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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Is it weird to call our baby the same name as my brother?

63 replies

Hopintobed · 17/09/2011 18:39

We have recently found out we are expecting DS2. We already have DS called Joseph. The only other name I really love is Daniel but it's my brother's name. I have loved the name since I was a child but is it weird to call him same name. Me and my brother are still fairly close and he lives in same town so he is definitely in our children's lives. Is it confusing or weird or OK?

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susiedaisy · 17/09/2011 21:10

yeah i would agree with others and keep it as his middle name, there are so many more fab names out there, but it sounds like youve already made your mind up, does your brother already have children? would he like of used his own name some day?

icapturethecastle · 17/09/2011 21:13

Not weird at all - I think it would be lovely to name him after your brother

Original poster

Hopintobed · 17/09/2011 21:16

No not made up our minds completely and no my brother won't be having children of his own (long story but it's definitely not an option) and certainly wouldn't give them his own name anyway.

OP posts:

mopsyflopsy · 17/09/2011 21:17

To me, naming someone/something is to IDENTIFY him/her, which is not really achieved by naming your ds the same name as your brother, sorry.

There are thousands of lovely names out there, have a look at the ONS lists showing ALL names used last year - there is bound to be one you love as much or more!

FlipFantasia · 17/09/2011 21:21

I named my son after my brother...well, it was actually after my father (who died when we were children) who my brother was named after.

I've always loved the name and wanted to honour my dad's memory, but also my brother. Hasn't been odd - my brother was chuffed and most of my nephews have the name as a middle name (the ones that don't have my dad's middle name).

My son also has a different surname to my brother, though my family have started using a pet name based on the name though my DH's family call him by his proper name.

Anyway, Daniel is a gorgeous name and naming him after your brother is a lovely thing to do

Theala · 17/09/2011 21:21

I think it's a lovely idea, especially because you and your brother are close and he would be chuffed. :)

I hate you for putting that Elton John song into my head, however. :o

NationalTruss · 17/09/2011 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Lindax · 17/09/2011 21:47

my brother has the same 1st name as my dad and granddad
my other brother has same 1st name as mum's brother and her dad
my sister has same 1st name as my mum and my dad's sister
I have the same name as my dads sister

we have little imagination in my family!

I dont think its odd.

brodanbell · 17/09/2011 22:44

I think it is a reallly lovely thing to do. Plenty of people name children after their father/mother etc, so why not your brother? I should imagine it won't feel strange at all especially as your brother goes by the name of Dan and your little boy will be Daniel - at least for a while anyway. In my extended family we have a father and son both called James, but the father goes by Jim and the son James. I really don't find it strange.

LeonieDeSaintVire · 17/09/2011 23:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Italiangreyhound · 17/09/2011 23:19

Hopintobed I don't think it is odd and it certainly would not have been considered unusual a few years back. My auntie called her son by the same name as her sister's husband (my dad - my mum's husband). So my cousin has the same name as my dad. Then a few year's later my other auntie called her daughter after her sisters name (so I have a cousin and an auntie with the same name).

My nephews have family middle names and so does my daughter.

I don't think it is unusual but I guess I would just mention it to your brother before the big day (you said he would be chuffed so I am sure he would be pleased).

How does your partner/hubby feel? Sorry have not read all the replies so not sure what he thinks.

Daniel is a lovely name.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 17/09/2011 23:26

My dp is called David Micheal.

The David's after his mums brother and the Micheal's after his dads brother.

Nobody's ever tnought it to be strange tho, it's just a name.

cloudydays · 17/09/2011 23:26

I'm amazed that anyone think that it would be odd to name your son after your brother, to whom you are close.

That strikes me as very, very normal. And lovely.

And Daniel is a great name.

NeedaCostume · 17/09/2011 23:27

It is fine to name your son after your brother. Maybe you can nickname differently to distinguish - i.e. Dan/ Danny.

One of my sons has the middle name Thomas like my brother.

These names are common for a good reason - they are lovely names.

sjuperwolef · 17/09/2011 23:30

my sister was offended i didnt name my dd after her i see nothing wrong with it - and daniel is a gorgeous name :)

tamitots · 17/09/2011 23:37

I think it's lovely to continue family names. My mum is one of four sisters and three of their girls have Louise as a middle name and two of us Marie. This has now continued with the next generation of our family using these as middle names. Years ago my friend asked if she could call her daughter Eliza Marie after my middle name and I was really touched by this.

Offspring · 18/09/2011 03:55

My Dad has two brothers. His older brother called his son Gregory, the same name as Dad's younger brother. To the whole family they have always been 'Big Greg' or 'Little Greg'. No one has ever thought it is weird, although 'Little Greg' is now in his 40's, probably looking forward to the day that he can shake the title :). I think it's a nice situation to be in - if you love the name and you think that your brother would be chuffed, there wouldn't be any real issue.

savoycabbage · 18/09/2011 04:03

I can't believe that anyone would think it odd. It's lovely to have a sibling who you love and have a relationship with. I bet your ds will love him too.

nooka · 18/09/2011 04:06

I wouldn't call my children after anyone living because I want them to have names which are unique to them. I'd hate to be a 'little x" all my life personally.

dd is called after two great grandmothers, but they are long dead and not referred to by name (only their granny names) so there is no confusion.

However it isn't an unusual thing to do, so not weird. Just not for me.

saffronwblue · 18/09/2011 04:45

I think it is a lovely thing to do. Your DS will have his own identity but will feel a special link to your brother, as you do.

coccyx · 18/09/2011 06:44

Do it. your brother will be chuffed I'm sure. they won't spend that much time together will they and then they could be big dan and little dan!
my Bil, his son and his grandson all have same name. Now that is confusing

Smadarama · 18/09/2011 06:45

I think it's a lovely thing to do and not at all weird. When I was growing up there were loads of Johns. We used middle and surnames as identifiers then diminutives / nicknames for the children. I'm sure your brother will be delighted. Daniel is a nice name.

HooverTheHamaBeads · 18/09/2011 08:35

I think it is fine, this is two different generations after all.

CurwySwide · 18/09/2011 09:02

I think it is absolutely fine - I have a niece (my brother's daughter) who has the same name as my sister; it has never caused a problem. Well, except for the fact that my niece as a child was always known as Little Rosie, and my sister as Big Rosie which isn't terribly flattering I suppose!

nokissymum · 18/09/2011 09:08

Nothing wrong with naming your son the same name as your brother, he will still have his own identity, you obviously love and it will be extra special for your brother too. Go for it !

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