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Baby names

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

Original poster

Reusing a name...

35 replies

Fruitcake13 · 04/11/2018 09:15

So I'm expecting DD4 in 8 weeks, DH and I are not agreeing on names but we both love one of DD3's middle name.

What would you think of somebody using a middle name of a child for the new arrival so eg
DD3 Ruby Anne Olivia
Then naming DD4 Olivia Jane May

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MummyPig21 · 06/11/2018 16:19

My husband's middle name is the same as his younger half brother first name, his dad remarried and had another son, I said clearly his dad likes the name but my hubbys mum didn't want it as first name but second wife allowed it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Crunchymum · 05/11/2018 22:35

We had DD1 middle name on the list for DD2. We didn't use it though.

MarianneAgain · 05/11/2018 16:48

I know a family who gave DS1's first name to DS2 as a middle name and it was ncie as a kind of family link, but I agree with the posters who say that to do it the other way round and give a name you used as a middle name for one child as the first name for a later child is weird.
The Cambridges can be excused as they needed two middle names for each of their boys and they were probably quite restricted in what would be considered acceptable names: Prince Noah Oscar Leo was never really on the cards, although I kind of hoped they would give him (Louis) Arthur as a first name rather than as a middle one.

PinkAvocado · 05/11/2018 16:38

I wouldn’t do it. It’s a name you bypassed for one daughter as a first name so it would seem second best.

LittleCandle · 05/11/2018 16:36

My friend's middle name is her older sister's first name. The parents were hoping for a boy and hadn't decided on a name for another girl. A few years later, the desired boy appeared and was fawned over to a disgusting extent. Friend felt very left out and extremely unloved, since her parents didn't even give her a whole name that was entirely her's. I wouldn't do it.

artemisdubois · 05/11/2018 16:34

It's completely fine, especially if DD3 does have multiple middle names. I'm surprised that anybody thinks otherwise.

Another2day · 05/11/2018 13:53

Middle names, in my opinion, don’t really matter and so can be used as a first name for another child.

The other child may not like to get a name 'that doesn't really matter' enough to be used as a first name. She deserves her own first name, one that you thought up specifically for her.

Cherries101 · 05/11/2018 11:50

Middle names, in my opinion, don’t really matter and so can be used as a first name for another child.

riotlady · 05/11/2018 10:56

Not totally the same but my middle name is Anne and my sisters first name is Anna and nobody seems to think it’s weird

Decemberly · 05/11/2018 10:52

My friend is one of four sisters. Two of them have the same middle names. The other two have each other’s first names as middle names. She finds it really weird and embarrassing.

Cherries101 · 05/11/2018 10:49

Middle names, in my opinion, don’t really matter and so can be used as a first name for another child.

Notso · 05/11/2018 10:45

to me it feels like "we didn't like this name enough for (child's) first name but it'll do for you"!

This! Names are personal, it's lovely to use a family name to honour somebody but to take a siblings name seems a bit off.
I understand it gets more tricky the more children you have. However there are loads of lovely names out there OP you'll come up with something that's just right for your DD.

PawsomePugFancier · 05/11/2018 10:32

Not a big deal, unless the child for other reasons feels second best to their sister and is looking for "evidence," that they are hard done by. I doubt there are many people for whom this alone was a big deal.

Are there any really close names, like Olive if it was Olivia? That would be fine as well.

Another2day · 05/11/2018 06:56

I would continue to look until you find a name for your new dd. A name that belongs just to her!

There are literally thousands of girls names to choose from.

MikeUniformMike · 04/11/2018 19:09

It's fine.

starkid · 04/11/2018 17:20

I don't think it's a good idea. Do you like the name Olive though, maybe?

whiskeysourpuss · 04/11/2018 16:51

There's a girl in DS's class called Erin Abby... her elder sister is called Abby Erin... everyone thinks it's daft.

DD had a boy in her class called William Harry & he had a brother called William Jack - they went by their middle names.

It's not something that I would do but obviously people do it.

RoomWithALoon · 04/11/2018 16:44

My grandad was Bernard Christopher and had a brother called Christopher Bernard. But it was weird - everyone tells the story.

bridgetreilly · 04/11/2018 16:44

I think it's weird, tbh. There's plenty of names out there. I'd find another one.

MrsStrowman · 04/11/2018 11:49

My SILs first name is her younger sister's middle name, it's a choice that's always perplexed her

raviolidreaming · 04/11/2018 11:34

to me it feels like "we didn't like this name enough for (child's) first name but it'll do for you"!

To me it would feel like you were naming after that daughter - on different than naming after an aunt or granny - which is more positive.

ChanklyBore · 04/11/2018 10:37

I thought you were going to say reusing the name of a lost baby.

Original poster
Fruitcake13 · 04/11/2018 10:35

Thank you for the replies.

We should never of used the name for DD3 middle name because we knew we were going to have a 4th, I suppose we kind of hoped baby would be a boy so we could use the name we love for a boy.

It isn't a family name.
The thought had crossed my mind that DD4 would think we couldn't be arsed to think of a name for her, it's not that at all, there's just none that we love as much.
So difficult when your children are the same sex!

OP posts:
Alfie190 · 04/11/2018 10:05

No I wouldn't. I agree with the person that said it feels like the name wasn't good enough for DD3 but is fine for DD4.

ZebraKid71 · 04/11/2018 10:05

I'd use the same middle name, but not a middle name of one child as first name for another.. Unless it is a family name, then I think it's OK.

If not, it just seems like you didn't like it enough for your other daughters first name and are clutching at straws.