Too matchy for twins?

I think Rowan is too unisex. It's nice and did Rowan Atkinson and Rowan Williams no harm but it was probably not a unisex namethen.

I find if friends have children with similar names I get them all mixed up unless I stop and think and so I avoid saying their names at all. I think with twins it could be more difficult to remember.

Gorgeous names. I think you can overcome the initial problem if you really want them.

I had the same initials as a parent. Lots of things for me got opened by my parents. Hated it.

My DH has the same initial as quite a number of other family members. Big family.

We have received post and emails for other family members. Estate agent sent some stuff about our move to his grandad, who had used them 6m prior.

I would definitely worry about same initials, same address and same DOB. Kids don’t get much post but it’s fairly common for young adults who are at uni or in fairly temporary accommodation to give their parents address as theirs.

DH’s bank accounts, savings bonds, pension all had his parents address on until we bought our first home. He was mid 20s but just hadn’t considered anywhere else permanent enough and didn’t want the hassle of changing address admin every year.

Both nice names but I’d definitely avoid having twins with the same initials if it were me - it does feel a bit matchy and I think it’s always going to seem deliberate, even if you just happen to like those names. I’m not a fan of twins being named as a matching “set”, so to speak.

Some ideas to go with Rufus:

Torin
Jowan or Jovan
Ezra
Orson
Evan or Ivan
Samson
August
Jesse
Jasper or Casper
Dashiell
Willem
Edmund
Dexter
Isaac
Frederick
Finbar or Finnian
Patrick
Otto

Other 'red' names...
Clancy: Is of Irish origin and means 'red-haired warrior.'
Corcoran: Of Irish origin meaning 'ruddy-faced.'
Flynn: Of Irish origin meaning 'son of the red-haired one.'
Jasper: Of English origin meaning 'gemstone.'

Rufus and Flynn would sound great together!

I don't think they are similar, other than the initial.
I saw siblings recently called Amelie and Evalie which seemed too close, so I think you're fine!

I like both names but to me, aside from them both beginning with the same letter, they are quite different.

For me, Rowan would fit with a twin with another softer nature name. Maybe Jasper, Everett or Asher.

Or for a twin for Rufus I feel another classic, traditional English name would work. Maybe Otto, Wilfred or Ernest.

But that might just be me and the way my mind works!

I think they're both gorgeous names but I probably wouldn't use the same initial for twins as it does seem quite matchy, particularly if yours starts with an r as well.

Lovely names, but will you shorten them to Ru and Ro...

@moggle, they're both lovely regardless, was just offering a different point of view. 😄

I think you should choose two names you like equally.
Two names with the same initial is a bit too much.
Rufus and Edward sound more like two individuals.
They will be known as Twin or The Twins by their classmates.

My twins have different initials but the bank Halifax still fucked up with the idea of 2 accounts, same DOB, same address. We had to move the accounts to a competent bank in the end.

Although those are lovely names, I would choose something more different for twins. They're going to be "lumped" together by so many people throughout their childhood, it might be easier and nicer for them to be more distinguishable / individual in their names.

I have 5 siblings and we all have the same initial. I've literally never opened either of my sister's post by accident and can't remember any other mishaps caused by our first names.

They're really lovely. Even though they both start with R, it works.
It won't be that tricky. My kids' post from NHS/schools/etc. have always had their full names, not initials, so I wouldn't let a 'same letter start' put you off naming them such very fine names. I really like your choice.

To be frank, my eldest is nearly 16 and in all of my years of raising the kids, I can honestly say they get very little post. It's not as if you'll be inundated with post for 'R. Surname' on a weekly basis. And anyway, as their parent, you'll be the one opening their post up to a certain age. I wouldn't sweat the small stuff. I have a friend with three boys (not triplets!) whose names are Joseph, Jonathan, and Jack. It's just not been a problem.

Nice names but I think accepted wisdom is not to give twins names starting with the same letter for the reasons given above. Or, make sure that everyone including banks, tax people etc know to use full names on envelopes.

When mine were small they had quite a few things with their initial on - I remember pencil pots, purses, Christmas tree decorations, welly pegs and keyrings. It was easy to know who owned which one - wouldn't be so easy with R and R.

It'll be tricky when they receive letters, at the doctors etc. But I do like the names.

I think they are lovely names.

We are also having two boys, albeit identical.
One consideration we have had is in giving them the same initial is that when they are older, they would both be Mr R Surname with the same address and date of birth etc.

Gorgeous names.

I think it's fine. They both begin with the same letter, but sound nothing alike.