Name stealing?

[Crownjewels]

my brother's best friend has just named his newborn the same name as my brother's son- who is four years old. Now I know that it is a compliment, but it's the way in which he conducted himself. He didn't consult with my brother, didn't even tell him his baby had been born a week ago. My brother heard from a friend. When he rang to congratulate him, and asked the baby's name, he commented it was nice that he had named him after his son: but his best friend had the audacity to say he didn't like the name at all, it was his girlfriend's choice, also he wasn't aware that my brother's son had that name, although he had an inkling! He said they consulted baby name books, etc. My brother is understandably upset and feels betrayed. We, as a family, feel my brother's pain. But are we being terribly unreasonable, or are we justified in our emotions?

My cousin who was born quite soon after me, has the same name as me. Must have been a bit confusing for my gran. Other than that I don't think anyone was the slightest bit bothered.

Turns out ds1 has the same two names as it least 5 other people way back in DH's family. No one has suffered any pain.

My brother is understandably upset and feels betrayed. We, as a family, feel my brother's pain.

Not really sure why your brother is upset (other than that the friend didn't know his son's name!) - as everyone else pointed out, no copyrights on names. Really struggling to understand why he feels betrayed and why your family feel his pain. The child is 4 already! Tell him to pull himself together FFS.

My DD has quite an unusual name but a couple of friends have used it since she was born, one even using both first name and middle name. Didn't occur to me to be offended.

DS1's name more common, he's named after DH's (deceased) grandfather and he has the same name as one of my very close friend's DS's (who is older) - am amused at idea that I should have even considered what my friend would have thought.

And DS2's name very unusual yet a distant relation used it as a middle name when DS2 was just a few months old.

YABU to take it to heart so much, but nbu to be a bit miffed. I was named Katherine as a first name, my 6 months younger cousin was named Catherine - my Mum was miffed, but guess what life went on! I never went by my first name anyhow, so it was never an issue.

Clearly if DB's friend doesn't know the name of his 4 year old, the kids aren't a part of the socialising, so it WILL NEVER MATTER. Plus, people move away and friendships drift apart, so likely it will mean nothing in a year's time. I deliberately steered clear of two names I liked, Sebastian and Maximillian, as they were the names of our friend's sons... yet we live on the other side of the world and have barely talked except christmas cards in years... so I could have nabbed the names and no problems...

I wonder what is going to happen when the child goes to school, are we going to see a long line of family members lamenting and wailing when they discover that the child's no doubt totally original and one off name is duplicated alongside three Sams, Emilys and Olivers.

What pain! Your brother sounds like an overly sensitive buffoon and his friend sounds like a twat for A) not having the brass ones to tell your brother to piss of and stop being an egotistical fool or B) not having the brass ones to tell his girlfriend he hates his childs name.

My son is called something that has appeared in the top 10 boy names, probably for a very long time, but definatly the last 10 years.

Should I have consulted everyone else that named their child that?

BTW it's a variation spelling a 2 other boys in his 6 class school have the same name and same spelling - 1 is in his class.

He is named after his step paternal GD who was flattered.

YABU btw - but you got that.

Oh dear, kidding - I just read that as 'flattened'. Thought the thread had taken another tragic turn.

Oh and just for a laugh. My friend, who I met after having DC's but knew her DB from school and me nearly named our DC's the same!

Her DD1 (8mnths older then my DS) would have had his name if a boy.

My DS (10 mnths older than her DD2) was going to be called the same thing as her DD2 if a girl.

We find it hysterical. Often joke how we could have been yelling for 1 and get 2. A bit like child BOGOF.

Flatterned. He passed away last year but it was old age not a steamroller. Phew.

YABU, you can't have something stolen from you when you don't own it. Sounds like a whole load of drama-lama to feel betrayed over perceived name stealage, and you guys need to get some perspective.

I could sympathise with the best friend not knowing your nephew's name, but I'd have to question what kind of a best friend they are to not even know that? Sounds more like the classic facebook friends (acquaintances) then actual ones.

Akiss beat me to it!

I do not think OP will be back any time soon.
She is busy thinking of a unique name for a her PFB.
Have a peek at her previous.

Congratulations tho!

Your brother's friend was probably annoyed at the assumption that he named his child after your nephew! Just because someone uses a name doesn't mean they were named after someone who had the name first!

He has not been at all unreasonable. How can they have been best friends yet not know the name of their child? YABU and so is your brother.

This is why the more imaginative and pioneering type of parents create their own, neverseenbefore names.
To the excitement of the class and the despair of the teacher.
Shardonay, Vajazel, Bovvered...

I once taught a class with 5 children who all had the same first name.
You know what? They were all completely different people.

Oh I adore Vajazel - it's very unique.

I'm reading Vajazel so it rhymes with Hazel, it really is a beautiful name and unless anyone steps forward to claim it NOW, it shall be mine (or my dd's when I have one)