Something I recall my Grandmother (Hood) saying as a young man was that a forename had been taken from previous Hood generations.
I have tried this with my father's names and I have tried it with my Grandfather's and his brother's forenames and her claim makes no sense at all.
However, if I go back to the boys names of my 2 X Gt. Grandfather George Hood (born Selby 1847, dying at 16 De Montfort Street, Leicester, in 1885) it will give in the following order:-
George (my 2 x Gt. G. Commercial Traveller & Leather Merchant & Victualler);
John (my 3 x Gt. G., the Tanner of Selby);
George (my 4 x Gt. G. married 1815 Selby); and his mystery father as
William or Herbert Hood?
I've set out all the known children of my 2 x Gt. Grandparents George Hood and Cecilia ...
Children of George Hood (d.1885 Leicester, Son of the Late John Hood of Selby, Tanner) and Cecilia Hood nee Westley
Edith Mary Hood, born 25 Sep 1875, Lorraine Villa, The Fields, Wigston, Blaby, Leicestershire,
Baptised Selby Abbey 26 Dec 1875.
George Percy Hood, Abode Leicester,
Baptised Selby Abbey 17 Jun 1877.
George Percy Hood, buried Belgrave, Leicester, 14 Aug 1877, Abode Belgrave, Age 6 months.
John Sidney Hood, born 24 Aug 1878 at Melton Road, Belgrave.
Baptised Selby Abbey 15 September 1878, Abode Belgrave.
Family information is that John Sidney Hood went with Brother to South Africa and joined the South African Infantry. The Haute Avesnes British Cemetery (New), Report gives 2 Bn South African Inf. No. 4556 Cpl S. Hoods [later amended to Hood]. Family information refers to an action near Arras 12 April 1917, he was removed and died at a Field Hospital. CWGC gives death 14 Apr 1917, age 38, Son of the late George and Cecilia Hood of Leicester
Next of Kin, Miss Edith Hood, 143 Rockingham Road, Kettering, Northants.
Henry George Hood, born 13 Jul 1880 Carlton Hotel, 23 Granby Street, Leicester, Father George Hood, Licensed Victualler.
Henry George Hood, of 13 Meyrick Road, Stafford, England, died 31 Oct 1943. Widow was Jean Hood (according to family information after leaving South Africa Henry George Hood went to Australia and married Jean).
Grace Cecila Hood, born 26 Mar 1882, at 17 New Walk, Leicester.
Married George Taylor, Manager of Clothiers Shop, (Grace Cecilia Taylor).
William Herbert Hood, born 9 Feb 1884, at 17 New Walk, Leicester.
Married. Died 1942 in Leicestershire.
I am now wondering if the other forenames Percy; Sidney; Henry and one of the two others have come from Cecilia's (the mother's side) of the family.
Mark