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Baby names

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Original poster

Is using a parent/child combo the same as the royal family a no go?

35 replies

Mariposa123 · 02/07/2021 13:56

Curious to see ideas! We are due DC2 in a few months, and are a bit unstuck on names. dH has a name that he’s always liked, which I’m happy to use. However, he’s concerned that when people see it combined with our names, it looks too much like we’ve copied the royal family. Not the names, but an example being Catherine calling their daughter Charlotte.

We’ve asked a few people what they think and when we’ve pointed out the similarities they’ve said it’s best avoided, but I’m not sure if people would actually notice if we hadn’t said anything. He thinks we can’t use the name, even though it’s one we both like.

What would your thoughts be in this situation?

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Maggiesfarm · 05/07/2021 16:18

Oh blimey, I said much the same in my previous post. Forgot Blush.

Maggiesfarm · 05/07/2021 16:17

Thing is, the royals (usually) choose fairly straightforward, classic but unremarkable names for their children and so do many other parents, in which case you will get the same name doing the rounds everywhere.

Original poster
Mariposa123 · 05/07/2021 14:16

Thank you everyone. I actually asked some friends without mentioning the royal connection first and they said the same thing as you, so he’s realised he’s being unreasonable haha. It’s back into he table!

OP posts:
Terrazzo · 05/07/2021 12:32

They’re all pretty standard names. A Will with a son George or Louis is probably not going to be noticed.

Eugenie and August on the other hand… ah, I see your point 🤣

Enko · 05/07/2021 09:37

My Danish friend has 2 boys called Christian and Frederick (the name of the last 17 Kings in DK) she said when they were younger people would say "very royal" and that would be it .

If it is a set up like you are suggesting I do t think there would be much said at all. William is a classic name. Charles perhaps a bit more royal tie but I really don't think many will say much

MadeOfStarStuff · 04/07/2021 12:14

Most royal names are generic enough that it doesn’t matter. If it’s one of the less common names like Eugenie or Lilibet than I wouldn’t

Adventing · 03/07/2021 18:49

I think as they are both very common names its fine. If it was Zara and Lena or Meghan and Lillibet that would be different

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 03/07/2021 16:44

Charles and William are both such classics that I can’t see any issue at all.

PattyPan · 02/07/2021 22:09

I don’t think anyone would notice unless you had a second son called Harry.

Maggiesfarm · 02/07/2021 21:33

I don't think it matters. If you think about it, most (not all of course) of the royals have classic, ordinary names and name their children the same.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 02/07/2021 21:04

Not a big deal imo because the "major" royals have such popular names anyway. William and Charles have both stayed in the top 100 for over a century.

KirstenBlest · 02/07/2021 20:17

I know two brothers called Harry and William, and couples with names like Liz and Phil, Anne and Mark, Margaret and Tony, and Sarah and Andrew.

user1745 · 02/07/2021 16:00

I don't think I would immediately notice if it was something like Catherine and Charlotte. If I did notice it would be interesting but not a big deal, certainly not a problem. If it's something more unusual e.g Meg(h)an and Archie or Andrew and Eugenie, it would be more obvious and you might get a lot of funny comments.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 02/07/2021 15:19

only if you are not re-naming the adult to achieve that

Dollywilde · 02/07/2021 14:56

Really not a big deal, I think you’re fine.

Unrelatedly I know two couples called William and Kate! If they had kids and went with George or Charlotte or Louis I might be surprised but I don’t think that would make it a problem Smile

Original poster
Mariposa123 · 02/07/2021 14:48

Haha thanks everyone! My name is decidedly non royal, so I agree with everyone here it wouldn’t be an issue.

I’ll have to show this to DH and see if it changes his mind.

OP posts:
Prospering · 02/07/2021 14:45

Honestly, OP, those names could hardly any more generic. Or classic, depending on your POV.

I thought you were going to say you were a Meghan married to a Harry, and were planning to have twins called Archie and Lilibet.

Knitsewthread · 02/07/2021 14:40

I've just realised I have this! I'm a Catherine and have a child with the same name as one of Kate and William's. Never occurred to me before and no one else has mentioned it. So I'd go for it!

WimpoleHat · 02/07/2021 14:30

Charles and William is fine; they’re standard men’s names which go well together. If you and your DH were called Harry and Meghan and you called your daughter Lilibet, then that would be odd - but absolutely no problem with Charles and William. Aside from anything else, you’ll probably write cards etc as “Love from Mariposa, Charles, DC1 and William”, which makes it even less obvious.

FelicityPike · 02/07/2021 14:22

I knew a Charles who had sons called William & Harry.
It was noticed but never mentioned.
It’s not a big deal.

Palavah · 02/07/2021 14:18

Unless you're Catherine/Kate and your husband is Charles (not Charlie) and your son William I can't imagine many people will even notice. Even if they do it's hardly an issue.

I have just realised that my father, his mother and brother all have RF names but not in the same pattern, which I hadn't noticed for 40 years.

ADialgaAteMyDog · 02/07/2021 14:14

I actually know a family with a Charles and. William father/son and it had not occurred to me until the post above. And I'm quite into royals!

namechange30455 · 02/07/2021 14:11

I think Charles and William is fine. Also if you have DC1 you're unlikely to write/say their names together very often anyway as any cards you write etc will have DC1 on too.

NonBinaryNumbers · 02/07/2021 14:11

I would notice but not care, even though I'm not a fan of the Royal family! I would go for it, I think you are overthinking things.

namechange30455 · 02/07/2021 14:07

@idontlikealdi

I have no idea what you mean, how are Catherine and Charlotte similar?
She means because Kate Middleton is called Catherine and has a daughter called Charlotte, is that weird to use the same "pattern"? Like if you were called Elizabeth and called your son Charles. Or William and called your son George. Or Harry and called your son Archie. Or Andrew and called your daughter Beatrice. People might say "oh, like in the royal family?"

I think it really depends what the names are OP. Harry and Archie might be weird. William and Charlotte maybe less so.