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Baby names

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

Are Rae and Wren too similar for sisters?

69 replies

MySunnySeal · 20/07/2026 20:19

Hi, just wondering people's thoughts on if the names Rae and Wren are too similar for siblings? We already have a little girl Rae and think Wren is lovely but I do think they're quite similar. My back up is Fern but I don't love it nearly as much.

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LilyLemonade · 21/07/2026 19:21

I think they are too similar. I think Fern, Rosa and Ellen are all lovely, simple but pretty names which go well with Rae. I would choose Rosa because of the alliteration (as you have with Wren).

MonetsLilac · 21/07/2026 18:59

MySunnySeal · 21/07/2026 18:56

@SueKeeper thanks Nell is very cute. I am Scottish and very much over pronounce the and already.

I think Lark is a bit too out there for me.

@MonetsLilac sorry not a fan of June, Bea, Clare or Jill.

@MyKindHiker I still don't think they're actually that similar if I'm honest but I created this post for the opinions, as much as it shouldn't bother me I do care what others think.

I feel like for us Fern is probably the best option.

Fern is lovely, it's quite simple, but elegant.

MySunnySeal · 21/07/2026 18:56

@SueKeeper thanks Nell is very cute. I am Scottish and very much over pronounce the and already.

I think Lark is a bit too out there for me.

@MonetsLilac sorry not a fan of June, Bea, Clare or Jill.

@MyKindHiker I still don't think they're actually that similar if I'm honest but I created this post for the opinions, as much as it shouldn't bother me I do care what others think.

I feel like for us Fern is probably the best option.

OP posts:
VoteForCountBinface · 21/07/2026 17:19

Baby name explorer - Wren
It's not that popular.

@MyKindHiker , What haters?

MonetsLilac · 21/07/2026 16:31

MyKindHiker · 21/07/2026 16:30

Ignore the haters. My kids have similar sounding names which i stressed over no end and honestly literally no one cares. Once they are in school they aren’t joined at the hip they have different mates no one says ‘oh you and your sister have matching names’!

What "haters"?
Seriously, if you see hate on any thread, then report it. Giving an opinion which doesn't match others isn't "hate".

MyKindHiker · 21/07/2026 16:30

Ignore the haters. My kids have similar sounding names which i stressed over no end and honestly literally no one cares. Once they are in school they aren’t joined at the hip they have different mates no one says ‘oh you and your sister have matching names’!

SharkEatsDonkeyTails · 21/07/2026 15:15

I do think they are too similar, but Wren as her middle name would work!

MonetsLilac · 21/07/2026 15:13

Have you thought about Dawn or Joy?

MonetsLilac · 21/07/2026 15:10

I would avoid Wren, it's very popular, which may not bother you, but a silent first letter could be difficult.
I dislike it personally because round here it's the name of a low cost kitchen fitter.
Fern is lovely.
Or June, Bea, Clare, Jill.

HelloCheekyCat · 21/07/2026 15:05

What about Lark instead of Wren?

whattheftodo · 21/07/2026 15:01

No they are fine. The end sounds are different. I have the same end sound of my name as a sibling and we never knew who was being called

ImpatientlyWaitingForSummer · 21/07/2026 14:42

Funnily enough both Rae and Wren were in the top three middle names for our little girl! We ended up going with the third option (Jade) in the end but I do love both of those. I do think they’re too similar though for sibling’s names unfortunately!

SueKeeper · 21/07/2026 14:42

It's when you say them with the "and" in the middle, especially if you do so quickly, "Rae 'n' Wren, that it sounds very samey. If you could train yourself to say "Wren and Rae" you'd have to clarify it less often.

Nell is a lovely suggestion that goes well with Rae but is very different. Maybe Meg?

VoteForCountBinface · 21/07/2026 14:09

dontmalbeconme · 20/07/2026 23:19

It's Erin, one syllable in my accent? I don't say Err-in, just Erin, all one sound/syllable as it's spelt.

I think you are either saying it strangely or have not understood what a syllable is.

xOlive · 21/07/2026 08:09

MySunnySeal · 21/07/2026 07:02

@Henriettina
I love Hope, we had a late loss and named baby this. Not so keen on faith but thank you for the suggestions.

@Mumofgirls2017 thank you, Iris and Niamh are also both on my list of options, I'm just not as keen.

@xOlive I totally agree, I think it's more for when people ask you how many kids you have/names etc and you list them off in a row?

@dontmalbeconme I think Erin is super cute, we have a close friend who has an Erin unfortunately though.

Yes exactly and even then you could break it up with “yes, I have Rae, she’s 4, and Wren who is 7 months” for example.
But as a PP said, they’re both separate people, they’ll be in separate years in school, they’ll lead separate lives so choose Wren if that’s your favourite name, it’s lovely!

MySunnySeal · 21/07/2026 07:02

@Henriettina
I love Hope, we had a late loss and named baby this. Not so keen on faith but thank you for the suggestions.

@Mumofgirls2017 thank you, Iris and Niamh are also both on my list of options, I'm just not as keen.

@xOlive I totally agree, I think it's more for when people ask you how many kids you have/names etc and you list them off in a row?

@dontmalbeconme I think Erin is super cute, we have a close friend who has an Erin unfortunately though.

OP posts:
BeMintFatball · 21/07/2026 06:06

@MySunnySeal your children will
grow up to be separate adults not a pair of book ends. It doesn’t matter what others think. Don’t give DD2 your second favourite name just because they are similar together. Their time together could be very short.

My two girls A&E each often have people surprised “you have a sibling?” And not
once has anyone said to me “oh you have an accident and emergency 😂 “ although I have thought Jeez I didn’t think what their initials would sound like together.

Jammin8 · 21/07/2026 01:43

dontmalbeconme · 20/07/2026 23:19

It's Erin, one syllable in my accent? I don't say Err-in, just Erin, all one sound/syllable as it's spelt.

It definitely has two syllables. Accents have nothing to do with it.

OohOohOohWahAhh · 21/07/2026 01:39

Rae and Wren go very well together. I see other people referencing Star Wars, I wouldn’t know to connect them. No knowledge of that.
My DSis thought about using Wren at one point and I thought it was a beautiful name. I myself would prefer Rue to Rae.

Rachie1973 · 21/07/2026 01:34

Henriettina · 20/07/2026 22:34

I like Rae and Wren, but how about Faye or Faith to throw into the mix? Or Hope.

I also have a Faith and Hope pair, and a Felicity and Verity pair lol. I admit to liking the names

Rachie1973 · 21/07/2026 01:32

I have siblings granddaughters Robyn and Wren. I love the name Wren. I suggested it lol.

viques · 21/07/2026 01:10

I rather like Raven and Wren.

or if that is too birdy

Rae and Fen

VoteForCountBinface · 21/07/2026 01:04

dontmalbeconme · 20/07/2026 23:12

How about Erin instead of Wren. They sound fairly similar to me, and meets your one syllable rule.

@dontmalbeconme , please explain how Erin is one syllable.

Go for it @MySunnySeal , you love the names.
I don't but I like non-frilly names.

2025MUM2025 · 21/07/2026 00:04

I know a sibset called Rae and Ren, girl and boy.

dontmalbeconme · 20/07/2026 23:19

hellospring26 · 20/07/2026 23:15

@dontmalbeconmehow does Erin meet one syllable?

Edited

It's Erin, one syllable in my accent? I don't say Err-in, just Erin, all one sound/syllable as it's spelt.

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