Can we choose Charlotte if cousin is Scarlett?

[ohhifruit]

Our 4th DC (1DS, 1DD & 1DStS) is due in at the start of May and we're really struggling with girls names. We have the potential DS name narrowed down to two - William or Alexander.

I love, like seriously LOVE Charlotte (shortened to Lottie) however DH thinks it is too close to Scarlett which is the name of our DN. We have a complicated history with sister in law (DBIL's wife) who is a drama queen in the extreme.
Is it too close? They would probably only encounter each other at weddings, Christmas etc. because we live at the other end of the country and we like to keep our lives drama free and avoid SIL.

Other potential names

My choices:
Beatrice (Bea)
Alice
Phoebe
Meredith
Matilda (Tilly)
Catherine (Kitty, Kate etc.)
Vera (Family name but maybe too close to Violet, our daughter's name)
Josephine
Clementine
Celia
Rachel
Lydia
Penelope
Georgiana

DH choices:
Laura
Jane
Harriet
Elizabeth
Sally
Karen
Sophia
Poppy
Claudia
Nora
Luna
Darcy
Bertha (?)

It's true we have a while left but we're buying our first house, I have raised blood pressure, have some other issues at home and 3 DC bouncing around a too small house - I need NOT to be stressed by this.

I dont think it is too close, but it might depend on accent. I suspect the way some people say the names is closer in sound that the way I say them. If you are planning to call her Lottie, it might help to manage it if you make that clear form the outside, or even say that she is called Lottie but you will probably put Charlotte n the birth certificate for formality. Obviosuly, if you are planning on using CHarlotte more of the time that is harder, but still think it is not too close.

I don't think it is too close. Emily/Emma or Amelia/Emilia your DH might have a point. If you like it, go for it.

Hmm the cousin issue wouldn't bother me so much if you aren't close, but personally I think Violet and Charlotte are too similar sounding. I love Phoebe from your list, that would go really well. Or Luna or Darcy from DH's are ok. I like your list way better than his though :)

Blue I was so caught up in the Scarlett/Charlotte thing that I didn't even consider Violet and Charlotte being too close. It's out!

I don't suppose we can do Catherine shortened to Kitty with a Christopher who seems to enjoy Kit either can we? Dammit. I'll put a line through that one.

Personally I think its fine, especially if you plan on using Lottie.

I read the thread title and thought "what on earth can possibly be an issue between Charlotte and Scarlett?". I've had to sit and think about it (although, I am dim).

If you like the name, go for it. It's a lovely name.

Eh? Ok I'm confused. What's Violet got to do with anything? Am I having a very dim moment?m

I think that it's cousins so you shouldn't worry about it. DN is called Jessica and our new DS is going to be called Jesse. Siblings and I'd reconsider, but cousins is fine IMO.

Mumba Our DD is named Violet.

Thank you all for your replies, Charlotte is lovely but as it has been pointed out maybe a bit jarring with Violet.

Any suggestions from our lists or ideas?
We have:
Violet
Joseph
Christopher

And dogs called (if it helps) Sainsy, Fred and Toby (full name Toby Spiderman Partridge - don't even ASK because I don't get it either.)

Same as Hassled, I see no connection between Charlotte and Scarlett at all - took me a while to work out what you meant!I also don't think Charlotte is similar to Violet so if you love it, go with it!

Luna is lovely.
Penelope and matilda too.

Please no to Bertha!

I have a scarlett, my best friend has a Charlotte, it hasn't been an issue at all.

Honestly if you like Charlotte go for it. I don't see an issue at all with it sounding similar and nn will probably be used. Lottie when younger perhaps Charlie when older.

Beatrice, Phoebe, Josephine (know a lovely one known as Effie) Lydia from your list.
Elizabeth from DH's (Libby, Eliza, Beth?)

Please not Bertha!

Yes. You can.

I must be dim as I cannot see how Scarlett and Charlotte are linked in any way? The two names are very different in my view.

I would say Violet and Scarlett are very similar though as they are both colours. So you might want to avoid another colour - or you may not!

I like Lydia or Jane from your's and your DH's lists.

Scar=Char, lett=lotte

How is it difficult to see those are very similar?

As you've discounted Charlotte, I guess you need to narrow down your alternatives.
Josephine's out if you have a Joseph.
Elizabeth maybe dodgy with the Just William stories being popular again (annoying character called Violet Elizabeth).
Harriet has a worse sound issue with Violet that Charlotte has.
Phoebe, Rachel, Sally, Vera, Luna, Darcy and Karen don't feel like they go as well with other DC names as the rest of your list.
Of the remaining, I'd pick from Lydia, Meredith (love Merry as nn), Alice, Poppy.

Who cares? Nobody owns a name. My cousin's dd is Amelia. She's 11. I've met her six times since she was born. My cousin and I aren't close, we live about 60miles apart and see each other once a year. My dd2 is going to be Emilia. They'll be second cousins. And I couldn't care less.
In that generation of second cousins there's an Amy, Emily,
Amelia and soon Emilia. My baby, my choice.

I think you can have Charlotte , would probably avoid if Scarlett were a sibling but not a rarely-seen cousin. Also Violet is not really a problem, especially if you pronounce Charlotte with the otte sound at the end rather than the 'sharlut' pronunciation some people use.

Would avoid Josephine and Kitty given your son's names.

Not an issue at all - they have a totally different vibe. Charlotte is very traditionally English, Scarlett is far more modern-sounding. As you say, the children will rarely see each other and your daughter will most likely be known as Lottie. Are you really going to change the name you love just to avoid conflict with someone you barely see when there really isn't any reason?!

I think violet and Charlotte are fine together. I actually quite like them. - the 'char' sound is so different to the 'vi' sound IMO. Plus the endings are only similar - not exactly the same

People wouldn't blink if you had two names ending in 'y' - if you live it don't over think it.

Sisters names ( yes u want then to work well) but ultimately we are all very seperate people to our siblings anyway- ESP as we get older

I don't think it's a issue, you say you will only really see at weddings etc so not like your together all the time and if you will be using Lottie as a nickname then it really doesn't matter