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Baby names

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

Original poster

Our top girls' name is also my sister-in-law's name!

57 replies

rosemarycait96 · 08/07/2022 15:53

Total coincidence, but my top girls' names are as follows

Emma
Emily
Matilda
Hannah

Boys, for good measure:
Eric
William
Edward
Alistair

We've pretty much picked out Emma as our favourite for a girl, but my husband's sister is also called Emma - would that be weird, or shall we go with Emily which sounds similar and is our second favourite?

My husband thinks I'm mad and he doesn't have a problem with it, but I want other opinions.

ps. And any name suggestions you might have that'll go on my list - classic, simple and timeless please! I just love hearing everyone's faves.

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mizzo · 09/07/2022 07:49

I wouldn't do it. DH vetoed a middle name I loved because it's his brothers middle name.

Anna and Kate have a similar feel to Emma.

PrisonerofZeroCovid · 09/07/2022 07:39

My SIL, BIL (SIL's husband) and other BIL's wife all have the same unisex name. It's not actually as confusing as you'd think.

Other suggestions with a similarity sound - Stella??

ShirleyPhallus · 09/07/2022 07:32

I’d get this if it was a really beautiful unusual name but Emma is so standard that there are hundreds of other strong, classic names that would do just as well.

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/07/2022 00:07

It’s fine. Emma is a lovely classic. Not unusual to have a couple in a family.

PritiPatelsMaker · 08/07/2022 20:08

I was going to suggest Emma as a middle name too but your other choices all end in the 'a' sound, except for Emily and Emily Emma doesn't really flow.

Are there any other girls names on the list?

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/07/2022 20:02

Weird.

MsMcGonagall · 08/07/2022 19:52

I wouldn't do it, way too odd. Emily would be fine.

RuthW · 08/07/2022 19:49

I wouldn't use it. It's a bit too close

Lindy2 · 08/07/2022 19:49

I'd find it a little odd to be honest.

PurpleVioletBlue · 08/07/2022 19:41

Honestlt, I think it's a bit odd, and would be quite confusing. I considered giving my daughter the same name as a cousin I rarely see who is 15 years younger than me but felt like even that was pushing it a bit!

I like Matilda - good strong name. I find Emily and Hannah extremely dull and went to school with lots of them. Have you considered -

Emmeline
Eloise
Alma
Thea
Hazel
Anya
Nina
Erin
Luna

Alopeciabop · 08/07/2022 19:30

So who brought up Emma when his sister is an Emma? Like did you say “ooh I always loved the name Emma but obviously that’s your sister’s name” and he said something back like “we could still use that name.” ???

Or did he suggest using it as a tribute to her?

Otherwise why would you want to give your kid a name you’ve spent your whole life associating with someone else?

A name is so much a part of a person I can’t imagine not associating my sisters name with her and her only.

or use emma as a middle name tribute to Big Emma. That’s a usual thing to do.

also Emmie is nice.

chiffchaffchiff · 08/07/2022 19:30

How about asking SIL? Personally I'd think it was quite cute to have a niece with the same name. I grew up with my aunt's name as my middle name and she's my favourite for that reason (they're all lovely so there's nothing else in it 😂)

InFiveMins · 08/07/2022 19:23

I'd hate it personally Confused I love my sister to bits but would find it weird to have a child with the same name. Go for Emily.

PritiPatelsMaker · 08/07/2022 19:11

Your dh's favourite name for your baby is his sisters name? That sounds very unusual. They must be very close. I'd go for a different name personally

Not that unusual I'm afraid. DH wanted to give DS the same name as our DCat. Some men just have a capacity for demonstrating a stunning lack of imagination Grin

Charles11 · 08/07/2022 19:06

Your dh's favourite name for your baby is his sisters name? That sounds very unusual. They must be very close. I'd go for a different name personally.

mathanxiety · 08/07/2022 19:00

Naming children after family members both living and dead is an acceptable thing in my family (first names as well as middle names). People don't 'own' their names.

Why not sit SIL down and ask her if she would mind. Insist she's honest.

WWRGD · 08/07/2022 18:46

Emilia nn Emmie?

SurpriseSurprise · 08/07/2022 18:41

Far too close. What about Emeline?

NancyDrooo · 08/07/2022 18:38

I met an Emma nicknamed Emmie recently, thought that was very cute on a little girl. It’d differentiate between the two of them!

HannahDefoesTrenchcoat · 08/07/2022 18:34

Emmeline?

Haus1234 · 08/07/2022 18:33

That’s way too close a relationship for me, I would use Emily or one of your other lovely names.

NameChange30 · 08/07/2022 18:30

Will they have the same surname as well?
Do you and DH see his family often?

I would hesitate tbh even though it's a great name.

MaggieFS · 08/07/2022 18:26

For me, that's too close a relation to use the same name. It's just confusing.

PritiPatelsMaker · 08/07/2022 18:19

I wouldn't. It is a lovely name but as others have said, there are so many other names to consider.

If you have DSis would they be put out if you named LO after your DSIL?

yikesanotherbooboo · 08/07/2022 16:48

In previous generations it was entirely normal to name DC for family members and on that basis it's not weird. We have eg 'little' Ann, Auntie Ann, Jack/ John /Johnnie etc .If you are not going along the line of naming her at least partly for your DSil , pick another name.