Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance have recently announced their decision to continue a unique family tradition when it comes to naming their newborn son. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the Vice President shared that they plan to wait until after their son's birth to choose his name, a practice they have followed for all of their children. The couple disclosed Usha's pregnancy on January 20, with the baby boy expected to be their fourth child.
The Vances' approach to naming their children is not the norm; most parents opt for a name well before the due date. "We've talked about a few names," Vance said from his office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. However, they have never felt confident enough to make a decision before meeting their child. "We're working on it, but with all three of our kids, we actually didn't settle on their names until after they were born," he explained.
This decision marks a significant moment as Usha, 40, will be the first vice president's wife to give birth while in office since Ellen Colfax during President Ulysses S. Grant's administration in 1870. The Vances already have three children: Ewan, 8, Vivek, 6, and Mirabel, 4. The family currently resides at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., the official residence of the Vice President.
J.D. and Usha Vance's relationship began at Yale Law School, where they were classmates before dating. Vance's memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," recounts how he declared his love for Usha after their first date, calling her his "Yale spirit guide." Her support was instrumental as he navigated the elite Ivy League environment, a stark contrast to his working-class upbringing in Ohio. Friends and professors noticed Vance's infatuation with Usha during their time at Yale.
Before stepping into the role of Vice President, Vance served as a U.S. Senator, splitting his time between Washington and his family home in Cincinnati. Now, as they prepare to welcome another member to their family, the Vances look forward to the familiar process of meeting their child before settling on a name. Despite deviating from common practice, the Vice President maintains that this approach feels right for their family.
