Can I use Elizabeth if I already have an Isabella?

[BeattieBow]

I really wanted to call dd2 Elizabeth, but couldn't because my BIL called his dd Elizabeth (dh's brother so they have the same surname as us). so I ended up using Isabella instead.

In the end BIL and his wife got divorced, they live in a different country to us (and we NEVER see them) and they always call their daughter Libby. I still like Elizabeth (Eliza for short I think), but know that Isabella is the spanish form of Elizabeth. Would it be too much using the 2 names for 2 sisters? - there are 9 years in between the 2 of them if that's relevant.

I think it's fine. They're different enough.

Not like a family I know where the boys are called Freddy and Alfie!

How are James, Hamish and Diego the same name???

www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/James

Hamish is the Scots Gaelic version of James (though I understand it's incorrect -- something to do with case in Gaelic I think? but widely used). Seamus is the Irish Gaelic version.

Diego and Iago are Spanish versions of James.

James itself is an English version of the Hebrew Jacob (Yaakov)...

...most Biblical (and saints') names have a variety of transliterations and versions in different languages. Since they obviously come from languages (Hebrew and Greek) that don't use the Roman alphabet.

...basically naming your children with two or more versions of the same name just sounds uneducated/like you didn't bother to look it up before using it.

not the worst thing ever, but annoying for sure. i would find it embarrassing and irritating to find out that i basically have the same name as my sibling

I don't think you can name your child the same name as her cousin. Even if you don't see the other little girl, your child's grandparents will and circumstances may change in the future. Your daughter is likely, I would've thought, to meet her cousin at least once...

In Wales Catrin and Cadi have the same meaning yet I know of quite a few siblings with these names.

Isabella and Elizabeth are both different sounding names, although I do agree that Izzy and Lizzy are not v. good nn, might be cutesy to begin with but could get v. annoying for your eldest v. quickly.

If Elizabeth is a name you a OH love then go with it.

I also don't see why you shouldn't give your DD the same name as her cousin. One of my friends named her DD after her grown up neice.

Thanks everyone. I think the fact they're basically the same name puts me off using Elizabeth. But thanks for input.

back to the drawing board...

I think its fine - I didn't know they came from the same root until 6 minutes ago! Unless you are actually Spanish I think its not an issue. I've known people with John and Sean or Billy and Liam but I only know that because I am Irish, and even then, its their kids and a name is a name not a word to be translated.

As to the cousins having the same name, that wouldn't be an issue - they don't see each other and if she's called Libby and your DD is Eliza then they're not called the same name!

If you're really concerned, christen (or legally name, you know what I mean) her another name with Elizabeth as a middle name, and call her Elizabeth, or just christen her Eliza if that's the nn you'd use most anyway.