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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:
OwlBeThere · 23/02/2019 03:25

@Deliaskitchen........Dewi and Lewi don't rhyme though, or at least if pronounced properly they don't! Dewi has an 'eh' sound like there or hair. Lewi has an 'i' sound like hit or git.

LikeDolphinsCanSwim · 23/02/2019 03:55

I like Xanthe a lot.

I wouldn't go for Theo and Cleo myself, it really sounds like kids' comic characters.

Mumofboys95 · 23/02/2019 04:14

Both me and my son have Very similar names that sound very alike! It never occurred to me until after he was born how similar they are..

The worst thing is if someone calls on one one of us the other answers and vice versa which is very annoying so I wonder if your kids will confused and wonder who your calling on

MaverickSnoopy · 23/02/2019 06:20

If you're going for Greek what about Konstantina? I know it's quite long and not in keeping with Cleo but it's very pretty.

Morai · 23/02/2019 06:29

I think they would be ok together. Both nice names.

How about Calla?

HalleLouja · 23/02/2019 06:33

Don’t call her Eleni. I considered it but glad I didn’t as there is a girl my dd knows and they call her Elaine-y. Zoe is s much better alternative.

Beachbooty · 23/02/2019 06:41

I think they sound lovely together! I don’t know why I’m thinking this but it will foster closeness between them?

BlueMerchant · 23/02/2019 06:46

I wouldn't have Theo and Cleo. It's just not right - I'd think you weren't very bright. Sorry

Blackcherrylatte · 23/02/2019 06:55

My kids name are like this, I didn't realise at the time but sometimes I end up morphing the names into one name, like instead of saying car and hat I'll say cat. Also they have the same initials so I have to label everything with full names.

DroningOn · 23/02/2019 07:14

Nope, not a good idea

BigDamnHero · 23/02/2019 07:58

Not Greek but if we'd had a girl rather than two boys, I was really keen on 'Alba'.

Original poster
cowcreamer · 23/02/2019 08:09

Thanks again for all the comments - and name suggestions! Lots of lovely ones - I really l like Xanthe, Iris, Cara and Lara

I can’t believe how many people are saying go for it! You can’t have a Theo and a Cleo!!

I know! I was starting to think I could get away with it...

Great suggestion to start calling Theo Ted(dy) and have Teddy and Cleo! Do it!

I don't think I could do this... Even for Cleo. He's just not a Teddy or a Ted.

Op - did you see the suggestion of Charis? Beautiful name I think.

Yes lovely name but it's only one letter different from my husband's name. Minefield!

My mother did this ( "not deliberately," says she) with my sister and I. She has yet to be forgiven.

A sobering thought...

I wouldn't have Theo and Cleo. It's just not right - I'd think you weren't very bright. Sorry

Ha! The brutal truth! Thanks (I mean it)

OP posts:
Tootrousers · 23/02/2019 10:05

Op in the nicest possible way, you’ve rejected names that are too similar to your own and your partners so you really have to reject cleo on the same grounds. It is a lovely name though.

Ellie56 · 23/02/2019 13:17

Op...you’ve rejected names that are too similar to your own and your partners so you really have to reject cleo on the same grounds. It is a lovely name though.

Does this decide it for you?

Margot33 · 23/02/2019 13:30

I think they're both nice names. Just chose the name you both love the best. They are going to have separate classes, with different hobbies and sets of friends. Noone in the last ten years has asked me what my siblings are called!

ToffeePennie · 23/02/2019 13:50

I think they’re lovely names but you need to prepare yourself for “oh they rhyme how cute” for the rest of their lives.
I named my kids after my great grandads. Only later I realised they are royal family names and I’m forever getting “oooh very regal” whenever I introduce my kids to anyone!

ShinyMe · 23/02/2019 14:18

How about Celia?

Amicompletelyinsane · 23/02/2019 14:23

AS a kid my sisters name ended in the same sound as mine. Meant when mum called us we couldn't be quite sure who she shouted up to🤣 I think cleo and Theo would have the same issues

Bellatrix14 · 23/02/2019 14:31

I wouldn’t, no. One of my favourite girls names rhymes with the name of my partner’s youngest daughter, and as soon as I realised that I instantly decided that I couldn’t use it if we were to have a child in the future.
They are lovely names though, although I apologise if that makes it worse! Blush

Mrsemcgregor · 23/02/2019 14:40

I have Nephews Daniel and Samuel. Though the later has always been known as Sam. I don’t think it’s a big issue, if you like it who cares?

lau888 · 23/02/2019 14:40

My parents did that. I now use a different name.

DailyBaileys · 23/02/2019 14:55

A few I like that aren't too long:

Aella

Cyd

Lyra

Cyd (Pronounced Sid) like Cyd Charrise - the beautiful dancer who had THE most fabulous legs.
Some sources say it's Greek, too. (Greek variant of Sidney?)
Can't get much shorter than Cyd! Unless you name her, Pi, or something.

I also like, Aella and Lyra - which are Greek origin.
(Aella, as either Aay-la, or Eye-la, either way lovely)
(Lyra, as either Lee-ra, or Lye-ra (or I like Leer-ah))

Okki · 23/02/2019 15:06

What about Cléonie?

MitziK · 23/02/2019 15:18

At the risk of invoking the horror of MN, have you considered asking the inlaws for suggestions?

You'll instantly get the 'correct' pronunciations - or at least the ones you'll hear when they are speaking to her. Just make clear you're interested in suggestions, not asking them to name her. And you'll get something that means she's more likely to have a Saints'/Names Day.

I don't like my full name, but when one of my old bosses would say it 'correctly', it actually sounded pretty. And when his parents called and asked to speak to his wife, I realised that the Greek version of her name was much nicer than the Anglicised version, as it added a softness to it that wasn't present in an English accent.

There's nowt wrong with a long surname, though, so don't feel obliged to have a very short first name. (Said by the person who surprised herself by being able to rattle them off easily but still grumbled about why there were so many different versions of Peter/diminutives).

CaitlinsYellowSocks · 23/02/2019 20:01

Like PP I love the names individually but think the rhyming might be a bit cutesy - although it's something people would probably notice once and then forget about.

I just wanted to say that I love your username, @cowcreamer - is it a PG Wodehouse reference?

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