2 family names repeated by cousin... weird?

I think it really depends what kind of family you are - one that sees each other regularly, is in each other’s lives etc, or a more distant one. You say the wife may not have even known it was your DH’s ex’s name?
I don’t really see my cousins anymore now we are adults. My children will never know my cousin’s children. It wouldn’t be weird to me. Equally, I know some people that live near a lot of distant family like that and would still feature in each other’s lives.

It depends on the name.

If it's something like Jack or Olivia than it isn't weird (though I personally wouldn't do it) but if it is something unusual then it is a bit weird.

Pretty sure no one else has agreed that using the same name as a distant relative’s ex is weird

My Mum was one of nine - I have many cousins. In Scotland, where we're from, many girls are called Margaret. Can't imagine anyone claiming ownership over it or any other name...it's straightforward to differentiate.

#YourMargaret #OorMargaret #BigMargaret #WeeMargaret #TheirMargaret

Not weird, imo. We called our DS a very well-known name, but one which is very rarely used for babies at the moment; it was his grandfather's name.

A few months later, DH's cousin's wife, whom I'd not met (DH has an enormous, geographically widespread, family) had a DS and they used the same name. They would have known about our DS, so that's almost certainly what gave them the idea, as they don't have the same family connection with the name. DH and I were flattered.

No repeated names in my family that I know of but I still don’t think it’s weird.

I'm trying to figure this out.

OP's DH (Mr. Snogshopper) was previously married to Melinda.
OP & her DH have a son (Thadeous Snogshopper).

the DH has a cousin (another Mr. Snogshopper) who called his kids Melinda & Thadeous.

I have 30 first cousins & have barely met some of them. Meh. Not interesting enough for me.

I know two brothers, who were always very close. The oldest named his son Leon. Then the brother had a boy and named him Leo.

I thought it was weird. But the wives absolutely hate each other! 😂 So I imagine there was some sort of weird dynamic at play.

Don't be daft.

My son and two cousins' children have same forename. Two others have daughters with the same name. So what? If you get together all the time you can call them, eg, Jake1, Jake2, Jake 3. However you say you don't see them very often anyway therefore it hardly matters.

I don't see a problem. Dh and ds middle name is the same as FIL and dgs first name. Several nephews also have the same middle name. It's a name that we all love but is unusual in this area. Never been a problem.

I think it’s great they chose names they liked, and weren’t influenced by other people’s opinions. I’m sure they weren’t deliberately copying, they just liked the names

And worrying that a baby has the same name as the parent's cousin's ex is bizarre

So 2nd cousins who don't really see much of each other have the same name?

Don't think it's an issue really.

It depends what significance it has in the family. For instance, if they're named after a parent or grandparent.

In my family, my brother and my son both have the same middle name. Which is my dad's name. My eldest is also named after his dad, so it's being passed down as well.

I don't think it's weird. I think people worry too much these days about having unique and different names.

Irrespective of the stance on names being used more than once in a family, I do find your inclusion of a distant relatives ex partner a bit odd. They’re not even a family member any more. Is it the marriage that makes it a no go? Or all ex girlfriends and ex boyfriends of all family members are out?
Or is it just because their ‘reputation’ has been trashed? So if somehow everyone liked the ex member of the family, the name would be acceptable for use?
I’m just really baffled by that part.

Not weird at all.... especially if family is quite large. I don't even know some of my cousins / second cousins names and there are definitely doubles, triples and a quadruple of some names I know of! Like another poster said, in our family it's almost weirder if the name hasn't been used already!

Yep, a bit weird.

How popular is the name?. My DC have names in the top 20, so if any family repeated them I wouldn’t be bothered because they’re extremely popular.

Not weird. You don't own the name.

We couldn't get upset about sharing names in my family, we have 3 Andreas and 2 of them are the same age, we have 2 Carls who are sons of 2
of the Andrea's and they are the same age also. We also have 2 Kerri's, 2 Emma's, 2 Kim's as well.

My brother has the same first name and surname as his cousin and uncle. It hasn't made any difference to anyone's life. Very occasionally someone uses where they live to define them.

I have the same name as my cousin. The only time I ever mention it is on these threads on Mumsnet.

Consensus on MN is that you can’t own a name which is true but it is strange to use the same name as someone you are close to imo. I wouldn’t use a name associated with anyone I know, just wouldn’t do it.

I'm loving the Charles the 1st, Chip and baby Charles story, especially since baby Charles is 42 so cute!!

I think that type of thing is nice because it's so blatant. It seems less weird because everyone has entered into it!

You're probably not even on their radar so your kids names probably haven't even registered to them. Or someone's ex wife, how many male cousins would remember their cousins wife's name let alone their ex wife? Lol.