How bad would it be if I used the dead dog's name?

[VFVF]

Lovely family dog has been dead for over 10 years now. She was my uncles dog but we are a close family and she belonged to all of us in a way.

I can't get her name out of my head when choosing a name for my baby due in March. It's Zara.

Would it be weird? I'm fairly sure a few family members will have some jokes about me honouring the dog I do love Cara too but it doesn't go well with the intended middle name (Carolyn)

Does anyone have any alternatives I can work with? I also love the name Elsa but DH is not overly struck! Plus my (usually delightful) mother keeps singing 'born freeee!' every time I mention it!

My sister called her daughter the name of our childhood labrador (which was also the name our parents had kept in reserve for a potential third daughter). It is a nice, slightly unusual but definitely human name, and none of us thought it odd that she used it.

Zara doesn't sound like a doggy name, so although you might get a few comments from family, nobody else will be any the wiser.

It would be nice and weird at the same time.

I couldn't use our dead cats name, although I know someone who did use their dead cats name.

wouldn't be weird at all IMO

it was not even your dog, and she's been dead 10 years!

do it if you love it.
my rabbit was called Sid and i'd def consider it as a baby name if we ever have another!

Sara?

I used my family dog's name for my son - very traditional/classic human name and the dog died 20 years before my DS was born! A few raised eyebrows (not many)..I would go for it!

No-one would bat an eyelid if you were honouring a deceased two-legged member of the family, so I really cannot see why there'd be a problem with a four-legged one (especially as dogs are often nicer).

Our son's name is that of my dh's old cat that died long before I even knew him (dh, not the cat). It's a v traditional name so not animal like. Most people think DS was named after some grand father/male relative! Do it if you like it that much!!

Thank you all for the reassurance! My family are lovely, but they are outspoken I'll introduce them to it over Christmas!

SantasNutellaFairy Sara is lovely, but to me it sounds like Zara when I say it, so I'd end up calling her 'Sarah with an S'!

I don't think it would be weird at all. It's a lovely name in itself, and a nice way to remember your beloved doggy friend.

We are giving our son (due Feb) the same name as his long-departed dog. It's a name I've always loved and I loved the name Looooong before I knew he had a bloody dog!

He has said though wistfully "he was a bloody good dog, the boy's got a lot to live up to"!

The dead dog wouldn't be my issue - the association with the clothes' shop is more of an issue, I'd have said.

I can't see the problem. My sister called her dog after my nan. It's a name I love and want if I ever have a daughter.