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Baby names

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

Original poster

My sister kind of stole my baby name :(

191 replies

Captainchaos8 · 01/11/2021 22:20

I told my sister a few months back that I really liked the name Judah for a boy. We were both expecting boys but she was dead set on calling her baby boy River so I thought I was on safe ground telling her my choice. Anyway she just came out of hospital and announced out tof the blu that her baby was to be Jude. I am completely gobsmacked and quite upset to be honest but I'm not prepared to cause a massive fuss and a fall out over a name. Anyway just wanted some advice, would you still call your baby Judah if your sister had named their baby Jude? Or do you all think I should just bow out graciously and go with my second choice which is Josiah or my hubby's first choice which is Theodore/Theo/Teddy?

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Tenfifteen · 01/11/2021 23:45

“Josiah for your baby, Judas for your sister”

😂

Genegenieee · 01/11/2021 23:43

Josiah is a much nicer name - Jos for short

penni00 · 01/11/2021 23:41

I like Theo, much nicer than Judah. Plus the shortening to Judy, which is likely, would really have annoyed me. Perhaps, evil grin, you could get your son in the future to call his cousin Judy!!!
REVENGE, lol

BungleandGeorge · 01/11/2021 23:40

That’s terrible, I also prefer the other two names though

saraclara · 01/11/2021 23:40

Judah is way too close to Judas. Your alternative names are a thousand times better.

ElizaCBennett · 01/11/2021 23:38

If it comes up that you had chosen Judah first just say ‘I’d gone off it as a name anyway’ with a tinkling laugh 😂

Spoonio · 01/11/2021 23:38

Call your baby River.

Doodar · 01/11/2021 23:34

@hotmeatymilk

Josiah for your baby, Judas for your sister
Grin
2pinkginsplease · 01/11/2021 23:34

I would do what the previous poster said and tell her that Judah was a red herring name and that Josiah or Theodore were always your chosen name,

I think they are both lovely names, much nicer than Judah which reminds me of Judas which isn’t the nicest of names due to the bible story.

Your sister sounds very much like my ex sil, we were both pregnant at the same time and nothing was discussed because I knew she would have done the same as your sister did!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 01/11/2021 23:31

If I really liked yhe name I'd still use it.

SparklyDino · 01/11/2021 23:31

I agree with PPs amd say that it wasn't the real name you'd chosen.

Then call your nephew Judy! Well until he's old enough to understand. Although I bet he gets called Judy at school.

PyongyangKipperbang · 01/11/2021 23:30

I know how you feel. I lost my first child very early after birth. His name was Elijah. My sister had a son last month and called him Elijah because well my Elijah is dead and she always loved the name and why shouldn't she use it.

Fuck me, I have read some vileness on here but that is weapons grade nasty.

I am so sorry that you lost Elijah, I am sure he was a wonderful little boy, and am so glad that you have cut off the toxic family that would think that they can do that.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 01/11/2021 23:25

@TaraR2020

In the future you can always tell your nephew that you names him Grin
ooh me likey!

good thinking Batman🤣

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 01/11/2021 23:23

@PeeOnAStickToday

good for you!
playing nicely is better on the whole, but sometimes you have to hit back

Hottbutterscotch · 01/11/2021 23:22

Ooh you’ve got some lovely choices! I agree that Josiah is beautiful but so are the others. What a fabulous predicament to find yourself in.

Your sister tried to outdo you but really hasn’t!

Good luck with your new baby.

elenacampana · 01/11/2021 23:22

It stings right now OP, but at least telling her saved your nephew from being called River for the rest of his life!

Switch82 · 01/11/2021 23:22

In future just don’t tell her this stuff or say my fave name is Ben or something lol! But have a look at Judah’s family some amazing names!! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah_(son_of_Jacob)

yoghurtdaily · 01/11/2021 23:20

Omg I'm loving the previous poster replies!

Definitely laugh and be like "I find Judas awful I just said it as diversion. Josiah Theodore was always my top pick!"

AmberLynn1536 · 01/11/2021 23:16

She has inadvertently done you a massive favour, Josiah Theodore, lovely name, I really really dislike Jude, all it conjures up when I hear it is Paul McCartney’s whiny voice (sorry PM fans).

yoghurtdaily · 01/11/2021 23:16

@Captainchaos8

Thanks girls, it does make me feel a little better that nearly everyone I speak to prefers our alternatives anyways. As for my sister, she's a bit of a narcissist so if I let her know it's bothered me she will totally feed off that. She's always playing the ' I can do better game' and to be honest I can't be bothered with it anymore. My whole family is pretty toxic and I've had to walk away from them all to preserve my sanity. I'll just let her have the name (not that I have much choice) I have a lovely family and I really should just focus on that. It's not really the name so much but the spiteful intent behind it that hurts. 😭 Thanks for replying, at least I know my feelings are valid, she often gaslight me into thinking I'm oversensitive so I question my own thoughts sometimes!!
I know how you feel. I lost my first child very early after birth. His name was Elijah. My sister had a son last month and called him Elijah because well my Elijah is dead and she always loved the name and why shouldn't she use it.

She is the last family member of mine that I've basically gone NC With.

Theodore is a lovely strong name. Congrats on the pregnancy

Awrite · 01/11/2021 23:16

Please call your baby Josiah - it's beautiful.

In the West Wing, President Bartlett was Josiah. Jeb, for short.

PyongyangKipperbang · 01/11/2021 23:15

Oh and FWIW I really like Theodore and wanted to call DD that if she'd been a boy.

PyongyangKipperbang · 01/11/2021 23:14

If she mentions it look confused and then say "Oh that! Yeah that was our red herring name as people always ask what name you've chosen and we want to keep it secret until the baby is born, but you know what people are like hahaha!!"

Totally laugh it off as a matter of absolutely no consequence. If you want to take the wind out of a narcissists sails the best way to do it is to act as if you couldnt give two hoots about what they have done to try and provoke you.

TaraR2020 · 01/11/2021 23:10

*named

TaraR2020 · 01/11/2021 23:10

In the future you can always tell your nephew that you names him Grin