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Baby names

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Original poster

Do I need to ask my sister first???

80 replies

Bellaholland · 06/06/2012 10:22

Hi

I'm 39 weeks and 5 days so our baby could be born any day now!

We do not know if it is a boy or girl. Our boys name is Charlie Jacob ( Charlie was my grandad and Jacob my husbands). My sister has a little girl called Charlotte. She is only one years old and is at the moment know as Charlotte. My sister has mentioned shortening to Charly in tha past.

We really don't want to reveal names before baby is born. We decided if its a boy we would phone my sister first and ask if she would mind if we use Charlie. I am now wondering if this is really needed! When our daughter was born we spent several hours alone with her before telling anyone. I would like this again but would find it odd if I couldn't call him Charlie in those hours.

Am I being silly? I'm sure m sister will see no issue in it at all!

What would you do?

Thanks

OP posts:
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maples · 07/06/2012 17:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

seeker · 07/06/2012 17:31

But that's not what you said! You said do it without telling her so it was a "done deal" and she would look churlish if she objected!

Which is a bit different from "I'm sure she won't mind-I wouldn't if it was me".

HappyHippyChick · 07/06/2012 17:26

Wow! I'm glad I'm not in your family!

Seeker I could have called my kids exactly the same names as my nieces and nephews and my gorgeous sister wouldn't bat an eyelid. I also have two brothers who have no kids yet and if they want to use the same/similar names to my kids I really don't care either.

The OP thinks her sister won't mind, so why make a big deal of it, especially as they don't want to reveal the name beforehand.

DontmindifIdo · 07/06/2012 16:03

Well, if she doesn't call her Charlotte Charlie, then it should be ok, but could you not officially name your little boy Charles to be known as Charlie - but you can announce as Charles (totally different name) then start using the nickname Charlie.

IMHO You should give the full name anyway, he can use either when he grows up and Charles sounds more professional than Charlie.

AdventuresWithVoles · 07/06/2012 11:54

If I loved Charlie I would ask if she minded. I wouldn't use if if she did mind. It's not worth the long-term family aggro.

Original poster
Bellaholland · 07/06/2012 11:52

Thanks for advice! Its interesting to hear different reactions! Charlotte is only known as Charlotte and my sister even says she's very much a Charlotte and not a lottie or charly. I guess it's just the thought Charlotte may choose charly in future. The thing is we live in different country's and although we are close our children only see each other a few times a year. I wouldn't go for Jacob as its pronounced ya cob here and we don't like that enough for first name. We really do not have any other boys names at all!!! I think we will end up having a girl anyway!

OP posts:
Jnice · 07/06/2012 06:02

Our DS3 is called a name that was on our short list for ds1 & ds2 and with 2 middle names each we ran out of options. DH's sister's DS is called a very similar name with the same origin. We live on different continents so don't see each other often. sister said she felt complimented that we chose a similar name.

DH was concerned but we decided to keep quiet and go for it.

It could go either way, I think you need to judge based on your relationship with your sister.

nooka · 07/06/2012 05:52

I would not personally choose Charlie with a Charlotte in the family, and think it very odd that anyone could use the two names for siblings as Charlotte is the female diminutive and Charlie is a male diminutive of Charles so essentially they are the same name. Plus Charlie is a very common shortening of Charlotte, so chances are your niece may well use that.

If you think it's likely not to be a problem then talk to your sister before your baby is born. If you think it is likely to be a problem then I'm sorry but I think you need a different name.

NurseBernard · 07/06/2012 04:49

Well, only you know your relationship with your sister, but personally, I wouldn't dream of just going ahead and doing this.

hellokitty123 · 06/06/2012 22:03

I'd go for Jacob Charlie if your neice is Charlotte, definately.

Pandygirl · 06/06/2012 22:01

But they'll be cousins, not brother and sister, we have 2 Richards and 2 Chris's in the cousins, no-one bats an eye.

RobinSparkles · 06/06/2012 21:58

They could shorten Charlotte to Lottie, that's all fine, fair enough etc etc but what if Charlotte, when she is older, decides that she wants all her mates to start calling her Charlie because it sounds cooler?

You would have two Charlies then!

TBH, I don't think it would bother me but your sister might be bothered. As a previous poster said, I would be tempted to go for Jacob Charlie instead.

maples · 06/06/2012 21:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shoobidoo · 06/06/2012 21:48

Your neice is called Charlotte and you say your sister has mentioned using Charly in the past as a nickname for her. And you seriously want to name your ds Charlie? I would pick another name but if you insist on Charlie then certainly run it by your sister imo. How would you feel if it was the other way round?

everlong · 06/06/2012 21:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sandalwood · 06/06/2012 20:25

Is your sister thinking of Charley because of your grandad too?

I don't think I could do it tbh. Jacob Charlie?

MrsCampbellBlack · 06/06/2012 19:01

Well my sister and I are close and have similarly aged children and I know we'd both have been a bit 'ahem' if one of us did that.

blonderthanred · 06/06/2012 18:58

Talk to her, explain you want to name the child after your Grandad. It doesn't have to be phrased as an 'is this ok?', just that you are confiding in her and see her reaction. She may not even think of the connection herself.

WineOhWhy · 06/06/2012 18:31

I also know siblings (well, half siblings) called Charlie and Charlotte (not shortened). As long as she is not shortening to Charley, I dont think they are too close for cousins (Charlotte to my ears starts with a Sh sound, rather than a Ch as in Charlie).

mammasiciliana · 06/06/2012 18:30

If you really want it, you are going to have to ask her! Can you not casually strike up a conversation about liking Charlie and Freddie and so on?

kickingKcurlyC · 06/06/2012 18:28

I think Charlie is too close to Charlotte. Do you like any other names?

seeker · 06/06/2012 18:27

Don't ask your sister, because if she says it's not ok what will you do? This way it's presented as a done deal and she would look churlish if she objected."

Wow! I'm glad I'm not in your family!

seeker · 06/06/2012 18:25

You can't deliberately have cousins both called Charlie. Really, you can't.

FormerlyTitledUntidy · 06/06/2012 17:38

Why not use Jacob Charlie? Confused Whole drama sorted, and still honouring gps :)

OTTMummA · 06/06/2012 17:28

know

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