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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Using same name for a DC as a family pet? Has anyone done this?

17 replies

eggandbacon · 31/12/2011 12:06

... I don't mean naming a DC after the pet but just naming him/ her the same as the pet because you liked the name so much. How has it worked out? Was there confusion? Did you change the pet's name? Did your DC become that name and ceased quickly to be the pet's name?

Would be great to hear your thoughts.

OP posts:

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HamblesHandbag · 31/12/2011 12:08

my DS2 has the same name as a cat we used to have; she died a year or so before he was born). Always liked the name and most people don't know our old cat. A couple of people remember and commented but DS2 is DS2 now

TheSpreadingChestnutTree · 31/12/2011 12:10

Yes, but I must admit Rover has taken a fair bit of stick since he started school , so I regret my choice really.

HamblesHandbag · 31/12/2011 12:18

ba dum tish

TheSpreadingChestnutTree · 31/12/2011 12:21

I'm here all week

annaballerina · 31/12/2011 12:24

Similar to HH above, we had a dog called Maya, a year after she died close family member named their dd the same. Didn't cause any outrage and very soon the link to the dog was completely forgotten.

melliebobs · 31/12/2011 12:29

my dog is called Johnson. Suits him down to the ground. We do get some funny looks when we are out and about but to call our future child that would border on child abuse!

DharmaBumpkin · 31/12/2011 12:55

We have a DD with a very similar name to our dog (e.g. Cadi/Cassie). It does cause confusion at times, and I've shortened the dog's name to first syllable, e.g. Cass for day-to-day use.

However, the dog is old, DD is young, and both DH & I loved her name... So I don't regret it really! By the time DD is old enough to mind I suspect it'll no longer be an issue

howlongwilltheynap · 31/12/2011 18:14

I would have had the name of a since-departed rabbit on my list but my cousin named her DS that (when rabbit still alive) - caused some confusion- people would ask my mum 'how's Harry' and she would say 'oh he's fine, we let him out of his cage every day and he's only chewed the wallpaper' etc.

I would do it if pet was, say, a hamster, but not if a cat or a dog that was still alive.

TeWihara · 31/12/2011 18:19

It's too confusing if the pet is still alive I think.

Although I keep refering to baby DS as male-pets name when he is being awkward

veryconfusedatthemoment · 31/12/2011 18:24

Oh yes - we had the most handsome blue point Siamese called Benjamin (origianlly called because as a kitten he had big back feet like Benjamin Bunny). There was almost no other name for my beautiful, much longed for baby boy!

squeak2392 · 01/01/2012 23:59

I've never heard of anyone doing this, but I myself wouldn't be adverse to naming my DD Keira/Ciara (having had a dog called Kira until 2 years ago).

I think as long as the pet is deceased or doesn't live with you, you should just treat it like you would if it the pet was the child of a relative. If it's alive, lives with you, and they would be going by the same name (as opposed to constantly using a nn), then that would be a no-no. Doesn't matter what species it is, a pet is still family.

Himalaya · 02/01/2012 00:10

When I was born my mum rang her mum (lives in another country) and told her. My Grandma said "oh, that's my dog's name..." It didn't do me any lasting damage

phlossie · 02/01/2012 16:56

My dd is Betty, which is the name I gave our family cat when I was 16yo. I think the fact that I still loved the name after 12 years was a good sign! My parents had been calling the cat Bellsy for a few years before dd arrived anyway. My mum did get muddled up a couple of times, and I was a bit relieved when the cat eventually died (mainly because she was old and very ill and manky rather than sharing dd's name)!

pinkcactus · 02/01/2012 17:04

I didn't think I would ever have children so when I got a dog I named him Robbie .. I love the name.

I'm now expecting in April and if I hadn't called the dog Robbie I would probably have called my ds that.. but won't do it! (Robbie the dog is only 4 so hopefully has a few more years yet .. also two Robbie's in one house would be too confusing!)

technoduck · 03/01/2012 16:44

I'm expecting in aug, me and dh love the name dylan but the family dog is called the same. I think its ok really at least you can tease them when there older!

Thumbinnapuddingwitch · 03/01/2012 16:48

howlong - I just snorted out loud over your post!!

I possibly would use names that I used on my early guineapigs, as they are long gone and DH didn't know them but only because they were proper girl names, not things like Caramel and Ginger etc.

Wouldn't use my mum's cat's name though (Muffy).

Loobyfly · 03/01/2012 22:42

My son Logan is named after a long-dead gerbil! We used to have 2 gerbils called Logan and Berry.

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