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Baby names

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Husband cousin's named her twins like my children ?!

119 replies

Elsafairly · 28/08/2018 19:35

Hey everyone

Here's my dilemma, my husband's cousin who lives 10 minutes away and who see at least one a week ( She is his only family left) had two gorgeous babies , a boy and a girl she named Ayaan and Issa. The same name I chose for my daughter (5) and son (8 months) I am really sad about it, those names reflect my culture ( I am from Ethiopia, and DH is English). So I feel like two little blonde babies with those name is a bit odd, or at least she could have asked me some advices on culturally similar names. My husband is mad at me, and think I should be flattered. But I am struggling to do so. I have not told her anything, and I will not. But now we gonna have 4 cousins with the same names, who will spend a lot of time together... Do you think I am being unreasonable ?

OP posts:
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MrsEricBana · 28/08/2018 20:35

That is very weird indeed and I would have to say something.

wiserthanme · 28/08/2018 20:34

Yes that is weird, Yes that is unacceptable and no, I would not be flattered. Is she as strange as she sounds?

Piggyhoolier · 28/08/2018 20:34

Wow that is odd with a capital O!

She’s crackers but I think you should be polite to her, along the lines “obviously I think those are beautiful names as I chose them for my own DC, but it could get a little confusing for everyone don’t you think?” And keep fingers crossed that she changes the names.

I think she must hold you in really high regard and this is an ill thought attempt to be like you because she admires you. As PP say if she sticks with the names everyone will know she copied you.

Elsafairly · 28/08/2018 20:33

Littlechocola I don't mind, at least if she or her friends see this, they will know how I feel haha

My husband knows I post here.

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MozzieMagnet · 28/08/2018 20:33

Single White Female weird. Hide your bunny.

alphajuliet123 · 28/08/2018 20:30

Reply to the Facebook post:

"Are you serious? You're giving them the exact same names as their cousins, traditionally Ethiopian names that reflect my side of the family?"

Then leave it at that. She'll know you're not impressed, her friends will know she's a weirdo, and you won't have said anything terrible.

Littlechocola · 28/08/2018 20:27

Are you okay with being identified so easily op? Also for your dh cousin?

My step sister named her child the same as one of mine.

Whereismumhiding2 · 28/08/2018 20:26

You can't do anything about it now, as that's their names as well.
But it's bizarre as they are culturally significant names to you but not her as so unusual. She's clearly copied you. So they'll be (name)2 in your family. Or theyll get called a nickname to differentiate. How frustrating..

Yanbu to be peeved but no good will come out of saying anything to her.

I wouksnt make it easy for her to copy anything else She's clearly looking up to you and your style! I'd limit what I told her (like being vague where I bought backpacks or clothes she admires, so that they're not dressed identically too! Grin Hmm)

MerryMarigold · 28/08/2018 20:26

Totally weird. Is she having a post natal breakdown? Maybe in her eyes it's to crate a bond between her kids and yours, but it's just so odd. If they all go to the same school the teachers will be Hmm.

ShackUp · 28/08/2018 20:25

She's mad OP!! Absolutely gorgeous names, btw, I used to teach at a school with a large Somali cohort and taught quite a few Ayaans and Issas.

runbeerrunbeer · 28/08/2018 20:25

Yes this is odder than a big bag of odd things. Unless your husband is one for avoiding conflict at all costs, it's even odder that he doesn't see this!

Cosmoa · 28/08/2018 20:21

I understand your predicament but I wouldn't be able to not say anything! It would just come out like word vomit haha

Icklepup · 28/08/2018 20:20

So weird!

headinhands · 28/08/2018 20:19

What have you done about it? She's unlikely to change their names because your dh has words.

Regardless of how you feel it really is in the box marked 'things I can do fuck all about.'

You'll get used to it.

Cosmoa · 28/08/2018 20:19

What the actual fuck? I would be actually fuming!!! How bloody rude to not even discuss it with you first. You are totally not being unreasonable. My jaw would hit the floor!

BettyBooper · 28/08/2018 20:17

Ah so she has form for being OTT. Yeah you don't have anything to gain from poking this. Be content that she is barking!

Bellabutterfly2016 · 28/08/2018 20:17

That's just odd - I'd message her and tell her how offended you are if it was me! Especially as she has no cultural connection with those names.

Frusso · 28/08/2018 20:12

My half-sibling named her child pretty much the same name as mine
same name different spelling, think john/Jon or Emily/Emilie.

Whilst it's a bit weird, there's nothing to be done about it and my dc is (years) older to clearly she copied me and that's the way it will always look Grin

Elsafairly · 28/08/2018 20:12

I am glad I am not crazy and overreacting. DH does not want to offend her, because if she gets offended she is capable of stopping to talk to him ( she did it before for more than a year), so I don't want to ruin this for him. I will just have to accept it. Giving that 3 other children have very traditional English names, I just can't believe she picked something so different, or at least if she wanted 'foreign' name she should have picked something else.

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BettyBooper · 28/08/2018 20:07

Yeah it's really odd! But I'm not sure what calling her out on it would achieve. If someone is of the mindset that naming their twins the same as their cousins is okay, I doubt they will suddenly become reasonable when called out about it...

Leave it. Noone is going to think you're the strange one. You'd do well here to rise above it.

LonginesPrime · 28/08/2018 20:02

It's weird, but other people will see that too.

There's probably not much you can do now to change her mind, although you could try calling them Ayaan 2 and Issa 2 (Arrested Development style).

Perhaps she just panicked under the pressure of having to name twins and felt she had to come up with something there and then.

Starlighter · 28/08/2018 20:02

Very strange behaviour! I’d have to say something!

ViserionTheDragon · 28/08/2018 19:59

Yikes! Defininitely call her out on it. Have their names been registered yet? If not, I would try to convinc her to change them. I can't believe your DH isn't more supportive of you Confused.

Happyandshiney · 28/08/2018 19:58

It’s really very odd.

It’s particularly odd given that they are twins. As a twin parent myself I know that we tried hard to make sure that our children would have their own specific identities.

Hard enough to be one of the “twins” without being “one of those cousins called X.”

Very, very odd.

BrutusMcDogface · 28/08/2018 19:58

What the fuck!? I would be absolutely furious!

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