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Baby names

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

Original poster

Do sibling names need to "match"?

52 replies

Chaffinch4 · 30/09/2017 16:20

I posted a thead about Corinne, which is currently top of our list for baby 4. Our other children have unusual ish edwardian names (think Agnes, Ernest, Edith, Mabel etc). Would Corinne stick out too much or does it really not matter?

My head says it doesn't matter but saying them all together, Corinne sounds a bit odd with the others.

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ladybirdsaredotty · 30/09/2017 21:42

I don't think Corinne sounds particularly out-of-place with your other DC's names, OP.

Flywheel · 30/09/2017 19:17

I really don't think they need to match. My dds have Irish names, while ds has a biblical name. Surely you owe it to your dc to pick the perfect name for them to carry through life rather than the one that sounds best to go with their siblings.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 30/09/2017 19:00

To a point, yes. For example to have a Josephine and a Kourtnee would just sound daft.

Dustbunny1900 · 30/09/2017 18:47

Those are fine op. Persephone and Nancy or Orpheus and Jayden would be weird, but the ines you mentioned are old fashioned yet more unusual I think they go together. It's also a bit subjective to a point

Original poster
Chaffinch4 · 30/09/2017 18:42

I agree that things like Rebecca and Storm sound odd together, but (outing myself):

Mabel, Leonard, Hester and Corinne?

OP posts:
IStoleThisUsername · 30/09/2017 18:16

I would have said it doesn't matter, but a woman from my antenatal class recently had twin girls and called them Rebecca and Storm, and it's just, odd.

minipie · 30/09/2017 17:58

I agree with Mard too. Having names that are completely different in style would seem a bit odd.

But I think Corinne fits well enough with your others.

GreenTulips · 30/09/2017 17:57

Connie is a favourite of mine and very similar to your choice

I wouldn't match names either - they aren't a set

MrsFoxPlus4 · 30/09/2017 17:55

I never though of names having to match when I had mines.

I have a Layton, Romani, Everley & Stella.

Corrine is lovely.

PandorasXbox · 30/09/2017 17:52

I think so to a large degree -

James, Henry and Lacie-Mae
Tabitha, Harriet and Kayden
Alice, Oliver and Rylee

Don't look right do they?

AdoraBell · 30/09/2017 17:43

Similar ish like others have said, but not actually match. I wouldn't want 1 child standing out like sore thumb with a completely different name, but also wouldn't want all DC to feel like one person because of practically no difference in names.

seething1234 · 30/09/2017 17:41

No they don't need to match but they really shouldn't clash. My cousin has 2 girls Emma and Gemma which I think is odd. Harry and Beau would be ridiculous. I know of twins; Thomas and Thomasina. So I notice that stuff but not if names match

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 30/09/2017 17:39

Just go with your choice, we are all individuals.

BenLui · 30/09/2017 17:36

I think Corrine is a lovely name, and sufficiently uncommon as to fit in with Mabel and Agnes.

While I agree with others that Ptolemy and Jack would be surprising for brothers, for most of their lives they will be known as individuals not as a set. None of my colleagues know my sister’s name and not even all of my friends.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/09/2017 17:34

I know a Patrick; brother Zeus. They both suit their names. The issue is when you have a whole stream of Zeus, Hecate, Jesus... and Fred. Which is what you’re proposing.

PandaCat · 30/09/2017 17:31

I agree with MardAsSnails.

But, I think it's personal preference. Some may not agree. For me I'd just like them to flow nicely, since I will probably be saying them together for a long time. Again that's probably personal preference!

Memememeandyou · 30/09/2017 17:26

Agree with the similar but not matching.

I'd be surprised if siblings Rachel, Hannah and James suddenly had a baby sibling called Jayden or Persephone.

CountFosco · 30/09/2017 17:22

I don't think they need to be matchy match but if one stands out from the others for negative reasons that's not good. So e.g. Alexander, Penelope and John are OK but not 'matching' but Alexander, Penelope and Jeepster is not so great for poor Jeepster.

pipilangstrumpf · 30/09/2017 16:58

Why do they have to be of a ‘similar vein’? So no child feels left out? Or to please society’s / others’ expectations?

pipilangstrumpf · 30/09/2017 16:56

Your kids are separate people so I personally don’t think names need to ‘match’.

Our kids have names from two different cultures/languages. They don’t match but we love them all!

NuffSaidSam · 30/09/2017 16:55

I agree with Mard too.

They don't need to be matching, but it does sound odd if they are not in the same vein.

I think Corinne would probably blend in ok with Edith and Mabel though.

Lemondrop99 · 30/09/2017 16:54

Not particularly. They'll spend most their lives as independent adults rather than a sibling set. I mean, if you had a Pauline, an Arabella and a Lacie-Mae, it might seem a bit strange but not the end of the world. I don't think Corinne sticks out too much from your current children's style of name

sirbedevere · 30/09/2017 16:51

I have two 'matching' boys names, from one language, and an English girls name. Would have called the 2nd DS any name I liked - more coincidence that I happened to like a name from the same language as DS1 than specifically chosen to match. It's fine - they're all individuals! I know a Chinese family with 5 sibs, 4 with traditional Chinese names and the youngest has the most English name there is.

Sophronia · 30/09/2017 16:42

I agree with Mard and FABrick.

FABrick · 30/09/2017 16:40

I agree with Mard. I think it's better to have them of a similar vein. Not the be all and end all though.