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Baby names

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

Original poster

Name too close to a family members name

38 replies

justwondering22 · 01/01/2023 11:04

We love the name

Noa if our Baby is a a DD

However we have recently found out that DH has a great Nephew called Noah who has just turned 1.

As we have just found out you can see that we are not close at all. However his one brother is close so he would have a Niece called Noa and a Great Nephew called Noah.

Also DH Mother and Father would have a great grandson called Noah and a Granddaughter called Noa.

We really love this name or wouldn't even be contemplating using it.

DH's family is very very big so loads of names we couldn't use as we are close to them.

What's your honest opinions please?

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SkylightSkylight · 01/01/2023 16:48

midsomermurderess · 01/01/2023 13:38

A great nephew isn’t that close a connection.

In this case it seems not.

but in my family it is, I'm very close to all my god childrens children & will be with my nieces & nephews children if they have any in the future, but given their ages, it won't be for a long time yet.

Blendandmix · 01/01/2023 16:43

I'd still do it!

NormalNans · 01/01/2023 16:30

OP - I’ve got a unisex name and have never had any problem with it, gets lots of compliments. We also have second cousins with the same name, again not a problem.

Original poster
justwondering22 · 01/01/2023 16:14

DuchessOfSausage · 01/01/2023 16:09

@justwondering22 , the name isn't as widely used as Noah.
You might have no issue with it, but she might.

As she could with any other name she is given and then it's her right to change it when she is older, I have friends with classic names who's hated them and changed them and friends with unique names who love them.

Aside from waiting until she is old enough to decide for her self then she'll be named by us.

It's not as I'd I'm planning on naming my child Lampshade or Mystic Meg- my question was not on your opinion of the name as we love it, it's our child and I asked about the family issue. As I've said we already have a DD with a unisex name spelt differently for each sex and that's they names we like.

OP posts:
toastofthetown · 01/01/2023 16:12

DuchessOfSausage · 01/01/2023 16:09

@justwondering22 , the name isn't as widely used as Noah.
You might have no issue with it, but she might.

Any child might have an issue with any name for any number of reasons. You name babies when they're too young to have an opinion. If they really hate it, it's easy enough to change.

DuchessOfSausage · 01/01/2023 16:09

@justwondering22 , the name isn't as widely used as Noah.
You might have no issue with it, but she might.

Original poster
justwondering22 · 01/01/2023 16:01

Thanks for all the replies, we love the name Noa and have another DD with a name that is unisex and spelt differently for each gender so I have no issue with this and there is a considerable age gap and she has not issue either.

Noa is a girls name and widely used across the globe and we love it- it was the family issue I was worried about, so for all of you who has answered this and put my mind at ease thank you it's set
If 2nd child is a DD her name will be Noa.

Thank you all

OP posts:
FeedMeSantiago · 01/01/2023 15:54

Noa is fine for a girl, it's a very old female name.

If it took you until almost a year to find out Noah's name, I would honestly use the name for your DD. The two children won't be spending much time together.

BabyFour2023 · 01/01/2023 15:52

HeatAndEat · 01/01/2023 11:13

Noa would spend her entire life explaining she is not Noah and is a girl.

Don't do that to her.

This. There are so many lovely girls names to choose from.

DuchessOfSausage · 01/01/2023 15:51

There have been thousands of boys registered with the name Noah each of the past ten years. 4525 of them in 2021, with another 53 boys called Noa and 179 girls called Noa. Those figures are for England & Wales.

MrsMitford3 · 01/01/2023 15:41

I think Noa very pretty and I think there should be no issue in the family using it-they are far enough removed and you have every right to use the name you love

pjmasksitsthepjmasks · 01/01/2023 15:38

How about Norah instead? I think Noa is a boys name tbh.

Purplecatshopaholic · 01/01/2023 15:22

Calling a child by a similar name to someone else = fine. Calling a girl Noa = not fine. People will constantly ask how to spell, etc.

gogohmm · 01/01/2023 15:07

Noa is spelt Noah and is a boys name. Don't do it to her

GoodbyeLondon · 01/01/2023 14:22

I know a teenage Noa who is from Hong Kong. She's at secondary school in the UK and has no issues at school. There is such a variety of names these days. I highly doubt that Noa will be the most unusual one

toastofthetown · 01/01/2023 14:13

midsomermurderess · 01/01/2023 13:40

Noa is not a misspelled boy’s name. It’s an Old Testament female name and, fwiw, has been one of the most popular girls' names in Israel over the last decade. The certainty with which some posters parade their ignorance on here never fails to surprise.

Show quote history

Exactly. People don't do most basic research before spouting off their unsolicited in this case and uninformed opinions. Noa was a biblical character and charts as girls name in many countries (Behind the Name link) which the most basic google search would reveal. Even just looking at data from England and Wales would show that it's moderately well used (same amount of Noas as Dianas in 2021), but let's not allow the facts to get in the way of quick, small-minded criticism.

midsomermurderess · 01/01/2023 13:40

Yesthatismychildsigh · 01/01/2023 13:31

Don’t give your daughter a misspelled boy’s name. She’ll have a lifetime of explaining to do. That’s cruel.

Noa is not a misspelled boy’s name. It’s an Old Testament female name and, fwiw, has been one of the most popular girls' names in Israel over the last decade. The certainty with which some posters parade their ignorance on here never fails to surprise.

jtaeapa · 01/01/2023 13:39

The similarity is no issue. You don’t even know the child called Noah. However, she would have to spend all her time explaining that she isn’t a boy called Noah and spelling her name. So I’d avoid it for that reason.

midsomermurderess · 01/01/2023 13:38

A great nephew isn’t that close a connection.

Craftybodger · 01/01/2023 13:36

It’s taken nearly a year to learn of Noah’s name, the duplication isn’t an issue for that reason. Will they both have the same surname? That would be more of an issue for me.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 01/01/2023 13:35

Nia is a lovely Welsh name

Yesthatismychildsigh · 01/01/2023 13:31

Don’t give your daughter a misspelled boy’s name. She’ll have a lifetime of explaining to do. That’s cruel.

Ursuladevine · 01/01/2023 13:23

2020firsttimemum · 01/01/2023 13:19

Op didn't ask if people liked the name Noa - she asked if you would use a name given the family history ffs 🤦🏽‍♀️

I would use it OP

That’s the beauty of a chat forum.

An OP can ask a question and posters can answer / discuss / question - to the OP and amongst themselves

2020firsttimemum · 01/01/2023 13:19

Op didn't ask if people liked the name Noa - she asked if you would use a name given the family history ffs 🤦🏽‍♀️

I would use it OP

doitordontdoit · 01/01/2023 13:18

What about Nova as a similar alternative