To be upset at my SIL choice of name

[bungalowgirl]

She named her son(age 2) a very similar sounding name to my son(age 10). There is only one sound different. To protect their identity as both name are relatively unusual it is akin to Alexander/Alexandra or Edie/Evie.
2 years on I am getting increasingly irritated by the funny looks people give me when I look after him (about every 2 months for the weekend) and the fact my son has asked to change his name! I know I don't have a monopoly on sound but AIBU to be so pissed off?

Pikelit, ROFL at Algernon Fortescue Cuntymug-Smythe

Can your son's name be shortened? Or your nephews name be shortened?

I think yabu. You don't own a name and you certainly don't own a name + any name that sounds like it + any name that rhymes with it.

If it seriously bothers you, like has been said, don't have your nephew any more. You can say to your sil "I can't look after your son any more because his name sounds too much like my son's name and people stare at me."

If nothing else, it'll give her a good laugh

Come on, say it out loud. Silly, innit?

If that is all that you have to worry about, you are very lucky!

YABU. I know of cousins born a year apart called Jack & Jake. There is no problem with this. Both boys have their own personalities.

"I think it is downright U to expect these people to share the same air, as the OP tbh. Don't they know how devisistating this sort of tradgedy is? That 10 year old will be traumutized for life." ROFL pikelit

OP have you changed names??

I don't think you are being unreasonable. My dad had an affair which resulted in a child. He then gave my brother the same 3 initials as me (obviously the same surname) but an almost identical middle name with only 1 letter difference(which i will not reveal as it is so rare it would absolutely give my identity away ). seriously if I said it quickly you would think they were the same name. Anyhow, tis pretty shitty but we're over it and so will your ds and his cousin.

Is your nephew called Centaur?

hehe

pmsl at centaur would be very amusing to be introduced "this is my son centaur" rofl (I'm easily amused)

Ds and I have the same sounding name (all but one letter) when my name is abbreviated. Think Di and Si or Jo and Joan.

Really very stupid of us not to consider my name's abbreviation when naming poor ds but it doesn't exactly matter at all.

Cousins? Pah - that's distant.

My BIL named his dog the same name as my son. What do I make of that? Just that it is clearly a great name!

Ah, but when you ask for opinions in RL, the person/people you've asked have to weigh up whether they can tolerate your reaction if they disagree with you. So if they aren't in the mood for a spat or even just for that terrible wounded feelings expression, they could easily assure you of the rightness of your stance.

Behind your back they might well be saying "Artemis/Archibald? What is she LIKE, ffs?" as they snigger over their cupcakes.

Bugger. I'm replying to a deletion.

right sorry for confusion had to delete above at DH request as SIL also on MN and knows my username. Really sorry. I get that IABU. Thats all I needed to know. I don't want a family row over this. Thank you for all your replies. (Now with new name!)

biddy why oh why would you call your poor son rover. It's just not fair .

OP I feel very very sorry for you right about now, how shit is that. It's a small world after all and this one's going to be brought up at Christmas !

damnedchilblains - I am a terrible, cruel mother!!

Just been immersing myself in dh's family history again (almost as addictive as Mumsnet). And it certainly seems to be the case in the 19th century, that every family descended from the same person would have one Albert, named after Uncle Albert in the previous generation, and one Florence, after Auntie Florence, and so on and so forth. And you know- the human race survived and flourished.

I like the idea of naming people after older generations. I however sympathise with OP as I think similar sounding names are difficult. I went to school with 7 Clares and 6 James' and they all ended up with different nn to differentiate them. I guess your SIL needs to accept that you will use a nn for her DS.

I have two cousins named Margaret born in the same year and names never shortened.It didnt bother anyone.