Do sibling names have to 'go' with each other?

Of course they don't! Until mumsnet I didn't even know that matching siblings names was a thing! My dsis has named her two ds's very differently. Obviously not their real names but something along the lines of Thomas and Socrates

What's wrong with Henry, Isabella and Wayne??

I think that it's nice for the names to be similar in style (e.g. Classic names or more unusual), but hate matchy-matchy names especially for multiples (Trixie and Dixie!)

I think from an outsider's point of view it matters not one jot. But for the child/children concerned I would be wary of choosing vastly different names. Keep them all at a similar level of outlandishness/staidness/poshness!

I have two that don't go together. The reason being that it's a boy and a girl and it turns out I have vastly different tastes for boys and girls names.

I'm sure there were some raised eyebrows at the beginning, and I remember being a bit embarrassed about that in my post-birth vulnerability.

But now I simply do not give a fuck. They both have awesome names, that's all that matters.

Just make sure boys names aren't Cain and Abel. It's not a good combination.

Nor Thor and Loki.

My two boys names 'go' together, but only because they are both Scottish, it wasn't a deliberate thing really.

A friend of mine has two siblings who are actually called Adam and Eve, their mum claimed she didn't even realise the faux pas when choosing the youngest Eve's name!

Just choose names you like, mine and my brothers names 'go' but we haven't spoken in years so it's irrelevant. It won't matter when Ann and Tallulahbelle are older that their names don't match.

I'm ashamed that I apparently even realise^ I cocked up the birth order there. Hey-ho.

OP,

Raphaela is so lovely. One of my great favourites.

Always imagine a Raphaela as being artistic and/ or musical. Definitely creative in some way.

I agree there does seem to be a lot of store set by siblings' names 'working' together. Surely not important unless you're really into a theme?

But who cares if some people think it sounds odd? If you love those two names, why does it matter?

(hint: it doesn't)

To a certain extent.
For example it would sound odd if you had a Chardonai-Leigh and an Elizabeth Mary. Ones sorry but chavvy and The other is classy strong and sophisticated

I agree, it's only massive clashes that the problem. You call your children Henry, Isabella and Wayne and it's going to look odd

But does it really matter?

If I really loved those names I'd just use them.

"The only thing to avoid is ridiculously unmatching names, like Florian, Julian, and Trevor"

The thing is though, they will only ever be Florian, Julian and Trevor to your family, from starting playgroup or nursery they're going to be just one of those to the rest of the world, not part of a set at all, just a person, with a name.

This made me chuckle. I guess if you use names enough they will eventually go together as everyone gets used to it.

I have a Phoebe & Harry. They sound like they go because I'm forever putting the names together iyswim?

Matching names

Like Jack & Jill or Adam & Eve?

Themed names are the weirdest thing ever.

Betty and Raphy (Raffy?) would both be lovely names.

I have a friend who was a bit of a wild child in her teenage years and had her first child at age seventeen. Fifteen years later she is now a respectable, seemingly straight laced lady with a good job, nice house in the suburbs etc...

Her eldest child who she had when she was seventeen has a name along the lines of Phoenix...

Her younger two who she had much later in life have names along the lines of James and Sarah.

It doesn't matter, they're all happy, great kids but it does give me wry smile.
BTW I don't think there is that much of a juxtaposition with your names. They're both quite classical I think.

I never understood this "going together" thing. Just pick names you like fgs lol!

Although there's not a massive clash with our names, I do remember resenting the fact that, to me, my sister had an intesting name and me a dull one. So Raphaela is a much more exotic name than Elizabeth. And Elizabeth has lots of good shorts to chose from, but Raphaela had Raphy (which I think looks very ugly, I'd be inclined to go with Rafaela/Rafi).

So - I wouldnt, myself.

I really don't think they have to go together at all. They are all individuals. Saying that my three DC have names that compliment each other very well, but that wasn't the reason behind deciding to give them those particular names. We just happen to like names beginning with vowels.

I agree, it's only massive clashes that the problem. You call your children Henry, Isabella and Wayne and it's going to look odd.

When I named mine, I went by the rule of thumb of "how will it look when I sign a card from all of us?". If it's weird, don't do it!

Or Thor and Cuthbert. Those would be gloriously mismatched sibling names . Especially if Thor was very slight and Cuthbert was very big and strong.

People only notice when they're kids, and they'll spend most their lives as grown women.

The only thing to avoid is ridiculously unmatching names, like Florian, Julian, and Trevor