To wonder why so many posts on baby name threads ask for names that match siblings

[Witchofzog]

I have always been baffled by this. If you like a child's name then does it really matter if it "goes" with a siblings name? After all the child, when it goes to school, will be known by its own name anyway. Does it matter if you have Freddy and Freya or Freddy and Imogen? Providing you like both names stand alone?

I didn't know of this in 1999. Didn't realise we had to do matchy matchy names. But I like my DC's names so I don't care.

I doubt anyone has said my DC's names together for years, and as for me and my siblings even longer.

What happens if you have a blended family or you adopt? Or you marry somebody and your names don't go together?

But looking at some of the baby name threads there is a lot of over thinking going on.

there is a general theme amongst names, I mean you rarely see a

Henry and Jayden
or
Lysander and Kelly

Also if you've gone down a particular route, i.e colours, nature you tend to want not to then deviate.

We have b/g DT’s - we choose their names because we liked them. All DC’s are individual. No reason to have matchy names.

It’s not something I considered particularly, but I guess it’s to check they they aren’t too ‘matchy matchy’ and also maybe that they’re similar in style? Siblings called Persephone and Michelle would sound a bit off, for example.

I meant odd, not off!

But what if a Henry and Jayden/Lysander and Kelly were to marry? Or is it just siblings?

I wanted this. It was important to me. I wanted them to be in the same style, language, to be roughly the same length, roughly similar levels of usage. It just felt right to me. A lot of people don't care and that's fine for them but I care and luckily a lot of other people get it.

Interestingly, I did once guess that two sisters were half sisters before they shared that detail with me because their names didn't sound like they were chosen by the same couple.

I honestly like all of these combos that people think sound weird I think it’s kind of weird that your name is so bound up in what your sibling is called. If the kids looks like a Brian, call him Brian, what does it matter what his sister is called! She’s a different person

I find the threads titled “what’s Brian’s sister called?” very wierd.

How should I fucking know? Ask Brian or his parents? Not a internet forum who doesn't have a clue which Brian on the planet you’re referring to.

Ella and Sam - what's the problem?

I think it is “Sam and Ella” sounds like “salmonella”

I think other people couldn't care less what you call your baby. I have never sat and analysed all of my friends' DCs' names and whether they match.

So just say Ella and Sam.

Calling your baby Number Six is pathetic, tho.

I think it's more that eyebrows are likely to be raised at a group of siblings called Thomas, Victoria, Peter and Sparkle-Cushion. Or Tia, Lia, Mia and Persephone.

My kids' names all start with the same letter and I like it that way. However I don't like when names rhyme. Each to their own.

I was at school with twin sisters who had very different names...one very unusual and frilly and the other was very common at the time. Think along the lines of Antoinette and Sarah. I found it quite odd that twin sisters had such different style names. Each to their own though and maybe one was a family name or something.

I have three DC and I must admit I wanted the names to sound nice together but certainly not matching. I know siblings Jack and Jake and Ella and Isla which I think is a bit silly, and also three sisters called Daisy, Rose and Violet which is a bit twee. But I think it’s nice to have names of the same style.

“ So just say Ella and Sam.”

It’s not me who thinks this is weird or who has children with these names

One of my friends didn't make the names go together. Also, with her last pregnancy she wanted something from a different culture (that none of her family and friends belong to and she has never visited). So now her (all blonde very white) rural kids are something like (not real names):
John
Sophie
Madhavaditya

And now she wonders why people ask who madhavaditya's biological father is or if they ask about the adoption process...

If you have a Persephone, an Allegra and a Jean, Jean's going to feel bad I think.

Similarly if you have a Harry, a Ben and a Crispian, Crispian might have much prefered to be an Oliver or a Dan.

This could be a bit outing but I know siblings called Tsunami and Joanne.

I agree. Plus there aren’t enough names I like to worry about this!

I knew a girl from a very traditional family where the girls were named after grandmothers. After that traditional had been done, subsequent girls could be called what the parents wanted.

So the four girls were something like Margaret, Euphemia, Melisandra-Louise and Destinee,

@SunshineAngel Erm because this is a discussion forum Sounds like I have hit a nerve and you are not the thread police.

I think people will often naturally gravitate towards similar names anyway so someone who calls their daughter Persephone- Ariel is unlikely to name her sibling Ruth. Though there are always exceptions. I just think though that if you like both names and they suit the child in question then it doesn't matter if they don't match. Many siblings are totally different in personality anyway

I didn't realise it was a 'thing' until I joined Mumsnet but my kids were born back in the early 90s and I didn't have the joy of parenting forums back then.