Colleague used my favourite baby name!

Yes of course, she won't be a colleague for ever, it's not a pets name anyway in my opinion.

Oh heavens. How annoying! However, you'd be mad NOT to use it.
In ten years time, you'll be stressing over your Mabel's year 6 leavers' hoodie not being ordered in time or maybe you'll be really on the ball, order it on time, and realise the numpty who printed it spelled her name wrong. Who you won't be thinking about is your former colleague from yonks ago what was her name?... or her cat.

One of my colleagues was called Eleanor May (May was her surname) which was my favourite girl baby name. When I had my DD I worried about seeming ridiculous, but I called her it anyway. I’m sure work people laughed for a minute at the coincidence but not maliciously, and besides I was on mat leave so I didn’t hear it! The colleague has moved jobs and my DD has a gorgeous name. So I completely know what you’re feeling but please don’t change your name plans because of the cat! Mabel is a beautiful name. Xx

Tell her you're thinking of Kitty or Tabitha and see if she will swap names?

Seriously though, it is Just. A. Cat.

Saying it's a family name is a great idea. It shuts all comments down. Use the name with pride

It’s not exactly unusual.. you can still use it. Are you pregnant now?

You can still use the name, no one is going to mix the two up providing you don't put a collar with a bell on your baby daughter.

I forgot to add if definitely still use the name!

She might play animal crossing, it’s so popular right now, especially with adults and lots of people are naming new pets after characters in the game and Mable is a much loved character.

Go for it. Also you’ll be on maternity leave when any comments about the names being the same are made so you shouldn’t have to field them. If it’s awkward with your colleague then just say it’s a family name you’ve been planning to use for ages.

Oh and GREAT NAME CHOICE by the way

I would definitely still use it

My sister shared a name with my gran's dog for a couple of years (dog existed prior to sister...long story why she had the same name), I'm the only bugger who remembers this and mentions it to wind up sister.

Not even my gran remembers that she had a dog by my sister's name.

Animals are fleeting, as are colleagues. Just use Mabel, it's a beautiful name.

Use it, if you like it. If anyone says anything about this cat having the same name (and, hilariously, ever got the hump over it) you could just reply casually "oh yeah, totally forgot, I don't really remember names of people's pets, but isn't it a lovely name!"

End of problem!

Just use the name.
Dsis had a dog with the same name as we gave ds.
We couldn't care less, it is a good name.

Use what you love!
My partner had 3 colleagues name their babies the same thing within the same year!!

Just use it if you want .. Although I'm really not keen on Mabel sounds like marble to me (obviously your choice and I'm sure your baby would make it adorable)... I was in hospital last week and my midwife said her daughter was called marnie which I thought was lovely ! X

If you feel you need to, you could change it very slightly to Mabli, which is the original Welsh version, meaning "beloved" that we had lined up for our baby. He then turned out to be a DS so it was no use at all

In 10 years no one will remember the cat. You’ll still have your daughters name for decades. It might be a tad embarrassing announcing it but maybe do it by email to avoid any comments and by the time you get back from maternity leave the cat will be old news and people won’t comment. But don’t let it put you off.

Use the name. The cat won't (likely) survive past your DD's 15th birthday. The cat might be ran over by a car next year. You or your colleague might move to a different area in a few years.

Your DD stands a good chance of carrying her name for the next 80 years.

Please don't let a random colleagues kitten affect this decision of yours...you'll regret it forever

But then some names that are cool like Iris just sound so harsh to me.

I would. It's awkward, yeh, get that, but by the time your dc starts school half the old crew will have left, new ones will have joined.

It is awkward yes but sit with that awkwardness and use it anyway

How about Muriel

Although no, she shouldn't put you off the name. Saying that my Mum told the woman in hospital with her (they were both in for monitoring for complicated placenta issues) that our dogs name was Fay, and the poor woman was really upset as that was the name she wanted to give her dd.

She didn't because of this and my mum felt so guilty. I still know the girl born then, and she has a lovely name, but I think Fay is lovelier.