Giving baby a version of your own name

[DigUpTheRoad]

Would you find this narcissistic? I know boys often have their fathers names and no-one thinks much of it. How about mothers? I wouldn't actually be doing it to reference myself at all. Just a name I love that happens to be really close to my own.

Examples: Clare and Clara
Emily and Emilia
Anna and Annabel
Katherine and Katie

See what I mean?

[wigglesrock]

No, I wouldn't think twice about it. We inadvertently gave our eldest a name that had 4 of the same letters that are in my name, both mine and her name only have 5 letters in it. We didn't realise until months later when we were writing cards . We're not huge over thinkers with regards to our kids names - we just picked what we loved.

[crayfish]

I know an Elaine (the mum) who had a baby Aileen . I kind of thought it was odd as the names are so similar. I wouldn't do it.

[squoosh]

I wouldn't. It would just seem massively unimaginative.

[Nonameyet1]

I'm not that keen to be honest unless you make it explicit that you wanted a version of your name if that makes sense.

[MrsHulk]

My boy has a middle name that's a male version of my name - I like that he has some of my name in there, as he has DH's surname, and we've only had positive comments about it.

Beyond that I probably wouldn't, although more because of the potential for confusion if the names are same/too similar.

Don't think it's narcissistic though.

[booksandchoc]

My husbands name is Daniel and we named our daughter Daniella. I think it's fine if it's clear that's the intention.

[Nelleflowerpot]

We know a Claire who has recently had a Clara. Honestly I think it's too close but I guess they must love the name.

[NapQueen]

I probably wouldn't choose it, however we didn't realise til someone pointed it out that dd's name is my nickname (used daily rather than my full name) backwards.

[daisydalrymple]

I know a Kate who has a daughter Caitlin, and an Angela who has a daughter angelina. I think it really depends on the particular names. Like you say, boys often have their farher's names, but it's not seen as often the other way.

[NameChange30]

My name's Emma (obviously ) and I wouldn't use anything too similar. Shame because I love Ezra for a boy and Ella or Eva for a girl.

[HairsprayBabe]

I am named for my mother, her grandmother and so on going further back. The names are all different but with the same root and meaning. Think Kathleen, Katie, Kate etc. or Anna, Hannah and Ann etc.

I think it is a lovely tradition, and men have done it for centuries, why should it be different for women?

[NameChange30]

I wouldn't give my child an identical or similar name to their father, either, btw.

Traditionally children are given their father's surnames anyway, no need to give sons their first names as well!

If a child doesn't have a surname from its mother (which would be my ideal), I think it's nice to give the child a first or middle name from the mother's side.

[juneau]

No, I wouldn't do it. There are so many names out there. Having said that, DH insisted that DS1 had his name (to my profound irritation!). It is confusing though and we've mail mix-ups, airline booking and checking in problems. But that's for the same name, not a slightly different one.

I once worked with a girl who's dad was called Ronald and she had brothers called Ronald and Ronaldo. Imagine the confusion in that household!

[juneau]

Oh and I have a friend called Jamil who called his DD Jamila.

[GinIsIn]

I wouldn't, no - it's just a bit twee.

[JenLindleyShitMom]

I think it's cringey (sorry to anyone who has done it), especially where they've merged the two parents names to make the baby's name.

[Caipira]

I know a family where the mother is Patricia and the father is Manoel. The children are Patrick, Luisa, Manuela, and Emanuel.

I think they really like their names. DS has DH's name as his middle name. I really liked the name but DH had trouble with it because it is not a name from his country, ironically it is from England so it fits DS's half English self.

[blueskyinmarch]

We inadvertently gave DD1 a name that is a version of my name. We didn't realise we had done this until a good while after she was born. It is fine and no one has ever questioned it.

[crayfish]

I think the same name (to honour the parent I suppose?) is ok, as is the Daniel/Danielle kind of example but Catherine having a baby Caitlin just seems a bit strange.

I would deliberately avoid using the same name or even the same initial as it can cause confusion with post later on. My exH was a G Smith (for example) as was his dad, although they had different names, but they were always opening each other's mail.

[MrsOllyMurs]

We did it accidentally! DD's name sounds very similar to mine, but is spelt differently, so on paper they are not alike. It was only when others started using our names together that it occurred to us how similar they are. And though they are similar sounding they are, in fact, completely different names. Think along the lines of Korrinne and Corral. Also know a Laura and Lauren, Alison and Alice..... If you love it, go for it!

[Thurlow]

We've recently realised we have quite similar names. DD and I have the same initial, DP and (due very soon) DS have the same initial. DS's name is one of DP's middle names, but it is a family name of long standing so I don't mind that. We did have to drop a planned middle name as that was DP's other middle name and it seemed a bit too weird to have a David Robert James Smith and a Robert James Smith (not real names).

I have a very similar name to the shortened version of my mum's name, which my dad uses. I bet it never crossed their mind, but growing up it was a pain because you never knew which name was being shouted and we'd both come running!

[Thurlow]

We've recently realised we have quite similar names. DD and I have the same initial, DP and (due very soon) DS have the same initial. DS's name is one of DP's middle names, but it is a family name of long standing so I don't mind that. We did have to drop a planned middle name as that was DP's other middle name and it seemed a bit too weird to have a David Robert James Smith and a Robert James Smith (not real names).

I have a very similar name to the shortened version of my mum's name, which my dad uses. I bet it never crossed their mind, but growing up it was a pain because you never knew which name was being shouted and we'd both come running!

[passingthrough1]

Oh like Peter Andre! Their daughter is Amelia I think and the wife / mother Emily. I always found that a bit weird and wondered if they just liked the name or if it was after Emily.

I think I'd find it weird to suggest a twist on my own name because it would be like me saying that my name is so good I'd want to use it again (not sure why this would be weird since no one even chooses their own name but still..), or basically wanting to name the child after myself and I find that a bit odd unless it's a family tradition.

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

I know a John & Anne who had a Joanne - didn't realise the connection until I'd known them a while.

There's a girls name that's an established name but happens to be an amalgamation of mine and DH'a names. I'd love to use it but the narcissistic angle worries me!

[Gingernaut]

I'm the eldest of three. The second born and I were given our parents' names and it had caused no end of trouble, not least of which are the nicknames our parents gave us confusing people outside the household which resulted in us trying to explain to confused 'outsiders' that it saved confusion.

Did it 'eck.

Unless you really can't think of another name, identical or similar names could cause no end of trouble from doctors' notes to tax bills.