Mumsnet Talk

Ie an Alice with a daughter called Alicia?
Or an Isabel with an Isabella?
Or Louise with a Louisa?
Or Susanne with a Susannah?

Just wondered if it a) sounds a bit vain, as if you're really naming them after yourself b) it gets really confusing when other people calls your name and you both respond.

It's almost as bad as giving them the same name as you. There are thousands of names out there. Give them one of their own!

And it is a). You couldn't accidentally give them a name that's practically identical to your own.

We're Alice and Lucy. I didn't realise straightaway that, although they look very different, they sound quite similar. No confusion though. Since then I've noticed loads and loads of people who have similar-sounding, but quite different names - Elaine / Erin; Esther/ Eleanor; Hannah / Susannah etc etc.

Mine is very similar to DD1's though they are different names, one being Irish and the other French. I never saw it as being vain because they are not in the same vein as Suzanne/Susannah, but then Irish naming customs are different from those of the UK and I don't think it's considered at all vain or odd to use parent or family names, even of family members who are living.

I know a Carrie with a Carys. I found it a bit strange when I first met her but don't think about it much. She has said Carys has always been her very favourite name, I don't think that it is a vanity thing for her.

I know an Anna with an Annabel. I did raise my eyebrows.

Isn't the whole point of naming someone/something to IDENTIFY them? Much easier done if they all have their own name!

Couldnt do it myself - but then DP and I have fairly similar names (they are the male/female equivalent of each other, but less obviously than say, Samuel/Samantha) so it would be ridiculous!

I know of a Sharon with a Shannon.

I know a Alison with a Alice bit too similar I thought.

I have a lovely friend, who with her two DDs have names very close to being Milly Molly Mandy. Occasionally I say the wrong name but I think it's quite a cute little family identity. Would have been odd it was Milly Molly and then baby Kate or something!

My son has the masculine version of my name but no-one has ever commented on it. I think they look and sound far enough apart for anyone other than a names geek to notice.

My name is Lucy. Dh had a really great friend named Lucian who died when they were 21 and we really toyed with the name Lucian for a ds but decided it was just too close so didn't use it. I adore the name though.

I know a little boy who has his Mum's entire name as middle names. E.g. Thomas Jane Smith Jones. Known as Tom Jones. The Mum's name is as unmistakably female as Jane. I have to admit to being a bit and I famously don't give a shit what people call their kids.

My DD is Zanna, I'm Joanna but called Jo so only sounds similar if long version is used (rarely!).

I know a Charlotte with a Charlie, which is quite cute really.

Oh and my sister was given the female version of our dads name, which was a quite a common practice moons ago.

My brother and I have our parents' names as middle names. I have my mum's, DB has dad's.

I did this entirely by accident.

DD has a long name with a number of common shortenings. We intended to use one. She insisted on the other. Which sounds uncannily like my full name. Sigh...

I know a Jessica and Jasmine, and Lana and Tara.

My DDs names have connections in meaning to my real name, but not in sound.

I know Tia with DD Leah. Her XP has a son called Leo. I also know a Leanne with DS Leo.

I know a female Nicky with son called Nicholas and husband (not father of son) called Nick. She has another child called something totally unrelated and a bit made up sounding, so the family is Nicky, Nick, Nicholas and Dolphina or whatever. It does sound quite funny I must admit. Obviously the husband was unpredictable but the son's name was within her power!

I mean, it sounds funny as in you REALLY REALLY like one child to the point of making them your clone and are totally indifferent to the other.

Having said that my name could seem as if it were related to my mother's but no-one ever notices as we go by shortenings. E.g. Abigail (Abby) & Ailsa. I quite like it in a way.

I know a Cathy with a dd Katie.

Not something I would personally do.