Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Too similar sibling names

313 replies

MyBluntSloth · 20/07/2024 04:50

My daughter is Charlotte and i am expecting my second, another girl, due in October. Charlotte's middle name is Pearl and the new baby's would be Opal. I really like the name Colette and I think it goes really well with Charlotte with the similar structure but different soundings. I also like the names Chloe and Nicole but I would still strongly prefer Colette over them. Is it too similar?

OP posts:
GeminiGiggles · 20/07/2024 09:37

I quite like those names together!

But let's face it whether the names are similar or not you'll still accidentally call them by the wrong one at some point 🤣

Davros · 20/07/2024 09:34

My thoughts are that the names don't go together. Charlotte is a very classic English name (I know also used in other countries), used by Royalty whereas Colette is a Catholic/French name. With Charlotte, I'd choose something like Victoria

LoveHearts69 · 20/07/2024 09:34

StormingNorman · 20/07/2024 09:28

I don’t see any difference between Coleen and Colette. Sorry! Both are WC.

Same, I feel the name Collette sounds quite harsh and could sound slightly chavvy when pronounced whereas Chloe at least is much softer. I do think Charlotte and Colette are too similar and I usually like similar names but you seem quite set on it!

romdowa · 20/07/2024 09:34

Catza · 20/07/2024 07:10

Medical records display full name and we always check full dob and hospital number because there are usually dozens of Charlotte Smiths in the database.

When I was pregnant I was told I'd gestational diabetes even though the week before I'd been told my test result was normal. Turns out that there were two of us with the exact same name in clinic that day. My dob and address wasn't checked at the start of the appointment . So mix ups do happen

holju · 20/07/2024 09:32

I wouldn't choose Colette myself but I think it does sound elegant. It's always difficult on here as we don't know last names but I'd advise against using the initals C.O. if her surname starts with W, N or D.

Supernova12345 · 20/07/2024 09:31

Catza · 20/07/2024 08:35

Yes, I'm being serious. We don't shout for dinner. We go and let the person know the dinner is ready. It's really not that hard to go up the stairs, hardly makes up 5% of the daily step count. The only person who shouts upstairs in my house is my partner and it drives us all crazy because he will be bellowing at the bottom of the stairs instead of walking up 12 steps to see that the person he calls for is in the shower.

So you make more work for yourself walking upstairs to let someone know dinners ready, (and they may not be up there, they may be in a separate room downstairs without you knowing) rather than just calling their name?
I'm sure you do.

Thefaceofboe · 20/07/2024 09:31

MyBluntSloth · 20/07/2024 06:29

but the pronounciations won't be similar; its just the spelling!

Why are you asking if you’re just going to argue and disagree with posters? In my opinion, they are too similar and it’s not something I’d do, but you do whatever you want 🤷🏼‍♀️

Zanatdy · 20/07/2024 09:30

The only Charlotte’s I know (who are young) have siblings Penelope and Caitlin

StormingNorman · 20/07/2024 09:28

MyBluntSloth · 20/07/2024 08:06

No sorry we want something classy and elegant!

I don’t see any difference between Coleen and Colette. Sorry! Both are WC.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 20/07/2024 09:28

MyBluntSloth · 20/07/2024 05:52

DH and I are set on both girls starting with C!

Catherine?

GirlAfraid84 · 20/07/2024 09:28

Personally I’m not a fan and I think they’re too similar, but of course it’s up to you.

Cosette could be a similar sounding alternative, or Odette if you’re willing to deviate from the C thing.

For a C name with Charlotte I’d go for Cora or Clara.

Bushmillsbabe · 20/07/2024 09:25

SleepingStandingUp · 20/07/2024 09:21

I'm curious which country you're in where Colette and Annette are considered classy and stylish

I'm going Ireland or US? Although the Irish people I know with those names are over 50, and hate their names. Annette goes by Annie. So probably US.

BreezyAquaCrow · 20/07/2024 09:25

I like it when families use the same initial for their kids but I do think they are too similar. I feel like they don’t roll of the tongue easily either.

ChubSeedsYorkie · 20/07/2024 09:24

It would be a no from me I think but I’m a bit weird and the bit that puts me off is the siblings having the same initials! (First name and surname the same). We have a Florence and one of our favourites for baby number 2 is Francesca but I’ve said no because it starts with the same letter 😂 this is very much a me thing though

Violet17 · 20/07/2024 09:24

I think they are too similar.
Chloe goes better

What about?
Claire
Caroline
Clarissa
Celeste
Caitlin
Cicely

Bushmillsbabe · 20/07/2024 09:23

Twodozenroses · 20/07/2024 09:17

I think Charlotte has ended up with a lovely timeless and classic name and then Colette has ended up with a dated name that isn’t classy at all. And I also think they sound too similar. Although I think Chloe and Nicole are fine, I wouldn’t say they’re classy either and they’re quite 90s.

charlotte is a lovely name. I think her sister deserves a name that’s just as classic and that’s her own name, not just picked because it sounds and looks like her sisters

My thought too, if I were Colette with a sister Charlotte, I would feel a bit cheated 😂

cerebuswannabe · 20/07/2024 09:22

LadyGrinningSoul8517 · 20/07/2024 09:20

Why bother asking us for our opinions if you're just going to disagree with anyone that says what you don't want to hear?

Just call what you want, it's evident you don't actually want any input and have already made up your mind 🤷🏼‍♀️

Edited

This!

Name your children what you would like but both names are very similar sounding! There are lots of c starting names to choose from!

SleepingStandingUp · 20/07/2024 09:21

MyBluntSloth · 20/07/2024 08:08

I am listening to advice there seems to be a mix of opinions here. I am also considering Annette but DH would prefer something starting with C

I'm curious which country you're in where Colette and Annette are considered classy and stylish

LadyGrinningSoul8517 · 20/07/2024 09:20

Why bother asking us for our opinions if you're just going to disagree with anyone that says what you don't want to hear?

Just call what you want, it's evident you don't actually want any input and have already made up your mind 🤷🏼‍♀️

timoteigirl · 20/07/2024 09:20

I know of sisters Ida and Ada so to me these two names are not too similar.

As to taking a fancy to a specific initial for family members, I thought this is very common. I know families with M -names, J-names, A- names etc.

willWillSmithsmith · 20/07/2024 09:20

MyBluntSloth · 20/07/2024 08:42

I think its kind of special that Colette and Charlotte look similar but when spoken sounds different but i am not sure if they sound different enough

I’m not sure I’d think it was special (but that’s just my view of course).

Funnily enough I decided against a name for my second child because it ended in the same couple of letters as my first so had a very similar sounding ending. My own preference is for very different looking and sounding names but that is personal preference.

In fact I’ve just realised that my two’s names don’t share a single letter.

KarenOnTour · 20/07/2024 09:20

I love it, Colette Opal sounds amazing and I dont thnk its soo similar to Charlotte

Zanatdy · 20/07/2024 09:19

MyBluntSloth · 20/07/2024 08:06

No sorry we want something classy and elegant!

I assume you’re not in the Uk as Colette is not classy and elegant here, or old lady chic. It’s just one of those 70’s names (like my name) that’s hardly used now

MyBluntSloth · 20/07/2024 09:19

Bushmillsbabe · 20/07/2024 09:14

Please tell me neither you or partners name start with a C 😂

The gem idea is lovely then for middle names, as links them to each other and you without being too obvious. I prefer Jade/Ruby to Opal though. They are also valid names in own right if you go with a first name your child really doesn't like. I never met anyone called Opal.

I don't live in the UK and I have known multiple Opals! No neither mine or my partners name start with a C

OP posts:
Karatema · 20/07/2024 09:19

If you like Colette then have Colette! What does it matter? It's your family's choice 😀

Swipe left for the next trending thread