To think their name choice is ‘off’

[Isitweirdorisitjustme]

I feel pretty miffed about something and can’t work out whether I’m being unreasonable or not - please give it to me straight!

SIL (my brother’s wife) was pregnant at the same time as me. I was six weeks ahead with our third baby (already have two boys and knew I was expecting a girl this time around) She was pregnant with their second (they chose to find out sex at birth)

Let’s say we chose Molly. Six weeks later they announced the arrival of their daughter and her name was Polly. Apparently they realised it was similar to Molly but thought this was ‘cute.’

For context, I don’t live in the same country as my brother. COVID aside, we normally see each other a few times a year and we are a small family - he is my only sibling. His eldest child is also a boy so the two recent babies are the only girls (and it’s likely to stay that way, don’t think either of us will have any more)

Is it just me or is it fucking weird that in our small family, we now have two girls, just six weeks apart with incredibly similar names? I feel like they are already set up for a lifetime of comparison and this just makes it even worse.

My mum is already getting confused and mixing their names up. She also keeps buying two sets of any gifts she gets for them so I keep seeing photos of Polly dressed identically to Molly?

Obviously I can never say anything to my brother but AIBU to be quietly quite pissed off about this? Polly has no significance for them beyond thinking it’s a nice name - I just can’t imagine me announcing Molly and them not thinking ‘oh shit that sounds like Polly, best think of something else’

[Goldfishmountainclimber]

I can’t believe that most people here think this is ok. I would also be annoyed, OP. It might be irrational but why did they have to choose such a similar name! I agree.

[Hertsgirl10]

I think your mum would buy identical outfits regardless of the similar names but I get why you’re a bit miffed. Not a lot you can do but at least you had yours 1st so they are the strange ones 😂

As they get older they will probably like it though.

[Roselilly36]

Anyone remember Pigeon Street? Polly & Molly, two of a kind.

[GreenFingersWouldBeHandy]

They can call their child whatever they want! It has absolutely nothing to do with you. Calm down the drama.

[Albanian]

How wonderful to have a happy, healthy baby girl in the terrible times we are all living through. Does anything else really matter?

[Lily019]

My exhusband's brother named his daughter the same as ours. My (adult) daughter was livid and took ages to get over it.. Must admit, I did find it really odd.

[Hobnobsandbroomstick]

Just seen your update. Nora and Cora aren't that similar to me. They start with different letters, and personally I quite like one of them but not very keen on the other one.

[ThreeWiseBuddhas]

You're giving this way waaaaay too much headspace
Each to their own and all that
How would you feel if they were posting on here having a whinge about what you've called your crotch fruit?

[LoisLane66]

Better than my real name which every other dog owner in the vicinity has named their mutt. I'm constantly looking round when out locally to see who called me.
Besides that, my next door neighbour has the same name as does our local Tesco delivery driver (female) and environmental health officer who inspects the nature trails behind our properties. 😂

[Hobnobsandbroomstick]

I just can’t imagine me announcing Molly and them not thinking ‘oh shit that sounds like Polly, best think of something else’

You can't imagine that they want to still use the name that they have chosen for their daughter? Really? Why should they change their name choice because you've picked a similair name? You're way overthinking it.

[pinkpirlie]

My DP has exactly the same name as his cousin (even surname as paternal side), born a few days apart. No comparisons are ever made between them. My mom also has the same name as my cousin (her nephew). Again I don't recall anything ever being said about the similarity.

People are known for their personality, I don't think anyone bats an eye at similar names within a family - well certainly not ours.

[Mirw]

Get over yourself! Cousins used to have the same name because they were all named after grandparents. My mother had two cousins named Albert and two named Jean. My Dad had a cousin named James as is he, and 2 called Patricia. My gran had three cousins named Annie as was her 1st name: they all went by their 2nd names.

[Samphiresizzle]

I think you are getting an unreasonably hard time on here. If you think it’s an odd choice then it’s an odd choice.

[canichange]

My brother and his wife had a son 5 weeks after my son was born. Their names are nothing alike, they don't even share one letter. My mother compares them at every opportunity and always buys them the same things because she can't be bothered to think what each individual child would like.

[Captainj1]

My mum is the middle one of three girls and both her sisters named their daughters the same name as my mum. I have never thought hard about it tbh…I have two cousins with the same name…so what…so yes YABU

[Carryonmarion]

In a few years I don't think you will care. I have 2 cousins, both boys similar in looks born 3 months apart with exactly the same first name (different middle & surnames). My Mum's sister and her brother and their partners just liked the same names. It is actually not a problem in the slightest. If we need to differentiate we just say something like, "Diane's Mike" so the other person knows which Mike we are talking to. If we are together with both Mikes and the wrong one answers, we say "not you, that Mike" and move on. No more competition or rivalry takes place between the Mikes than takes place with the other non-Mike named cousins.

[Alltheblue]

I don't think of those names as alike actually. They're from different classes and are unalike in nature despite the rhyme.

[JingleberryChristmas]

This is not remotely weird OP. YABU

[HauntedPencil]

Hadnt seen your update - what lovely names!

[HauntedPencil]

I think it's fine and it wouldn't occur to me to me miffed so maybe she just didn't see an issue either - aside from thinking it was nice they had rhyming names

I mean I don't think it's reasonable to expect them to avoid the same name and any name that rhymes or sounds similar

[KaycePollard]

YABU.

Not much more to say really -except that the way you tell the story in your OP seems very competitive and you make all sorts of value-laden comparisons.

BTW, just what is it with all these posts about sisters-in-law????

[LifesTooShortForYourNonsense]

I have two cousins with the same name, and until I was married we all has the same surname too. It’s not a problem 🤷‍♀️

[Chocolatedragon]

My cousin gave her new born son the same name as my 4 year old son. I just can’t get my head round it!

[MaggieFS]

I think YABU, but then in my family I caused a ruckus because I named DC a name which might possibly in future years be abbreviated to the same name his second cousin has, a female second cousin 12 years older. So clearly you aren't alone in your thinking.

[HippoRaine]

Just change your baby's name to Balonz, she will never find a rhyme for that