Calling baby the same as a friend's baby. Don't know how to handle.

[Uhoh2007]

It's an old friend from college days. We meet up in a group of housemates perhaps twice a year? We all lived together for three years so were very close. We would always invite each other to big events (weddings etc) but we're not in each other's everyday lives as in she lives in a totally diff part of the country and I'd maybe text her once every 6 months or so.

Last week she had a baby Emma - i'm due shortly. I appreciate this isn't exactly the most original, but it's not really list topping at mo. Anyway, we have had the name chosen since finding out we're having a girl - but have only told a few friends. We already have a DD and I just know I'd have been quite upset (irrationally?) if the other person had gone ahead with the name with it being our PFB.

Rightly or wrongly we're going ahead with it as we've always called the baby Emma, have sorted her room with name on wall etc etc

I just don't know how to do the right thing here in terms of telling her? She's so, so lovely and I want to handle this right. Please help me!

Have you spoken? Could you not say something like 'can't believe you've picked the name Emma too!! Haven't we both got good taste in names?'

I wouldn't be worried if a friend used the same name as me, quite flattering really. It's not an unusual name.

I text her last week but it was in reply to the birth announcement text and it's the very last thing I'd presume you'd want to hear post birth! Or be bothered with!

Was waiting for maybe dust to settle? Oh God feel so uncomfortable about it.

Why don't you write her a card/email saying congratulations. And then put something like this:

"Congratulations on the birth of Emma! It's such wonderful news and I hope that you're feeling well and enjoying those lovely newborn days. Hopefully you're not too tired.

You have also chosen baby Emma a beautiful name. Actually, she will shortly have a namesake round our neck of the woods as that's the name we've already chosen for our upcoming [DD2]. I hope the two Emmas will share lots of exciting adventures in future - what a lovely extra link between us.

Congratulations again. Can't wait to meet baby Emma (and soon introduce you to ours when she is born). All our love, X'

You could always text a picture of the wall.. ie proof that you're not copying, it is genuinely a coincidence?

I didn't use the name I wanted as I had a cousin with the same name. Used it as a middle name instead. I still regret it (a bit) and now we only see them every couple of years.
The awkwardness will only last 5 minutes. It's not like you live around the corner.
Could you make up some sentimental reason why you HAVE to use it?

Rubyroo - that's a very thoughtful and lovely way of putting it. Can you be my friend please?!

Thank you coco and natural too.

Do you think our grandmothers worried about this when every other baby was called John?

Send the congrats card and say 'Fab name!'

And then forget about it. I'm sure if she's as nice a friend as you say she'll not give it a thought. Unless you've started dressing like her...

Honestly, it the grand scheme of things, it matters not.

Just be honest about it - pick your moment yes, but just say it like it is in your post, in the nicest way and having regard to pregnancy hormones . You have always called your bump Emma and you still want to use the name.

There is no point in complicating things, that's when they start to backfire. What Rubroo suggests is nice but I would be saying it to her face to face and not in a card, so there is no room for misunderstanding. If she is a true friend, she will be fine.

Congrats on your impending Emma btw!

That's the thing Natural - that's just her name! And we couldn't think of calling the baby anything different. We'd so regret changing it now. However I can remember just how proud I was when announcing DD1s name and think I would have been a bit upset if the situation was reversed. But I'm not sure. Perhaps more so if it was a best friend from home?

I know Itchy. However after having my PFB I didn't think this way. I'm (thankfully) a bit older and wiser and knackered

OP - for what it's worth....

When preggers with one of my DS's, he was DEF going to be a 'Seb'. About 2 weeks before he was born, one of the couples from da NCT group had a boy and named him.... yes, Seb. So (other than now using Seb as his 'name' on say, MN, instead of his real name), he did NOT become Seb as he HAD been up until that point.

And whilst I - and more importantly HE - love his name, it does still rankle a bit if reminded of fact that HAD a name for him; dumped it for ALL the wrong reasons; and that COULD - and probably SHOULD - have just used the bloody name we had for him!

On that note, may I wish you huge congratulations on the imminent arrival of your gorg DD EMMA

OP, tough one, and I know why you are worrying about it as I would too. However, Rubyroo has it perfectly. Do that, and enjoy your DD.

I'd choose another name. There are thousands of names out there and wouldn't it be great for both girls to have their own identifiable names? Is there really no other name you love?

My friend had a baby two weeks after me and chose the same name. Quite an unusual one, they were the only two in their year with it.

I was not in the slightest bit bothered, I just said to her 'Don't we have excellent taste!'. Just use it, don't feel anything but happy.

Mayanna and Ohhelpo - we just can't use another. Emma is just the name and has been since we found out it was a girl. We've been very excited about it and i know i'd so regret changing it. Totally understand what you're saying but it's just not getting changed. If it had have been best mate round the corner then perhaps we would choose another? Daily contact with another Emma of the same age might have been oddish. But although a good friend we're just not involved day to day or even week to week (or month to month really).

I just need to know the best way of dealing with it. I'm going to take Ruby's suggestion and send a lovely card and present - and a nice note about the names being the same.

Perhaps the sonographer has got it wrong an a boy pops out!!! I'm thinking that would be the ideal situation now .

Just email her if you prefer. Congratulate her on her baby and mention that great minds think alike and she must take this as a compliment. You decided on Emma too x many months ago and can you believe you already have a name plack on her wall ready!

Anybody who chooses a popular name has to be realistic about the fact that other people, even in their own circle, may choose the name.

If it was a more unusual name, then it'd be more of an issue, but not with Emma. :)

Equally, from the other side of this, when dd2 was born an old friend of mine, pregnant at the time, texted congratulations with a jokey 'You bugger, you've nicked our name!'.

I definitely hadn't - hadn't seen this particular mate for a year & we had never discussed baby names.

She subsequently named her dd something different, & I've always hoped she didn't ditch her first choice because of us; it really wouldn't have mattered if our dds had shared a name & I'd hate to think we spoiled it for her. In fact, another friend liked the name so much she shamelessly copied it for her dd a year later. That's fine too.

If your friend is a good mate she won't mind at all, surely. Rubyroo's text is a good one.

Please don't liaten to the advice to fill her congratulations card with a load of stuff about what you will call your DD

That is just ridiculous. Use the name, but come on, on her congratulations card?!

What do you reckon Astley? I know what you mean - she's just had her first baby!!!! It's not about me - but equally do I just spring it on them when we announce?

Just mention in casually over the next few weeks. Don't make a big song and dance when she has just had a baby about what you will call yours!

I wouldn't mind someone using the name, but I would mind getting a card that had a massive section of, frankly BS, about 'the special bond' our children would have now you were going to use the same name. Let her have her time in the sun.

I wouldn say anything imagine telling her you are calling dd Emma and it doesnt even suit her.
My sil robbed my name i had for ds3 she even took the middle name but you know what im glad she did as i dont even like it now.