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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Relatives kind of stealing our name?!

97 replies

jules2106 · 05/07/2014 09:40

hi everyone,just posting this out of curiosity ad interested to know peoples views!we have a 3yo son called finlay&brother in law just had a son&they've named him Finn.they told all the rest of the family this would be their boys name during pregnancy except us so they obviously thought it might be an issue!
neither myself or partner have said a word about it to them (certainly wouldn't be huffy with them) tho privately we both don't really know what to make of it.if im being honest,im a bit miffed-could argue they're different names but bit too similar at same time (esp as my son s sometimes nicknamed Finn!would love to hear what others think!

OP posts:
ElizabethJennings · 05/07/2014 09:43

It's a different name. Get over it.

Icimoi · 05/07/2014 09:44

Not a big deal. No-one owns a name, and this isn't even the same name.

Morethanalittlebitconfused · 05/07/2014 09:44

So what. It's a different name and your child is the elder one.

We have 2 Linda's on the same side of the family and no one bats an eyelid

jaynebxl · 05/07/2014 09:45

Take it as a compliment or a sign that you all have good taste. Presumably the boys will grow up pretty separately and have different friends etc so hardly anyone but close ish family will ever know.

londonrach · 05/07/2014 09:45

No one owns a name sorry but Yabu. Enjoy your new family member

mameulah · 05/07/2014 09:45

You have a healthy son and he has a lovely name. End of.

Names belong to everyone in the whole world to choose from. You can't take ownership of one in an exclusive way.

Fair enough you are a bit 'meeeeeeh' about it with your DH but I certainly wouldn't be making an issue of it in my family.

dexter73 · 05/07/2014 09:45

Can't see the problem personally.

magpiegin · 05/07/2014 09:45

I have the same name as my cousin. Never been an issue. Yours isn't even the same name!

MamaLazarou · 05/07/2014 09:46

What effect does their name choice have on you, exactly?

LST · 05/07/2014 09:47

I don't understand the problem. It's a different name anyway. It's like William and Liam. ..

HauntedNoddyCar · 05/07/2014 09:47

Cousins have my db's name. No-one got upset. We thought it was funny.

Yabu.

Wishfulmakeupping · 05/07/2014 09:47

I actually would be mega pissed off. They should have at least mentioned it to you. I'm honestly surprised people would be so laid back about it!

Bunbaker · 05/07/2014 09:48

Sorry, but get a grip.

You don't own the name. They like it, and it isn't even exactly the same anyway.

We have two Alex names and two Olivers in my family and no-one batted an eyelid.

TightyMcTight · 05/07/2014 09:49

I would think its weird too. I suppose it depends on how often they see each other. My DS see his cousins weekly and it is effectively the same name!

Floralnomad · 05/07/2014 09:49

My eldest sister has the same name as our aunt ,not an issue .

DustWitch · 05/07/2014 09:50

I don't see the issue, but then, we gave DS the same name as my cousin's son Grin

It doesn't cause any problems at all, we call them big x and little x.

Bunbaker · 05/07/2014 09:51

Oh, and I named DD after my favourite auntie.

BauerTime · 05/07/2014 09:51

My dad, brother, uncle and 2 cousins are all called John. 2 Davids, 2 Pauls, 2 James' and 2 Sarahs in the family too. Think back a few years and people in the same family having the same name was quite a usual occurance i think.

They cant help that they like the same name as you. Yes they could have not used it but really, why should they? I can see why its annoyed you but you will just get used to calling your son by his full name at get togethers to avoid confusion and in a short while wont even think about it.

BerniceBroadside · 05/07/2014 09:51

As your son is nicknamed Finn then I think it is a bit odd. It's not as if there is a national name shortage.

TightyMcTight · 05/07/2014 09:51

It is not the same as William and Liam. If cousin was called Lee then I doubt OP Would care. Finn is short for Finley. Like I said. Depends how close they are.

MamaLazarou · 05/07/2014 09:52

It's the risk you take when you choose a fashionable name.

NickNackNooToYou · 05/07/2014 09:52

Personally I'd be miffed too. There are thousands of names out there to choose from - clearly they just want to copy your obvious good taste Wink

Rise above it and try not to let it bother you.

My 'lovely' SIL named her cat the same name as my DS then sat back to watch my reaction. Refuse to give her any satisfaction and agreed it is a fab name.

deakymom · 05/07/2014 09:53

its a bit odd if your close my husbands step brother picked identical names for his son as we had for ours he just switched them but he lives in another country so its not a concern the only thing that bugs me is mil referring to my (older) child as the bab and her step grandson by his name (but thats a WHOLE other thread)

Hakluyt · 05/07/2014 09:53

It's a bonkers thing to do. But there's nothing to stop them.

magpiegin · 05/07/2014 09:53

Come to think of it my brother has the same name as his cousin and his uncle. I am really struggling to see the issue. You don't own the name.