Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Is using the month someone was born as a name really an honour?

37 replies

MapleandCheddar · 24/08/2023 12:03

My niece has just been given my birth month as a middle name (I share it with my mum) and my sister says it is after us both. I mean, is it really? I'm not trying to be ungrateful and I certainly don't want to actually be obviously honoured anyway... I'd just rather she didn't say it was! As I'm not sure it really is? Just curious what other people think.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
RosaSkye · 29/08/2023 20:29

I also think its lovely and I like the fact it’s less obvious. One of my DD’s has the middle name Skye after my late dad who was an aerospace engineer! It’s clearly not his actual name but to me was very much in his honour so i think she is being very sincere

SkalengeckOrSiegbarste · 27/08/2023 21:20

Our first daughter has the month both mine & DH's mum was born in for her middle name. We liked both of their names to use but couldn't decide which to go with as we didn't want to slight either of them.
We were lucky that they were born in the same month, and it sounded right with her first name.
I think it's a lovely way to honour someone, a little different but sweet.

Abbyant · 27/08/2023 16:10

I can see it instead of having to choose either yours or your mums name for a middle name she chose something you have in common your birth month. It’s a sweet gesture just accept it.

Manthide · 27/08/2023 12:01

AbacusAvocado · 27/08/2023 09:10

One of my kids has the name of my mum’s favourite author, one has the name of my dad’s home area (also a name in itself). In both cases they were names we liked but the connection to loved ones was a part of what we liked and the kids are proud of the connection.

My grandson is named after an infamous author but if he'd been a girl would have been named after someone in pokemon!

Manthide · 27/08/2023 11:58

shockthemonkey · 24/08/2023 12:45

No, not really. She’s stretching it. However all you need to do is act honoured/ touched/ humbled and move on!

Csnt imagine my sister naming her baby October then telling me it was in my honour. I’d still play along as what else is there to do? 😅

I'm also October born - perhaps Octavia!

StoatofDisarray · 27/08/2023 09:54

MapleandCheddar · 24/08/2023 12:03

My niece has just been given my birth month as a middle name (I share it with my mum) and my sister says it is after us both. I mean, is it really? I'm not trying to be ungrateful and I certainly don't want to actually be obviously honoured anyway... I'd just rather she didn't say it was! As I'm not sure it really is? Just curious what other people think.

No it's not but I presume they told you that because they were expecting the sort of ridiculous reaction from you which prompted this question. It's probably a name you share with millions.

familyday · 27/08/2023 09:46

I'd assume it was a name they both liked and then really wanted to use because " I like June , and it'll be really special because it's mum and sisters birth month " Lovely !

luckbealadytonight · 27/08/2023 09:27

I actually think that's really nice, and if that's what she's telling her daughter it means, that's what she will always connect it with.

moomoosaka · 27/08/2023 09:11

Being really mean spirited OP

AbacusAvocado · 27/08/2023 09:10

One of my kids has the name of my mum’s favourite author, one has the name of my dad’s home area (also a name in itself). In both cases they were names we liked but the connection to loved ones was a part of what we liked and the kids are proud of the connection.

Littlemisslaughalot · 27/08/2023 09:10

MapleandCheddar · 24/08/2023 12:03

My niece has just been given my birth month as a middle name (I share it with my mum) and my sister says it is after us both. I mean, is it really? I'm not trying to be ungrateful and I certainly don't want to actually be obviously honoured anyway... I'd just rather she didn't say it was! As I'm not sure it really is? Just curious what other people think.

Well if she says that's what she's done then that's what she's done. I don't see the need for a discussion about it!! Stop being a dick and just take it for being a lovely gesture.

CharlotteBog · 27/08/2023 09:02

No one here can know whether or not it has been given to honour you or just because they like it.

It will only become an issue if you are expected to behave in a certain way because you are "the honoured aunt".

Squirrelsnut · 27/08/2023 08:54

I think it's a lovely gesture. Do you have a tricky relationship with your sister?

continentallentil · 27/08/2023 08:52

Well it’s what it means to her.

I’m guessing she just like it, and the fact it was you and your mum’s birth month was a nice bonus that might have swung it.

Are you normally this much of a sourpuss?!

SophiaElise · 27/08/2023 08:30

MyAnacondaMight · 24/08/2023 19:19

If it’s May/Mai/Mae then I’d assume they are unimaginative and are now doing some reverse engineering to pretend it has meaning.

If it’s another month then I think it’s quite sweet.

I was just about to type this!

Edit: I can see it's June. Nice gesture!

BillyNotQuiteNoMates · 27/08/2023 08:25

Would she have used the name if it didn’t work? Probably not, tbh. Eg I’d be surprised if she’s made the SAME gesture, if you’d both been born in December. But then she may have found a different way to acknowledge you both.
But it sounds as if she’s made an effort to acknowledge you both as important people in the life of your niece, and I’d be touched by it. June isn’t exactly a common name, so take it in the manner it was meant.

Sjh15 · 27/08/2023 07:59

I’d say yes it’s a lovely thing & perhaps you questioning it may upset her if it’s genuine so don’t let her know you’re unsure lol

Azandme · 27/08/2023 07:57

It's not a popular name at the moment, and I can't really see many people thinking "Oooh JUNE!" and then having to reverse engineer it.

I'd believe her. Two people she loves, wants to honour both, both born in June - that'll do nicely!

Samzzz · 25/08/2023 11:20

I think it obviously is in honour of you and your mum and is really sweet. I don’t understand how you think any different??

user1492757084 · 25/08/2023 10:18

If she said that was her reasoning, it must be so.
June has resonance with her because it is the birthday month of her sister and mother.
Obviously your niece will be taught the birthday connection of her name and that is super sweet..

BridgetJonesDaiquiri · 24/08/2023 20:50

It's not a common thing, but it sounds like a sweet (and genuinely thought out) gesture. A nod to you and your mum without having to pick one of your actual names. Not really sure how you could see it any other way?

MapleandCheddar · 24/08/2023 19:51

It's June. I did feel it was maybe a bit how you say with the May thing though, that they have done it as they like it and then after added a meaning to it, it's not wasted on me don't worry :) my mum was born in June as well. To the person who said they don't want to use my name or like it or whatever it was that's fine! I wouldn't want my name used anyway Grin it wasn't about the fact I thought I wasn't honoured enough or something just that I didn't see the need for them to claim it's because of that but clearly I'm being unfair then

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 24/08/2023 19:20

MushMonster · 24/08/2023 12:34

I think it is a beautiful gesture which seems to be wasted on you.

This!

ImABox · 24/08/2023 19:20

Isn’t that a nice thing to make you feel connected and loves?

MyAnacondaMight · 24/08/2023 19:19

If it’s May/Mai/Mae then I’d assume they are unimaginative and are now doing some reverse engineering to pretend it has meaning.

If it’s another month then I think it’s quite sweet.