from late father's family. Classic survival move

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sleeknub t1_iw1anax wrote

Or were at high risk of being killed in the near future.

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I_likeIceSheets t1_ivzq05a wrote

*alarm goes off*

"What's that?"

"War were declared"

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UndendingGloom t1_iw0m9dz wrote

Some of you may die, but it's a risk I'm willing to take

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ChrissyKin_93 t1_iw0vn5d wrote

"What happened?!"

"War were declared."

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potatan t1_iw1ug2k wrote

"When using be in an if clause for an unreal conditional sentence, always conjugate it as were, no matter what the subject is. Even if the subject is first-person singular (I) or third-person singular (he, she, or it), still use were with an if clause in unreal conditional sentences. "

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/conditional-sentences-was-instead-of-were/

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