DH and I first discussed baby names about 12 years ago when kids were still a long way off for us and we decided on a boys name we liked then and we decided a girls name about 6 years ago. These obviously weren't set in stone and we never told anyone else what the names were.
2 years ago my sister had her 2nd son and named him Benjamin but he is always referred to as/ called Benji. Benjamin was going to be our name for a boy. My sister didn't know this and I didn't tell her this after she had him either but I did mention it to my mum when she told me he'd been born and the chosen name.
I am now pregnant and it's a boy and there is literally not one other name I can find that I like for boys, nevermind one that my DH would also like. DH has one other name he likes but I don't like it. It's quite unusual and I tend to prefer old-fashioned, traditional names. I have read websites full of lists of names and still there is nothing I can find!
Since Benji is Benji how unreasonable do you think it is to call my son Benjamin?
I see my sister and her family about 5 times a year but we are quite close and keep in touch regularly via social media along with our other sister and brother.
I don't think she'd be thrilled about me choosing the same name as her but I don't know if it would bother her that much especially if we call him Benjamin and never Benji.
It is not a particularly unusual or unpopular name, always in the top 50, so I wouldn't be bothered if a friend also used it but with it being my sister's child's name I do feel a bit like I am overstepping the line.
AIBU?
to choose the same baby name as my sister?
jane2019 · 29/06/2018 16:07
I am now pregnant and it's a boy and there is literally not one other name I can find that I like for boys
Try harder 
The name Benjamin originates from Jacob’s sons in the bible. How about another of the sons like Rueben, Simeon, Dan, Judah, Asher or Joseph? (I can’t remember the other names from the Joseph musical 
)
My mums younger sister had a boy before she did and named her son (X). 3 children later my mum finally had a boy and also named him (X).
My mums youngest sister gave birth to who would finally be the last granddaughter and she was named after the oldest. (So chose same name as her older sisters daughter)
So the oldest and the youngest granddaughters/nieces have the same name and the two grandsons/nephews somewhere in the middle also have the same names.
I don’t recall there ever being any issues/fallouts/problems over names.
The oldest of the name was referred to as big(X) and the youngest of that name was referred to as little(X). Even though we are all grown up with families of our own they are still known as big(X)/little(X).
When you have a name that’s become ‘traditional’ in a family it’s because it’s been used (prob more than once) and carried on.
In a family tree does it really matter what branch carries it?
Nobody ‘owns’ the rights to use a name. Everyone has a right to use whatever name they want.
If you really want that name then do it.
Seriously, this is not a big deal and the whole thing has become an exercise in pettiness. My mother has two sisters and each have a son called Ian/Iain (no shortening this name!). One is 1.5 years older than the other and it has NEVER been an issue in our family. If we are clarifying which one we are referring to we just say their name with reference to the extra/missing ‘i’ or we just add their last name. No. Big. Deal. EVER. Hell, my friend’s daughter ended up calling her son the same name as her mother’s dog because she loved it and we all just have a chuckle - it’s become a cute family lore! Your choice of a name is your business. If you have always loved it and there is no weird sibling competitive thing going on inside you then choose it. Your sister can then choose to be chuffed or annoyed. And maybe don’t put up these kind of questions to the peanut gallery again and instead learn to be solid in yourself...otherwise it will be always be nuts for you.
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