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Original poster

Is naming my baby after a casual friend weird

64 replies

NewPeachCat · 07/09/2025 11:48

I am pregnant with my first, a baby girl. DH and I have chosen Hope for our daughter's first name. DH doesn't have an opinion on the middle name, and I really want it to be Lauren, after a friend. I went to school with said friend and always admired her, almost like an older sister. She was and still is a lovely person, smiley, kind, and fun to have around and I want my daughter to be like her. However since we aren't very close I am not set on the idea as I am worried this could come across as weird.

Our other alternatives are having my name as her middle name or use our second favorite name, Olive. I am torn and want to know if it would be weird if I choose to name her after the friend and would it be better if I just go with one of the alternatives.

OP posts:
GiantYorkshirePud · 07/09/2025 15:29

If you love a name, then use it! It’s your baby and your decision.

I named my DD ‘Charlotte’, her nickname is ‘Charlie’, it suits her so so well. I hesitated as one of my best friends from secondary school/college was called Charlotte/Charlie, but I havent spoken to her in over 13 years, and no longer have a connection with her. I did wonder if it was weird but we loved the name so much, and i’m so glad we used it.

WFHforevermore · 07/09/2025 15:29

I love the name Olive!!

JDM625 · 07/09/2025 15:20

Hadalifeonce · 07/09/2025 13:14

My daughter is named after someone I met on holiday. We kept in touch for a year or so after we came back.

I just loved the name.

You loved the name though which I can understand.

The OP has already said that she actually isn't keen on the name at all! Just thinks the woman named Laura is cool! 😕

PurpleChrayn · 07/09/2025 15:04

Hope Olive is a really weird name. Sounds like the title of a Terry Pratchett novel. “The Hope Olive”.

Hope on its own is great, or with a different middle name that isn’t a noun.

Notagain75 · 07/09/2025 14:59

If you like the name use it but I wouldn't use it just to name her after a school friend you are not particularly close to , because she is smiley

mindutopia · 07/09/2025 14:54

I mean it’s a bit weird, yes. But only because you are ‘naming her after her’. Nothing weird about using a name you love that just happens to be a casual friend’s name.

I mean, one of my dc shares the same name as my alcoholic ex from school 20 years ago. At first, it did feel a bit weird. But it’s also dh’s dad’s name. So it’s not actually weird as not ‘named after’ my psycho ex.

hideawayforever · 07/09/2025 14:50

I love the name Hope but don't like Lauren

Pinkissmart · 07/09/2025 14:19

2chocolateoranges · 07/09/2025 11:54

I think it’s strange to give your child a middle name that doesn’t have a special meaning relating to someone very close to you.

ds has dh’s name as his middle name and dd has one of her grandmas names as her middle name,

I hate my middle name, always contemplated changing it or removing it and so dh gave me all the say in middle names so both are my choice.

Nah

A middle name can just be a name you like.

Original poster
NewPeachCat · 07/09/2025 14:13

CaroleLandis · 07/09/2025 14:08

I would accept that you have a crush on this woman but your daughter deserves a name that doesn’t have a strange connotation.

I am married and I don't have a crush on my friend?

OP posts:
CaroleLandis · 07/09/2025 14:08

I would accept that you have a crush on this woman but your daughter deserves a name that doesn’t have a strange connotation.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 07/09/2025 13:58

I’d be really pleased if even a casual acquaintance called their child my name I’d take it as a compliment that I have a lovely name.
if they worded it a ‘we love your name and you’re lovely too’ way that would feel normal, if it was ‘we’re calling he after you to honour you and our friendship’ that would feel bizarre. Just depends how you say it.
eg ‘Lauren guess what we’re choosing for our middle name! Gorgeous name for gorgeous girls only!’ Something like that!

zingally · 07/09/2025 13:57

My middle name is the name of my mums favourite sister. :)

Said sister had a baby 9 months after I was born. That baby has my first name as her middle name.

I don't think it's at all weird to name babies after people you've met along the way who you've liked or admired. Even if it was someone from long ago, who you no longer have contact with.
And it anyone makes the link, so what? You could always reply with someone like, "I've never met a Lauren I didn't like." And if original Lauren finds out, I'm sure she'd be delighted and honoured to know how much you admired her.

IMO it's no different than rejecting names because they remind you of someone you didn't like. My DH suggested Francesca for our DD, which I vetoed, because there was a girl in the year above at primary school with that name, and she was a bit of a bully. Someone I hadn't seen for a good 25 years!

Original poster
NewPeachCat · 07/09/2025 13:36

Hairshare · 07/09/2025 13:20

Your Lauren sounds like a special person to you. Would your friends sneer at you for that? It’s nothing to be ashamed of, admiring her and wanting your DD to have her name.

Thank you
I wouldn't say sneer but there might be some teasing and that might make it weird

OP posts:
Hairshare · 07/09/2025 13:20

Your Lauren sounds like a special person to you. Would your friends sneer at you for that? It’s nothing to be ashamed of, admiring her and wanting your DD to have her name.

Kary26 · 07/09/2025 13:17

Is there a similar name you like so you know it's after her but no one else will and you like the name - Laura, Lara, Laurie etc

Kary26 · 07/09/2025 13:17

Is there a similar name you like so you know it's after her but no one else will and you like the name - Laura, Lara, Laurie etc

fourelementary · 07/09/2025 13:17

Just wanted to say I have no opinion on Lauren or not Lauren scenario. But don’t go with olive as she’d have the initials “Ho” which is a bit unfortunate…

Hadalifeonce · 07/09/2025 13:14

My daughter is named after someone I met on holiday. We kept in touch for a year or so after we came back.

I just loved the name.

sciaticafanatica · 07/09/2025 13:09

You are way overthinking the use of the name Lauren !

Original poster
NewPeachCat · 07/09/2025 13:07

JDM625 · 07/09/2025 13:05

I had not been shy in thinking she's cool
the name itself isn't my personal favourites

How old are you OP because you sound very young! Choose a name YOU like, not the name of someone you seen infatuated with.

I'd say infatuated is a bit of an exaggeration. I'm in my late 20s

OP posts:
JDM625 · 07/09/2025 13:05

I had not been shy in thinking she's cool
the name itself isn't my personal favourites

How old are you OP because you sound very young! Choose a name YOU like, not the name of someone you seen infatuated with.

Original poster
NewPeachCat · 07/09/2025 13:03

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 07/09/2025 13:00

By all means name your daughter Lauren if you like the name, but be prepared for your daughter to be HER OWN person.

I hope this isn't patronising, but the fact you transparently idolised this woman and fantasise about your daughter being the same is a bit OTT.

Show quote history

Yes of course I will encourage my daughter to be her own person; I do fantasise about my daughter having her qualities but I will still love her the same if she doesn't. This is why her first name, Hope, is not being named after anyone

OP posts:
TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 07/09/2025 13:00

NewPeachCat · 07/09/2025 12:06

There is a good chance she might suspect that as I had not been shy in thinking she's cool

Show quote history

By all means name your daughter Lauren if you like the name, but be prepared for your daughter to be HER OWN person.

I hope this isn't patronising, but the fact you transparently idolised this woman and fantasise about your daughter being the same is a bit OTT.

Gingercar · 07/09/2025 12:47

Nobody will remember the middle name for long anyway. If it comes up just say you like the name.

JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch · 07/09/2025 12:44

I had similar with DD’s first name. Several distant friends with the name who always came across as calm, measured, bright etc and while I wasn’t naming DD after them there was clearly something in their character I admired.

Anyway - one friend was clearly weirded out even though she’s too polite to ever say anything and DD is a complete firecracker with Taylor Swift energy who is the exact opposite of her namesakes. Whoops!

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