Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

BIL gave dog same same as DS

136 replies

bippitybippity · 29/12/2023 14:23

Not sure if AIBU or precious so am prepared to be told I am!

BIL (DH brother) recently got a dog and has given it the same name as our DS. Aibu to be irked by this? Name is common boys name (think Jack) and not a name you'd associate with a pet. Surely out of the millions of names out there you would choose one that isn't the same as your nephews?

I can't imagine naming a pet the same name as a close child relative?

OP posts:
369damnshesfine · 29/12/2023 15:57

I do find it a bit odd.It wouldn’t wind me up but I just wouldn’t choose a name for my pet that would remind me of someone else.

I do know someone who named his dog after himself though, which I thought was quite cute.

Easylivin · 29/12/2023 15:57

Is it Ralph? So many dogs called Ralph. Or Milo.

snoopyfanaccountant · 29/12/2023 15:52

A childhood friend had a dog which was named after her mum's sister. The mum and sister were still on speaking terms.

Scaraben · 29/12/2023 15:51

My brother named our childhood dog and chose to name him after our big cousin, who he idolised. I suppose it was a bit odd to outsiders but cousin was delighted and his parents just found it funny!

Our cat has the same name as our new next door neighbour's child and she is buzzing about it. She sent the cat a Christmas card "To cat-lola from human-lola" 😄

Sunshineismyfavourite · 29/12/2023 15:49

Well we gave our daughter the same name as my DH's sister's dog. We loved the name and didn't care that the dog had it first.

MissyB1 · 29/12/2023 15:42

It does seem odd but then my family can’t talk. My eldest ds has the same name as one of our childhood cats, and my nephew has same name as another of our childhood cats!! It wasn’t deliberate but it’s weird when I think about it 🤣

ilovesushi · 29/12/2023 15:41

That would annoy me. So many names to chose from and he choses the name of a family member.

ilovesushi · 29/12/2023 15:41

That would annoy me. So many names to chose from and he choses the name of a family member.

AuntMarch · 29/12/2023 15:40

It's definitely odd. I wouldn't get cross about it but I think I'd have to ask what made him choose it out of sheer curiosity!
Any chance he thought it was a nice gesture or something?

mrskimsneakattack · 29/12/2023 15:39

I had an elderly uncle whose dog was named after himself (i.e. both uncle and dog were called 'Charlie'). I asked him why as it seemed a bit odd and the response was "well it was a choice between that and Marcus'! It wasn't a rescue with a previous name, he'd had it from tiny pup.

I would find it a bit odd OP tbf but maybe he just likes your DS's name and couldn't be arsed to think of a different one.

WestwardHo1 · 29/12/2023 15:39

Doggymummar · 29/12/2023 14:35

My neighbour has cats called mark and Lola and a dog called Toby my dog is Millie. My sister's is Evie. My cat is Oscar. Lots of pets have people names. My name is often used for a dogs name too

Mark the cat 😂😂😂

2024betterBebetter · 29/12/2023 15:39

I think it’s weird and depending on the age of your son he must find it weird too.
I can’t imagine naming a pet after a family member. Was he uncomfortable at all when he told you he named his pet after your son? Or was he proud of it?

Mielbee · 29/12/2023 15:38

This is very strange behaviour indeed. Can't imagine why someone would do that??

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 29/12/2023 15:38

A lot of men are very unimaginative. Also can’t be bothered thinking things through. ‘That’s a nice name, suits DDog’. Oh , is it DN name, Can’t say I’d thought, well, never mind….’

I realise that this is a deeply misandrist and sexist post, btw.

CarolinaInTheMorning · 29/12/2023 15:37

We have always used people names for out pets, but we do try to avoid names that family members or close friends have.

Schum · 29/12/2023 15:34

I think it’s weird and I’d be annoyed and I know my husband would mention it to his brother if he did such a thing.

Margaritasandmojitos · 29/12/2023 15:34

My mum named her dog the same name as her grandson.

diddl · 29/12/2023 15:33

I think it's unusual!

Why wouldn't you associate the name with a pet though?

All of our pets have had "human" names!

Bluela18 · 29/12/2023 15:32

I don't think you are being precious , it's an odd choice of name. Unless your son means the world to him and he named the dog after nephew in a loving way?

PuffyShirt · 29/12/2023 15:31

My BiL and his partner gave their dog the same name as our son. I think I may have said ‘how odd’ to my husband, but we haven’t given it another thought.

Blondebutnotlegally · 29/12/2023 15:29

So weird

vodkaredbullgirl · 29/12/2023 15:29

I had a dog that's was called the same as my neighbours son. Every time we told the dog off for something, my neighbour thought I was telling her son off 😂

itsmyp4rty · 29/12/2023 15:29

I'd say 'well I obviously think it's a great name but it seems an odd choice considering you have a nephew called it!'. Have yo asked him why he chose it?

Saschka · 29/12/2023 15:29

It’s weird, and it makes your BIL look like a massive twat (is he comparing your child to a dog?) I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a response though.

Unless you want to buy a goldfish, or stick insect or something and name it BIL’s full first, middle and surname. James Basil Jenkins, or whatever his full name is. Then make sure you talk about the fish a lot. If he asks, look surprised and just say you like the name and thought it suited the fish.