SIL baby name

Yes, YABU to be angry. She can call her baby whatever she wants. My DB and my cousin have the same name. My aunt loved my DB so much, she named her own son after him. My DM and I have the same name. What possible difference can it make?

People are strange. My ex's nieces are called Cherie, Keri and Cherylyn. All sisters. Bella and Belle will have their names mixed up by their grandparents, but are there any grandparents (or even parents) alive who don't go "Bella-Belle-Stuart-Tracy-Fido- whatever your name is" at some point?!

I agree with others that this a recent way to get offended

I have two cousins whose mothers were sisters who have the same first name.

It is a very ordinary name.

Nobody even discussed it as odd at the time

Now it's a huge deal to have the same name as a friends child let alone family

If you don't like it start calling your child by her actual name. So far you want to keep 3 similar names. You don't own the name she can use whatever name she wants yabu to be angry.

I have a cousin who basically has the same nickname as I do with the addition of one letter- it just gives us an extra connection!

You could always use the full name when around your SIL's baby and then use 'Belle' at home/in other situations.

Talk at length about how sweet it will be to have your Belle and her little Belle, and that Won't it be great for her to have a big cousin at school with the same name and won't they have lots of fun confusing people, and won't it be funny if she ends up being the tallest one even if she's always known as little Belle (assuming that they might have the same surname if SIL is dh's sis)...

Just keep on being gushy about how cute it will be to have a Belle and a little Belle and that you're so chuffed that they have chosen to copy you rather than go for a name of their own...

And hopefully by the time the baby is born it will either be a he or they will have decided to chose something else!

If their son calls your dd Belle and you call her Bella, start to drop a few Belle's into the mix too in case she thinks that she can use Belle as you are using Bella.

Have you paid any attention when you are in public? We went to the zoo in the summer and about eighty percent of the girls were being called Bella, Belle, Isabelle/Isobel/Isabel, Annabelle, and the rest were Olivia. If you were bothered about the likelihood of her sharing a name with someone you know, you should've picked a less common name.

I'd be fuming. I say that as a mum with one of the same names you mention. Neither variation is common. She's being ridiculous.

Sorry. Your child's nickname is now "Bella".

Your dd will be Bella and hers will be Belle.

No problem imo

Of course there's a flippin problem

they're so alike it's ridiculous ...

Your dd will be Bella and hers will be Belle.

No problem imo
I think Anna is far better than Bella as a nn

Totally different names. Why should she not use her favourite baby name just in case you decide to change your childs nickname? It really doesn’t matter.

think its strange you shorten to bella but consider tjat might change.
your name is Annabella . Her name is Belle
shes not chosen the same name.

My cousin born 18 months after me has the male version of my name. Was never an issue. Literally only occurred to me when I was pregnant that our names were so similar and it could have been avoided, I asked my mom did she mind when her sister announced his name and she didn't care at all.

Oh my. Had a real chuckle at the babybel!

My cousin and I (8 months apart) have the same name. Never thought of it as weird growing up - infact we quite liked it.

Belle is a lovely name. It's been popular for ages. I don't see how you can lay an exclusive claim to it. I'd only understand your point of view if the name was something you'd made up yourself.

Really? Your child has already got her name so why are you so insecure? Yes its annoying but as I've gotten older I'm more chilled out, think of it as flattering that you have chosen such a beautiful name its inspired your sil to try and recreate it. I mean I'd understand if you sil said oh I'm naming my Dc annabel the 1st then yes I'd see where you are coming from shes not actually given the same name though has she? You sound like me when I was fresh and young at 21years old , now I'm middle aged and have a meh attitude

I’d be annoyed
But I’d force myself to get over it

OP I don't think you should say anything to your sil about this.

Keep using Annabelle or Bella and refer to the expected sprog as Ding-Dong in the suggestive manner of Lesley Phillips, they may change their minds.

Um bit of stereotyping there. This is not common practice any more. My Dad who is in his mid 70s had two cousins called margaret, bith named after their grandmother. But they would have been named 70+ years ago.
People don't do this anymore. Im in Ireland so it isnt a Catholic thing. It was A Thing 75 years ago.

You have chosen Annabella , Belle is different.
You can't expect the monopoly on all versions of the name or do you?
Dhs sister called her son a name, I called our son the same. I always loved it and nothing else was close, it was also a family name.
There was never any problem as both had different surnames and were known as Name x and Name y . They did not go to same schools or anything so no mix up .
It may be name that means something to her .
Its no big deal , she might yet change her mind, but just never worry.

Yabu.

Belle and Bella sound completely different and you did name your child Annabella and decided to shorten it to Bella. Your SIL could have had her heart set on Belle for years. Is she supposed to find a different name just to please you? Besides, she may see baby and choose a different name, if she doesn’t, not the end of the world. A bit ridiculous to be angry over it.

It's a good job you're not a Catholic. My brother is called James as are about six first cousins. Another is called Michael, about the same. All the girls share about ten names between us, and most of us have a similar second name and confirmation name. We are all referred to by our full name e.g. Anne Smith, as so many have the same first first name, not even our married names, but our maiden names. I have over 50 first cousins.

I agree with @Rainycloudyday