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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask her to change it?

595 replies

Leprechaunsundays · 08/04/2021 16:38

I’m 7 months pregnant and DH and I finally have a girls name we love. It’s pretty unusual and we don’t know a single person with it. It’s something like 900th in popularity. We haven’t told anyone this name.

My friend just got a new puppy last week and posted a picture on Facebook of it announcing this same name! I immediately messaged her and said I was really sorry but that was the name we had chosen for our DD and can she choose something else. She just did the laughing emoji react to my message and then sent back “Haha that’s hilarious we chose the same one! It is a cool name though!”. She didn’t agree to change it, that’s all she said. But I assumed she understood and would do the decent thing.

Anyway today she posted again on Facebook that she had made an Instagram account for this puppy... and the name was still the same!!! What should I message her next? I thought she understood last time and now it’s just awkward to have to say it again

OP posts:
Sirzy · 08/04/2021 17:16

As with others I can’t believe you even asked her to change it!

It’s a name nobody owns a name. If you don’t like the fact that she has named her dog that name then you can pick a different one

ChocOrange1 · 08/04/2021 17:17

@Leprechaunsundays

If we have a boy this time we’ll still keep the girls name for next time. I really thought nobody else would pick it as it was so unusual. I feel like now she’s picked it for her dog and even made an Instagram account for the dog, it might become more popular now because other people will have heard of it. So not only has she ruined it for this baby, but also for our next baby in case we don’t have a girl this time,

I actually think she maybe found out somehow even though we never told anyone.

You are being ridiculous. How many followers does your friend have on Instagram? Is she world famous? Because if not, there is no way a small Instagram page for one dog is going to affect the popularity of a name. Get over it and use the name, or get over it and don't use the name. Either way she won't be changing her dogs name.

If your baby was born and named first I would understand a bit more.

Original poster
Leprechaunsundays · 08/04/2021 17:18

I understand what you are all saying now. Sorry I was just taken aback but I do get it now you have all given me another point of view to think about.

I don’t want to lose my friend. Do you think I should just pretend I was joking? What should I say? I’m worried now she will think I’m mad

OP posts:
FireflyRainbow · 08/04/2021 17:18

Op don't be ridiculous 😂 she beat you to it so it's tough. Change your name or have people think you copied her dog.

Sirzy · 08/04/2021 17:19

Just don’t say anything!

sammylady37 · 08/04/2021 17:19

This is absolutely hilarious- has brightened an otherwise mundane Thursday

Aprilshowersandhail · 08/04/2021 17:19

As a teen my dd's bff was called Samantha. Their ddog was Sam!
She was very happy!!
Non issue..
Oh and if the name is Luna be prepared to see dozens in every park op..

IReallyNeedMoreGin · 08/04/2021 17:20

I'm not surprised she laughed at you, you're being ridiculous!

B33Fr33 · 08/04/2021 17:20

If you really like the name it doesn't matter who has it, does it? I mean if it does then you need to reassess a few things.

ILoveAfternoonTea · 08/04/2021 17:21

MNer's, don't fall for this, it's obv a wind up

1Morewineplease · 08/04/2021 17:22

Let it go OP.
I can fully appreciate that you have found a name that no one has thought of but it was a pure coincidence that your friend chose this name for her puppy.
No name is exclusive and they're all up for grabs by anybody.
That's the problem with trying to be too niche with a baby's name... it becomes so much more jarring when someone else has also thought of it.

Anyway... you might have a boy then this whole thread will be meaningless.
You can't realistically 'reserve' a precious, never-before-thought-of name for a baby that hasn't been born yet.

FireflyRainbow · 08/04/2021 17:22

Agree about Luna. I know dogs, a cat, a rabbit, and a hamster all called Luna. Everyone loves potter.

FireflyRainbow · 08/04/2021 17:23

Oh and 3 children

RachelRavenRoth · 08/04/2021 17:23

Yes absolutely pretend you were joking about her changing it, and say it will be so cute there will be a baby and a puppy X name!

Newuname199987 · 08/04/2021 17:23

Surely this is a joke? Your friend must be amazing if as you say she found out the name from you even though you didn’t tell anyone!
We had a dog with a name we love, then few years later had a son and called him the same name. People have names they love and whether it’s a dog, cat or whatever they aren’t going to change it as you might like to use it if you ever have a girl. How embarrassing, I’d pretend you were joking.

MintLampShade · 08/04/2021 17:23

@Leprechaunsundays

I understand what you are all saying now. Sorry I was just taken aback but I do get it now you have all given me another point of view to think about.

I don’t want to lose my friend. Do you think I should just pretend I was joking? What should I say? I’m worried now she will think I’m mad

Bless you, OP! I probably wouldn't say anything. If it ever came up, I'd just blame the hormones.WinkThanksCake
lolacola77 · 08/04/2021 17:24

You really sound crazy. Just leave it. You might not even get to use the name anyway. It's not worth losing a good friend over.

LondonStone · 08/04/2021 17:24

In my second year of teaching I had a woman practically screaming at me on the very first day of term because there was another child in the nursery with the same [unusual] name as her daughter.

She was absolutely livid they would be mixing together (open plan nursery for 52 children, we only separated briefly at carpet times) and was threatening to take her to another school if she heard her being referred to “Erin K” (just an example).

At the time it was awful because I really didn’t know what to say to this woman and imagine if OP’s child goes to school and there’s two or three in her year!

Carryonlikeaporkchop · 08/04/2021 17:24

I’m worried now she will think I’m mad

Bit late for that really.

Ladyks3 · 08/04/2021 17:24

What is the breed & name of the dog’s Instagram? Would love to follow! Grin

NiceTwin · 08/04/2021 17:24

She isn't going to change the name and nor should she and you shouldn't expect her to.

My dog shares a name with some boys/men. I named him after the street he was born on, that happens to be a name.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 08/04/2021 17:24

Maybe your future daughter will be thankful to your friend if you pick something else. “unique” names are often hated by the child especially when they are adults.

scully29 · 08/04/2021 17:24

It may be she's done you a favour - if you both thought of it perhaps its more popular than you thought?? Does she have kids already? It could be a very popular cebbbies character or something if you see what i mean? Is it Lola, Xuli, Lily for example, or something like Elsa or Ana?! Maybe ask her where she's named the puppy from?

SeasonFinale · 08/04/2021 17:25

That's the problem with these unusual names that you have to work so hard to come up with - they are not so "unique" anyway. Maybe you'll "come to your senses" and I think I have a full MN bingo in this one short paragraph.

Special commendation for barking mad and Puppanay-Rae

1Morewineplease · 08/04/2021 17:25

Tbh.. I'm now waiting for the 'I named my puppy Brunhilde but my mate got stroppy as she thinks she thought of it first for her baby' thread.

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