is it weird using the same name as our dead cat?

I'd go for it. You obviously liked the name to start with so why not. I think it's lovely to name a child after a much loved pet. As long as it wasn't called Fido or Whisky :)

Hmm, I remember my cousin's friend's budgie's birthday was September 17th. And that was back in 1986!

Can't actually remember the budgie's name though

and

Please use the name you want to, it doesn't matter if people have had a dog or cat with the same name. Really, no one you meet now with your new baby will even know you had a cat called Willow, unless you feel the need to tell them (please don't - because it's not necessary). My dad named our cat after his own father, our cat was as mad as a brush!

A name becomes associated with a person in the present not the past, I think, even when you name kids after relatives etc - eventually - you are thinking of the child and not the aged relative. That's my experience.

Congratulations.

PS I would be surprised if friends who have known you for a while can remember the name of your cat, I can't really remember my friends' pets' names from the past!

i think its fine, my sister named her baby Caspar, lovely name :) and as children we had a cat named Casper, so obviously the spelling is different but the name is the same, he was a FAB cat, my nephew has a lot to live up to

I named my son after the tortoise I had as a child. Well, not named after exactly, it's just my favourite name and they both ended up with it!

I love the name Willow and would probably use it anyway. Not everyone will know that it was your cat's name.

I had a boyfriend with the same name as my employer's poodle once. That was weird but strangely accurate :o

Actually I quite like the idea of a name being 'pre-warmed' for the family by a beloved pet... Maybe that's the way to look at it :)

Love the idea of a hamster called Florian. It's so... dignified.

OP, go for it, if we have a DS at any point there's a strong possibility he'll be named after a dead rat, so you're not doing so badly.

My dogs were Oscar and Maisie-both very popular for DC ATM.

My cousin had a hamster called Florian. She then had a DS and called him Florian too - while the hamster was still alive. One day she called my mother and I overheard my mother talking to my cousin. The conversation went something like:
My Mother: "Oh, no, I'm sorry to hear that Florian died"
(my cousin spoke, which I obviously didn't hear)
My Mother: "Oh, well, life must go on, I hope everybody else is doing allright. You really need to come and visit soon"

I had forgotten about the existence of the hamster and assumed they talked about my cousin's DS. I was horrified.

With hindsight, should have called my dd Tiddles

Until recently whenever anybody asked 'any names in mind?' Hubby would always reply that yes, we had and we were going to name her after his favourite sheep Barbara I think I've convinced him otherwise, but I'm not going to allow him register the name on his own just in case :o

I considered naming DD after my living cat. She is called Phoebe, and I had always wanted that name for a DD, but got the cats a good few years before children and I am a little supersticious and thought that if I saved it, i'd end up never having the opportunity to use it.

I will use it if I have another DD in the future. If Phoebe-cat is still alive, it will be future DDs middle name. If the cat has gone, it will be a first name.

I take great pride in telling my younger sister I chose her name after a favourite pig that lived across the way. Don't think I'll be letting any future children name their siblings though:)
Love the name Molly, but that was the name of our old dog, who went senile.
Don't think I could use the same name, personally, but I say if it doesn't bother you, then go for it. No-one else will remember.

My sister is named after one of my great-granddad's cats because my dad remembered the name years later and thought it would be cool. It always makes an interesting story when people ask how she got her name.

There are several names I've used for pet rats and mice that I would re-use for my children. Not so sure about a dog or cat though given how much longer we have them and how much more a part of a family they feel. But then it's entirely up to you and all that really matters is how you feel about it.

Its a leetle bit odd, but if you really love it, then go for it. Be prepared fro really annoying relatives to say things abut the cat.

DD has the same name as my SIL's (alive) cat. Tbh we forgot the cat was called the same name. I think they thought it was slightly but are far too polite to say. Ps Willow is a gorgeous name!

Wolverine is a perfectly fine name for a baby.

I have a fish called Henry and my top boys name in Henry!

But I think a fish is a bit different to a cat.

My cats are called Wolverine, Superman and Fury - I won't be using these for my kids.

My middle name is "after" an old pet of my parents - it took me years to work out that they had just liked the name, used it for the animal and then later still liked it enough to use it for me. I thought I had been named in honour of her, which I HATED, and which wasn't helped by their constant reminiscences about her soft ears or what have you :o

I'm fine with it now though, it's a lovely (usually used for humans) name :)

My nan named her dog after my brother...my mum was a bit

But I think the other way round is fine. IMO.

Only if your cat was called Mr Tiddles McWiddles of Barstow Lane. Then no, I wouldn't. All our cats had 'people' names too!