Am I in the wrong here?

The couple living next door to us called their son the exact same name as ours… to start with, I was a bit narked but tbh, the boys played together as friends and it was never a problem. We moved away eventually and it never impacted us at all. My son was called after his DF, and next doors boy was called after his DGF, so not copying.

I really don't get all this preciousness about names. If a friend copied my kids' names I'd be flattered. In fact my mum's friend and another neighbour both used my (slightly unusual) name for their daughters, my parents thought it was nice. Names are just names.

You are being crazy, yes. Isabelle and Isabella are two of the most popular baby girl names in the UK! There are loads of them and more born daily! If you didn't want anyone to have the same name as your daughter then maybe you shouldn't have chosen Isabelle? Please don't say anything, it would be really unreasonable of you. Its not even the same name! And she probably didn't put your thoughts at top of her list when choosing a name she loved for her daughter?

I have to disagree with most people here. That would really p me off too! I'm pregnant with my second DD and there are names I love but friends have already used them for their kids so I would never do the same. On the other hand I'm sure your friend isn't copying you but just loves the name. I know it's easier said than done but try not to let it wind you up too much. Your other friends know you were first and she might still change her mind.

Sorry meant to say that I wanted to call my son Kamani. So Jahmari and Kamani. Way too similar for my liking

You will be told it’s absolutely fine for her to call her child the same name as you, even family doing this is fine in the world of MN. Back in the real world I find it strange and don’t get why someone would do this.

This^ I personally don’t understand why people do this. I’d be so annoyed if my friend this because out of all the names in the world, why choose one that’s so similar? I agree that it seems to be a popular name but still!

My close friend has a 1 year old son and his name is Jahmari. I’m pregnant with my first son and wanted to name him Kamari. I’m now starting to think that the names are too similar and that I should leave it😂 so sorry but Isabelle and Isabella is just ridiculous

She didn't copy your name. It's a very popular/common name at the moment.

I can't imagine she 'copied' your name. Isabelle and Isabella are two beautiful, popular names. She won't have suddenly heard your daughter's name and thought 'ooh, that's nice, I'll use that too'.

My mother's best friend named her daughter the same name as me. (Very popular name in the 80s). My mum just took it as a compliment.

I guarantee she hasn’t copied you. It’s not as though the first time she ever encountered the name Isabelle was when you announced your daughter’s name. She has most likely loved the name Isabella for years. If it was her and her DH’s most loved name, do you really think they should have chosen something they didn’t like as much just so you weren’t pissed off? A lifetime of regretting their daughter’s name because you got there first with something similar. You spent ages choosing something that is personal to you and means a lot, and they have been through exactly the same process.

I get tbat you are annoyed - I would be too.

But as many others have said, you’ve honestly picked one of - if not - the most popular (it and it’s variations) girls’ names of all time.

Maybe she had the name picked out for years before you had your PFB.

I don’t think having the same (similar!) names is the problem here, I’d be way more put out if she glossed over it. Surely some acknowledgment that she is aware of the similarity?! I’m guessing she had the name picked out for a while.

Unless you see each other daily and it's likely your dc will be in the same class at school together etc then I don't think it really matters.
You say you talk daily but I'm getting the feeling you don't live close.

Yes you are being ridiculous. Do you think she chose her daughter’s name to hurt/annoy you? Or do you think she has had a name chosen for a while that she loves which happened to be similar (but not even the same) to yours?

She might be privately gutted that you had a daughter first and used the name she had her heart set on for years. You just don't know. It's not worth falling out over. Your children might not even end up as friends or in the same school.

Isobel, Isabel, Isabelle, Isabella are all popular. Isabella is number 8 in the charts, but when you add together the numbers for all four names, it comes out as even more popular. Your friend has done nothing wrong and you can both enjoy using these lovely names.

Something like Isobella is so popular anyway that you and your daughter will meet loads of others!
It’s a really easy name for nicknames too though so yours could be Bella, hers could be Issy etc

Both names are so popular that I couldn't get excited about it. If I wanted a name that was intimate and special to me (which you seem to be defining as unusual) then I wouldn't have chosen a name as ubiquitous as Isabelle. Maybe she has copied you or maybe she has had Isabella picked out for years. Either way she should a name she loves for her baby, just like you did for yours.

What will your DD's name be shortened to? Most likely Issy/Izzy. Whereas friend's DD will more likely be Bella. So the 2 names won't even sound alike once shortened.

Why does it bother you, OP? Do you feel your daughter will be seen as less loved, unique or special ?

YABU

Lovely name, very popular, neither of you are in the wrong.

IF it was a super rare name (outside top 400 names) then maybe I'd be a bit annoyed

A top 10 name. No. It's probably just down to chance. Great name by the way. Just enjoy your baby and forget about it. Like others have said your two babies will probably go by different nicknames day to day anyway.

I understand why it has initially annoyed you, but as has been pointed out, it's a super popular name so your daughters will not be the only two with those names or variations of. After a while it won't be a big deal anymore.