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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call my children names that rhyme?

210 replies

cowcreamer · 22/02/2019 19:00

Is it really that bad? For clarity - we don't want them to rhyme - it's just the name we like for our soon to be born daughter rhymes with that of our son.

I know it's annoying when people are cryptic on these threads so my son's name is Theo and we want to call our little girl Cleo. they have a Greek dad hence the names that work in Greek and English - and also we want short names as their surnames are very long! We don't do middle names.

So is it really awful - or should I not care what people might think and just call them what we want? Will it set us all up for a lifetime of confusion?!

If it is really that bad - any other name suggestions? I'm running out of ideas!

OP posts:
Katinski · 22/02/2019 20:10

Two sisters I knew were called Flavia and Lavinia- known to us as Flav and LavGrin

Katinski · 22/02/2019 20:12

Sorry, my computer's jumping all over the place, anyway, just wanted to say that your choice of names is lovely,I thinkSmile

Aridane · 22/02/2019 20:13

Both lovely names, individually and together

Please don't fuck with the spelling

Aridane · 22/02/2019 20:13

I think you're over thinking it. I don't think people in real life will give it much thought other than "huh it rhymes" if you say the names together. Eventually they will grow up and become adults and I really don't think it will matter at all.

I think if they were twins and in the same class at school, then I would understand the concern.

Just to for it. It'll be fine

Agree!

SmarmyMrMime · 22/02/2019 20:13

Stand in a park and yell them. It's a great test Grin

I think they are too rhyming as they're both short names without longer versions to dilute the rhyming. A shame because individually they're lovely.

Mind you, my DCs have phonetically totally different names and I still muddle them and call them "Wassyername" Grin

evaperonspoodle · 22/02/2019 20:16

Sorry OP but in combination they sound like a pair of toy dogs. So many lovely Greek names to chose from, do not do this to your dc.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 22/02/2019 20:17

Clea? She would get clear all her life. Don’t do it.

Original poster
cowcreamer · 22/02/2019 20:17

We waited until our 3 were born to name them. Mostly because we could never narrow our list of names down past 5 and so hoped that once they were born we'd have an epiphany and we did.

Good to know - maybe I need to let the planner/control freak in me relax and go with the flow a bit more.

Please don't fuck with the spelling

Ha! Fair enough...

Flav and Lav!!!

I'm loving all the rhyming name examples!

OP posts:
ShaggyRug · 22/02/2019 20:18

@cowcreamer what about Cassiopeia?
It’s Greek and shortened versions are cute
“Cassie”
“Peia”
DD knows a young girl called this who goes by Peia as nickname [pee-a].

Original poster
cowcreamer · 22/02/2019 20:20

Sorry OP but in combination they sound like a pair of toy dogs.

Somebody else mentioned this so now I know if I do got for it I'll be calling them my pair of pooches as a joke - but maybe one of those jokes that becomes a habit - thus compounding the problem!!

OP posts:
ILoveBray · 22/02/2019 20:20

Oh God, I wouldn't! Sorry OP, Theo and Cleo sounds intentional and a bit like a joke. If you like Greek names, Chloe is similar.

wyoudo · 22/02/2019 20:20

If you’re looking at alternatives - What about Leonora - shortened to Lennie or Nora

RickOShay · 22/02/2019 20:21

I love Eleni.

Original poster
cowcreamer · 22/02/2019 20:21

@cowcreamer what about Cassiopeia?

It's nice but we really want a short name

OP posts:
Original poster
cowcreamer · 22/02/2019 20:22

Eleni too similar to my own name unfortunately because I agree it's nice

OP posts:
Accio · 22/02/2019 20:26

I think they’re both lovely names, the only problem for me would be the explaining forever that it was an accidental rhyme! If it helps, I know a family which inexplicably named two brothers John and John-Paul and everyone pretended it was perfectly normal!

Knackeredmommy · 22/02/2019 20:26

I like them, I think Thea is nice too but maybe too similar?

Original poster
cowcreamer · 22/02/2019 20:30

I like Thea but thought that was definitely a step too far in the similarity stakes!!

OP posts:
RickOShay · 22/02/2019 20:32

Kalliope?
Kali is a lovely nickname

beachyhead · 22/02/2019 20:37

Can Theo become Teddy?

But I love Clea anyway.....

wyoudo · 22/02/2019 20:38

Zara, Zoe, shola, Fluer, carmen, Elise, Sofia, Maya, Arianna, Effy, Hebe ?

BuildAParsnip · 22/02/2019 20:39

Oh no, that's bad.
I think you'll have to think of another name.

altiara · 22/02/2019 20:39

I wouldn’t do it. There are still hundreds of lovely Greek names out there.
I like Eleni - suggested above.

PosiePerkinandPootle · 22/02/2019 20:42

I've posted this before on name threads but my oldest DD and DS both have 2syllable names that have same vowel sound in 1st syllable and end -er. If I call one I inevitably get the other coming to see what I want, or as they are now teens, neither come and they both claim they though I called the other. I love both their names still but if I'd realised I'd have chosen something else for DS. Before I had DC I remember a friend saying shout the names you're thinking of because they have to roll off the tongue when you're cross. so "THEO GET DOWN FROM THERE" "CLEO DON'T PUT THAT IN YOUR MOUTH" etc. You could try a more gentle "Cleo give that to mummy" and if your son responds then you know it's going to be an issue.

AuntMarch · 22/02/2019 20:42

I know a Kali who is just Kali, if you want short.

I'm not s big fan of Cleo personally which may cloud my judgement, but I wouldn't go for rhyming. I don't like matching initials either though - I'd avoid anything that could look to anybody like I'd chosen the second name specifically to match a theme rather than because I loved it (whether it was the case or not!).
If there was another in-between that didn't rhyme then it would be fine - but not just as a duo.
But that's only my opinion! I can't think of a single name I do like enough to short list for my baby yet so what help an I anyway.