Twins (hypothetical!)- to alliterate or not?

[TeddyTonks]

Just day dreaming really.

What do you think about alliterative names for twins? Cute? Awful? My favourite boy and girl name both begin with 'R'- what to do? Use them both or go for a less loved name for one of them?

[Frazzled2207]

Personally I find it really cringe, not just with twins but with siblings.

But it’s personal preference really

[LethargicActress]

Names that alliterate are fine as long as they don’t sound similar in other ways, names that rhyme are not.

[Nahhh]

When I was pregnant with twins the one recurring thing adult twins said to me was “don’t give them ‘twin’ names” so I’d probably avoid the alliteration.

[Rrrob]

We didn’t but lots in our twin club have alliterative names.

[Lacedwithgrace]

I like alliterative names, something like Robert and Rosie, Rory and Ralph, Ria and Rowan. I know twins called Rosie and Posie which is far less cute.

[PatioWorries]

I think it is nice that when you share a birthday you should not have to share an initial. Nice to have your own initial and therefore things are easy to label for school.

[Frazzled2207]

@Lacedwithgrace

I like alliterative names, something like Robert and Rosie, Rory and Ralph, Ria and Rowan. I know twins called Rosie and Posie which is far less cute.

Rosie and posie

But you’re right actually if they are clearly individual names and not too matchy, it’s not to my taste but I think most people would agree ok

[SummaLuvin]

twins already struggle to be seen as individuals, I would try to ensure they had their own identity as far as possible with a name.

[TeddyTonks]

Goodness, Rosie and Posie

[EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn]

Not, it’s going to be confusing enough at school but more so if they’re both R Tonks.

[toastofthetown]

I wouldn't. In general for any siblings I'd avoid matching initials, but if the only names I liked matched initials I wouldn't lose sleep over it, but for twins matching initials, themed names, rhyming names would all be a hard no.

[Nadiae]

I’d avoid matching names (initials, rhyming, themes) if at all possible. I find it a bit naff honestly! And I’m sure I’d hate to have a matchy name if I were a twin, like my name had been chosen just to be part of a matching set. That said, I do prefer twin (or sibling) names to have the same kind of “feel”, like Anna and James rather than Anna and Jupiter.

[JackieCollinshasnoauthority]

No.

Poor Posie!

[Spidey66]

I think it would be too confusing especially with the same date of birth. Any records e.g. school, medical records etc will get confused.

I'm a community mental health nurse and remember being referred twins (young adults, about 20). They both had similar issues (eating problems iirc) and were referred at the same time, same address, same GP. It took a lot of working out to realise we were dealing with twins rather than 2 separate patients. I think they were similar names too.

I'd avoid tbh but "normal" siblings would be ok if they were very different names.

[JackieCollinshasnoauthority]

Good point @Spidey66. I've just remembered when I worked in a bank and had twin customers with the same initials and their credit files combined somehow. It was a right faff.

[Ohyesiam]

I knew twins born at Christmas called Angel and Holly

[1moretry]

We have 2 in our class... Holly & Dolly.

[TeddyTonks]

Oh deary me Angel and Holly and Holly and Dolly are both awful.

[user1471604848]

I have twins and I deliberately gave them names that start with a different letter.
Otherwise it would be too confusing at the doctor to have two people born on the same day, same address, same surname and same initial.

I also named the firstborn alphabetically second.

[Ellmau]

I wouldn't.

[Snoopsnoggysnog]

I have twins with the same initial and I also have the same initial. Couldn’t give a c crap if it’s naff - they have lovely names and it wasn’t deliberate, just the way it turned out. The names are very different and they are b/g twins so not too matchy at all

[Enough4me]

No, but I wouldn't go for names that really contrast either, e.g. one classic and one made up name.

[batmanladybird]

I have twins. Not alliteration. Though I love it generally. the older twin has the higher alphabetical initial.

[Edenember]

Ideally I think different initials are better. However if they’re your absolute favourite names and nothing else comes remotely close, then I’d weigh that against it. No point in picking a name just to provide a point of difference if there’s a massive gulf in how you feel about it compared to the other. But defs not rhyming. And I’d give middles they could use as alternatives if they feel it’s an issue when older.

[TerribleCustomerCervix]

Definitely different initials.

I have a twin and thankfully our initials for both first and middle names are different- dad picked one twin’s name, mum the other.

We had enough hassle at school constantly being referred to as “The Twins” and people pretending not to be able to tell the difference etc, I can’t imagine adding stupid matchy-matchy names into the mix as well.