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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Is it weird to call our baby the same name as my brother?

63 replies

Hopintobed · 17/09/2011 18:39

We have recently found out we are expecting DS2. We already have DS called Joseph. The only other name I really love is Daniel but it's my brother's name. I have loved the name since I was a child but is it weird to call him same name. Me and my brother are still fairly close and he lives in same town so he is definitely in our children's lives. Is it confusing or weird or OK?

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cloudydays · 17/09/2011 23:26

I'm amazed that anyone think that it would be odd to name your son after your brother, to whom you are close.

That strikes me as very, very normal. And lovely.

And Daniel is a great name.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 17/09/2011 23:26

My dp is called David Micheal.

The David's after his mums brother and the Micheal's after his dads brother.

Nobody's ever tnought it to be strange tho, it's just a name.

Italiangreyhound · 17/09/2011 23:19

Hopintobed I don't think it is odd and it certainly would not have been considered unusual a few years back. My auntie called her son by the same name as her sister's husband (my dad - my mum's husband). So my cousin has the same name as my dad. Then a few year's later my other auntie called her daughter after her sisters name (so I have a cousin and an auntie with the same name).

My nephews have family middle names and so does my daughter.

I don't think it is unusual but I guess I would just mention it to your brother before the big day (you said he would be chuffed so I am sure he would be pleased).

How does your partner/hubby feel? Sorry have not read all the replies so not sure what he thinks.

Daniel is a lovely name.

LeonieDeSaintVire · 17/09/2011 23:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

brodanbell · 17/09/2011 22:44

I think it is a reallly lovely thing to do. Plenty of people name children after their father/mother etc, so why not your brother? I should imagine it won't feel strange at all especially as your brother goes by the name of Dan and your little boy will be Daniel - at least for a while anyway. In my extended family we have a father and son both called James, but the father goes by Jim and the son James. I really don't find it strange.

Lindax · 17/09/2011 21:47

my brother has the same 1st name as my dad and granddad
my other brother has same 1st name as mum's brother and her dad
my sister has same 1st name as my mum and my dad's sister
I have the same name as my dads sister

we have little imagination in my family!

I dont think its odd.

NationalTruss · 17/09/2011 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Theala · 17/09/2011 21:21

I think it's a lovely idea, especially because you and your brother are close and he would be chuffed. :)

I hate you for putting that Elton John song into my head, however. :o

FlipFantasia · 17/09/2011 21:21

I named my son after my brother...well, it was actually after my father (who died when we were children) who my brother was named after.

I've always loved the name and wanted to honour my dad's memory, but also my brother. Hasn't been odd - my brother was chuffed and most of my nephews have the name as a middle name (the ones that don't have my dad's middle name).

My son also has a different surname to my brother, though my family have started using a pet name based on the name though my DH's family call him by his proper name.

Anyway, Daniel is a gorgeous name and naming him after your brother is a lovely thing to do

mopsyflopsy · 17/09/2011 21:17

To me, naming someone/something is to IDENTIFY him/her, which is not really achieved by naming your ds the same name as your brother, sorry.

There are thousands of lovely names out there, have a look at the ONS lists showing ALL names used last year - there is bound to be one you love as much or more!

Original poster

Hopintobed · 17/09/2011 21:16

No not made up our minds completely and no my brother won't be having children of his own (long story but it's definitely not an option) and certainly wouldn't give them his own name anyway.

OP posts:

icapturethecastle · 17/09/2011 21:13

Not weird at all - I think it would be lovely to name him after your brother

susiedaisy · 17/09/2011 21:10

yeah i would agree with others and keep it as his middle name, there are so many more fab names out there, but it sounds like youve already made your mind up, does your brother already have children? would he like of used his own name some day?

scarlettlips · 17/09/2011 21:09

No no it's not strange at all.

I would LOVE to use my brother's name if we ever had a DS1.

Daniel is also lovely...would you ask your brother first??

Original poster

Hopintobed · 17/09/2011 21:05

So more people think it's fine than think it's odd which is reassuring! Think Daniel goes nicely with DS1's name too which is good.

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Maryz · 17/09/2011 20:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MelinaM · 17/09/2011 20:08

What on earth is odd about it? It's no different to a child being named after a person's parent or grandparent etc...

Daniel is lovely

helendigestives · 17/09/2011 19:58

I'd love to name a girl after my sister. :)

Original poster

Hopintobed · 17/09/2011 19:51

thank you all. It's definitely the only name (other than Joseph!) that I absolutely love and I always have done. Nice to hear not everyone thinks it's strange. I dare say there'll be a few faces at first but surely they'll get used to it when the baby is actually here. I have already discussed it with my brother as I have loved the name for so long I considered it for DS1 and he said he was fine with it and thought it was kind of a nice thing to do although did say 'speaking as a Daniel, the name's not that great' lol but I suppose not many people love their own names.

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wigglesrock · 17/09/2011 19:38

Happens all the time here, my bil is called after his own father. My dds middle names are after grannys etc. Had I actually liked my sisters name I would have used it. We have quite a few Josephs in our family and had I had a son it was definitely on our shortlist, Daniel was my husbands choice .

ThatllDoPig · 17/09/2011 19:11

Another one here who thinks its nice and also not weird. It can be normal to have family names that crop up again and again. (There are three Peters in my family), with people named after other people etc. check with the bro that he doesn't mind, but he will probably be chuffed. then go for it! Great names btw, I have a Joseph, and Daniel was on our list for ds2.

jandymaccomesback · 17/09/2011 19:07

A member of our extended family has done just that and funnily enough the name is Daniel.

whostolemyname · 17/09/2011 19:05

I think its nice actually, not wierd at all, go for it!

Original poster

Hopintobed · 17/09/2011 19:00

Yeah you're right, my brother would be very chuffed!

OP posts:

shesparkles · 17/09/2011 18:58

I can't see it as anything other than it becoming a "family name" and I bet your brother would be chuffed to share his name with his nephew

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