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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is it weird if my baby has the same name as a famous person?

84 replies

bristollady · 31/03/2018 22:18

We have a quite common surname which means choosing first names is quite hard! There’s one name I really like for a girl but when coupled with our surname it would mean she has the same name as a famous singer. This singer was more famous in the 80s, so perhaps by the time our little one has grown up, no one will think of it...although she’s a bit of an icon so maybe not. This singer is fabulous, so personally I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t want to saddle her with something she might find annoying in later life. What does everyone think? It’s so hard to discuss this without telling you the actual name!

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Original poster
bristollady · 02/04/2018 20:44

Does he have a particular set of skills?

OP posts:
UnaMagdalena · 02/04/2018 20:33

Just remembered, I know a LIam Neeson.

megletthesecond · 02/04/2018 20:32

If you're going to have the same name as someone famous then Grace Jones has got to be the coolest name going. She's a legend.

DS has the same name as a famous person. Only older people mention it though. It's another cool one.

UnaMagdalena · 02/04/2018 20:30

Wow, baubletrouble43, nicely swerved. Just shows though - you never know what's round the corner. Any name could become famous, or in the case of PJ, infamous. Sue me Paddy.

My brother's name meant nothing when he was born but a TV character has his name. The show is not running any more but it is on Netflix.

Baubletrouble43 · 02/04/2018 20:28

We were discussing earlier how we dodged a name bullet. Our surname is Jackson and my front runner boys name was Paddy. Lucky both our twins were girls!

Original poster
bristollady · 02/04/2018 20:27

I think we are moving away from our original choice now. My husband’s great great aunt had a brilliant name that we both like and is not shared with anyone famous, so we are tempted to use that, especially as it’s a family name. (Also, we can’t use Indiana if it’s a boy as we are saving that for when we get a dog... although the thought was there for about 30 seconds! Haha!)

Very much enjoying all the replies though and keen to know what this Phil Collins character has been up to. He sounds like too much of an easy lover if you ask me...

OP posts:
Baubletrouble43 · 02/04/2018 20:25

Grace Jones is a lovely name and if anyone makes the connection it would be kind of cool! My brother has the same name as a very well known 80s comedian and has never minded!

Vespertina · 02/04/2018 20:03

Fern Britton's daughter is called Grace Jones.

user1472334322 · 02/04/2018 20:02

#thesecondtoast, definitely not the same phil! The one I know has two kids, is a fantastic dad and is my friend's partner.

MikeUniformMike · 02/04/2018 20:00

Or Indiana.
Or Samantha, or Aled, or Brian...

RockafellerSkank · 02/04/2018 19:49

OP, how about Indianna? :D

Thesecondtoast · 02/04/2018 19:47

The Phil Collins I know was mucking about with a 19 year old with his pregnant girlfriend at home, looking after his children from a previous relationship sometimes. Must be a few Phil Collins' around.

RockafellerSkank · 02/04/2018 19:45

I know a young Grace Jones, and they called her brother Tom!

BRS, Alice Cooper? Marilyn Manson? Jessie Hawkes? :D

madamedepoppadom · 02/04/2018 19:35

Now you've hinted at the actual name I'd say go for it. It's classic enough that it doesn't feel like it could only ever be used by one person. I thought you were going to say Kim Wilde at first!

My DC were at school with a James Brown. Same sort of thing - yes, you might register that there was a singer of the same name, but it's such a sensible, unstarry sort of name that it doesn't sound as if you're trying to make people think of a singer.

lalaloopyhead · 02/04/2018 18:46

I didn't go with Grace as a name for this reason, though DD is nearly 19 so the name may have felt more recent back then.
Also vetoed another name though because there was someone same name Jones in my class at school.

I wouldn't worry too much about other people, I would go with how it sounds too your ear - as in do you feel like you are saying Grace Jones (the singer) when you say the name.

gettingtherequickly · 02/04/2018 18:42

No, Grace Jones is fine. Very few people would remember.

user1472334322 · 02/04/2018 18:37

The Phil Collins I know is definitely not a tosser! He's a great bloke.

Oysterbabe · 02/04/2018 18:32

The Phil Collins I know is a tosser too, must be the same bloke.

MikeUniformMike · 02/04/2018 18:03

your not you're.
If the surname is Turner, how about Anthea or Paige?

MikeUniformMike · 02/04/2018 18:02

If it is Jones and you name you're DD Grace, then if you have a boy, you must call him Tom.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 02/04/2018 18:00

I think it's fine.

@BikeRunSki, you're called Gary Glitter? I'm sorry to hear that. Grin

Thistlebelle · 02/04/2018 17:59

I think there are a million beautiful names out there, why would you knowing do that to your child?

Especially if you have a great surname like Jones which pretty much goes with everything.

FancyNewBeesly · 02/04/2018 17:56

Grace Jones is fine. The names are both common enough that it’s not a big deal. If it were Tinita Tikaram I’d advise against it.

Thesecondtoast · 02/04/2018 17:54

I know a Phil Collins too. Either it is a common name or the same bloke gets around a bit. I wouldn't put it past him though, he is a complete tosser Grin

user1472334322 · 02/04/2018 17:48

I know a Phil Collins too! People make mention of the fact he shares his name with the singer and then it's not mentioned again.
Grace Jones is a lovely name. I'm in my 40s and wouldn't have associated it with the singer. Go for it, op.