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Baby names

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

Original poster

Can I call my baby Jacob?

30 replies

Loopsroo · 28/05/2019 17:28

I am struggling with boys names!

The only one I am really set on is Jacob but my brother’s baby is James.

Are these too similar? Can I name my baby Jacob?

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Clubbercised · 30/05/2019 19:30

Yes, it's completely fine!

I knew cousins who had the same name. I also know sisters named Melanie and Melissa!

MikeUniformMike · 30/05/2019 15:56

Just to derail, I can think of sibling name combinations like Ian and Sean, or John and Jane, Jean and Joan and so on.
I think that cousins with names like John, Ian, Evan, Sean and Janet would not raise any concern, so James and Jacob should be fine.

Hobbesmanc · 30/05/2019 12:47

Jacobus is the roman version of the name James which originates from Hebrew Jacob so they share the same roots. In history we see this in the Jacobite rebellion which were rebellions in Scotland to restore King James and the Stuarts to the throne.

So not sure I'd use them for brothers but in your case its a lovely choice

Teddybearhunter · 29/05/2019 01:08

I’m assuming you mean because they are essentially the same name - originate from the exact same name rather than because it’s a J?
I don’t think it would even stop me for siblings - not sure - definitely fine for cousins

Beechview · 28/05/2019 23:20

Yes of course you can.
Lovely name. I love the nn Jake and Coby too.

Chilledout11 · 28/05/2019 23:14

Cousins - totally fine

PrincessLouis · 28/05/2019 23:12

Totally fine go for it

ErrantTesselation · 28/05/2019 21:55

I thought this was going to be because of Rees-Mogg!

Anyway, I don't think the James thing is an issue:)

raquelW · 28/05/2019 21:37

My lb is called Jacob and one of his middle names is James (after a grandparent). I dithered over it a bit, but glad I went with it in the end.

Rainbowknickers · 28/05/2019 21:23

I had a Joshua my mate had a jake and my sister in law had a Jakson nobody ever got them mixed up
Jacob is a lovely name xxx

KinderSurpriseBump · 28/05/2019 21:20

They have the same meaning but if the boys are cousins it's fine.
Good luck

LouiseMiltonSpatula · 28/05/2019 20:54

You definitely can, those names are miles apart imo

MikeUniformMike · 28/05/2019 20:53

James and Jacob are fine for cousins.

SundayMorningSun · 28/05/2019 20:41

@MikeUniformMike I don't think the names' origin really matters in this case. It's like saying can you have cousins called Isobel and Elizabeth, or Anya and Hannah, or Molly and Maria. I think it's definitely fine.

MikeUniformMike · 28/05/2019 20:19

Jacob and James mean the same. In French, both are Jacques,

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 28/05/2019 20:15

I know a large batch of cousins which includes three whose names begin with the same letter. Nobody cares.

If you like the name, use it.

FangsTasticBeast · 28/05/2019 20:05

Two of mine have names beginning with j, Jacob is one of them . My nephew also has a J name. 2 of my other dc start with a C . Of course you can. I don’t think James and Jacob are similar anyway

DramaAlpaca · 28/05/2019 20:01

Of course you can. Perfectly fine for cousins.

Soozikinzi · 28/05/2019 19:59

Of course! My stepson is called Jacob it's a lovely name he's a dad himself now and still likes his name . I have 5 sons and the youngest is called Jack which is so similar I know ! We asked Jake if he minded us calling him Jack since we'd run out of names we both liked for boys . By this time Jacob was 21 and he said of course ! he liked the name as well even though they were so similar x

NoSauce · 28/05/2019 19:49

It’s absolutely fine OP. I know brothers called James and Jacob.

peanutbutterandbananas · 28/05/2019 19:46

Not too similar at all! Jacob is a lovely name

moofolk · 28/05/2019 19:45

Yes I had misread and thought the kids would be brothers but they are cousins.

It's fine and nothing to worry about.

anothernotherone · 28/05/2019 17:45

They're cousins not brothers, of course you can! The only thing too similar to a cousin's name is the identical name or a derivative (so James and Jamie, and Jim - not that anyone uses that as a given name - are the only ones cousin James takes off the menu).

youarenotkiddingme · 28/05/2019 17:41

Of course you can.

My ds and my sisters ds are similar.
Not identical but think same number of letters, ending sounds the same and same 'design' (cvcvc).

They are 7 years age difference and her ds was 4 before it really dawned on me! It was when him and ds were writing m/drawing together and both write their names on paper together!

I also love Jacob. He may become a Jake that sounds more like James but they are totally different names.

SundayMorningSun · 28/05/2019 17:40

James and Jacob are definitely fine for two cousins. Both lovely names, and not that similar in sound.

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