This thread should answer your question:

http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men/talk/2009/09/baby-drapers-mi.php

i wondered too - on fb a few mentioned scott came from an astronaut (a popular thing to do back then). i though maybe after f scott fitzgerald - betts has been seen reading "a diamon as big as the ritz" and "babylon revisted"

.....It was rather naughty (and very Betty) of her to name the baby and sign the birth certificate in Don's absence, particularly since he indicated he wasn't crazy about naming the baby Gene. Ouch!

Someone else on Thirteen's posted thread pointed out how old-fashioned the name "Gene" or "Eugene" is, but the boy can still go by Scott.

F. Scott apparently did it. He can be E. or G. Scott Draper.

That "G. Scott Draper" sounds very distinguished.

Betty took Don back after all his philandering and his weak apology. She carried on the family while he was MIA on that trip. She bore a child she did not want and lost her father. She endured that nightmarish birth experience. Now she is doing one thing the way she wants to and she is not asking for anybody's approval first. A step toward growing up.

Hi all!

@Scfan: I agree, that does sound distinguished. And, as I said in another post, will be much more acceptable by his peers than Eugene in the future. You know how kids can be!!

Here's a far out thought...what if Betty not only named the baby Eugene after her father, but, because she can also keep up the fantasy of having a girl...Jean/Gene??

Her first words in the scene with her and the baby was "she's so beautiful", Don had to correct her.

I still have a weird feeling about the baby's fate...

My wife's middle name is Gene. After Gene Tierney, the actress.

Don will probably call him Scott and the kids will follow his lead, especially if Carla uses the name as well. Soon enough the only time he'll hear is first name is when he's being called. "Eugene Scott Draper! Get in here!"

BTW, the actor E.G. Marshall's birth name was Everett Eugene Marshall. That's for those who watched the Defenders in the same time frame. Remember, it had an episode about an agitator.

I got the weird feeling that even though Gene was somewhat disapproving of Don, that deep down under the bristley exterior, Gene had some liking for Don, and vice versa.
When Betty suggested the name "Eugene", Don didn't come right out and object. He said, " We don't have to decide right now". I think Don respects Betty's feelings of grief for her dad and the need to honor him. During Season One, Betty asked Don why he couldn't make HER family HIS family. I think by Don moving Gene into the house, Don finally resolved that issue and did indeed accept Gene as a member of the household with no regrets. If you can't get with your own family, you can latch on to Betty's.

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