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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Can I name my baby the same as my best friend's dog?

30 replies

emmyloo2 · 03/11/2010 14:46

One of the names we have narrowed down for our baby due next Friday is George, which is my grandfather's name. However, one of my best friend's dog is called George. He is like her baby and I am his "aunty". I never contemplated George as a name until recently and now my DH has his heart set on George. My other choice is Edward which is my father's name.

Anyway, would it be wrong to name the baby George in light of my friend's dog. It wouldn't bother me if someone used my dog's name but I wonder whether it would bother her.....

Thoughts?

OP posts:

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Heifer · 04/11/2010 20:00

not if the dog in question is called
Rover or patch.....

Ineedsomesleep · 04/11/2010 19:53

I have 2 bf's who know one another very well. One has a cat called Oscar, when the other had a DS she called it Oscar too. First friend was flattered as she loves the name and her cat. Its never caused any problems whatsoever.

Love both your choices and as they are family names I'm sure they'll suit your new DS very well.

darksideofthemooncup · 04/11/2010 19:50

I named my dd the same name as my best friend's family dog, in fact if I have another dd I might name her after their other dog. My friend had great taste in pet's names
:D

tessofderbyville · 04/11/2010 19:48

I love George. Think you're friend will get over it! She'll probably be pleased!

bundlebelly · 04/11/2010 19:18

My DH had a much loved dog as a child called Jason. I've had to say no lots of times to that name being used for both DS's!

clarabellarocks · 04/11/2010 13:27

I wouldn't worry it's a gorgeous name. Just tell her you though so much of her dog you named your baby after him!

Hedwig3 · 04/11/2010 12:43

No problem, especially as George is SO much nicer than Edward!

mollycuddles · 03/11/2010 20:55

A close friend has a cat with the name of my dd2. I have known I wanted to call dd2 this name for about 8 years. Long before I met my friend or she got the cat. Briefly considered a different name but glad I didn't change my mind.

OkieCokie · 03/11/2010 20:47

Well she has given the dog a more human name so she has to expect that in some cases some people are going to be called the same name as her dog. Just go for it.

One of my cats is called Coco and a friend named their daughter that - slightly less conventional than George.

eaglewings · 03/11/2010 17:30

My dh's uncle was named after the family cat.

It is a long standing joke that his Mum loved the cat more than him (not sure it was a joke - she really could have done...)

As long as 'George the dog' is never seen as the place your ds's name came from its fine IMO

phipps · 03/11/2010 17:28

Of course you can name your child the same name that coincidently a dog has. If the dog owner doesn't like it, tough.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 03/11/2010 17:26

'Cat' obviously!

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 03/11/2010 17:26

I spoke to my aunt about this (she is an oracle, talks sense ALL the time!) and her advice was - it's a name you both like. It's a good name. Why not? And I think you can apply this to your situation, OP. And you have a family reason to pick it, too.

Oh - and my at is 13...

Corvidae · 03/11/2010 16:49

I would, at the most they will only be sharing a name for 15ish years.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 03/11/2010 16:16

ChippingIn out of all the names in the world (and believe me I've bored DH to deathtrawled through them), we have narrowed it down to 3.

One of them is the cat's name (cat is still alive - believe me, I do have reservations) - but it's DH's favourite and I've almost lost the will to live.

Having read what happened to DooinMeCleanin's cat, I have more concerns...

DooinMeCleanin · 03/11/2010 16:08

|My sister called her first son after my cat. I didn't mind. T'is my own fault for naming my cat after a spirit drink that happens to sharee the same name as your great grandfather.

The cat wasn't happy though. He turned to religion and ran away to live in the vicarage join the church. Although I think it was the arrival of dd2 who pushed him over the edge, not dn stealing his name.

ChippingIn · 03/11/2010 16:04

I might think it a little odd - but I wouldn't mind :) I think you should tell her that it's your Grandad's name though, just to assure her that you aren't just being... well.... odd

(thereisalight - why??? Is your cat still alive??)

rollerbaby · 03/11/2010 16:03

Don't be daft, it's not like your calling him Rover! We were considering calling our baby our dogs name we like it so much (not really). George is a fairly popular name so even if she takes minor offence (and I can't see why she would) she'll get over it!

FanjolinaJolie · 03/11/2010 16:01

Fine.

Our dog is Zac, a friend called her son the same.

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 03/11/2010 15:59

I wouldn't worry about it - it looks like we're going to be giving our DS the same name as our cat.

fedupwithdeployment · 03/11/2010 15:32

We named our dog Jenny. Which was the same as the girl next door. I think she was quite touched. didn't hold it against us. The dog was lovely and got on very well with their dog!

Original poster

emmyloo2 · 03/11/2010 15:14

He is a young dog - maybe 2 years old max. He is super cute though!!

OP posts:

StealthPolarBear · 03/11/2010 14:56

lol LGP
The only risk here is that she will take it as a compliment and assume you will name subsequent children after subsequent dogs. So you might end up with a DS2 - Spot.

Lotster · 03/11/2010 14:56

Ha, LGP my thought's exactly!

Emmy, maybe tell her you're under pressure to use your grandfather's name...?

Original poster

emmyloo2 · 03/11/2010 14:51

Thanks people. I am very relaxed about things like this - I couldn't care less what people call their kids because no one "owns" a name. I just didn't want her to think I was somehow stealing her dog's name. Some people can be sensitive about these things.

It is also my grandfather's name so I figure that makes it better.....

She loves this dog a lot!!!

OP posts:

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