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Baby names

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Original poster

Same name as someone famous

66 replies

Bearsinmotion · 23/07/2014 13:51

Is this a really bad thing to do? We have a fairly common surname, but my favourite name for DD2 who may well be DS2 would give her the same name as someone famous. Neither name is uncommon, think calling her Naomi if the surname was Campbell.

Is that a really bad idea?

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DiaDuit · 23/07/2014 13:52

No not bad. If you like the name then go for it.

I dated a Lee Evans once Grin

DiaDuit · 23/07/2014 13:53

Oh, i would suggest giving her a middle name you'd be happy to use if she decided she didnt want to use her first name because of the famous link.

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 23/07/2014 13:54

It all depends. There was a girl in my class at school called Lesley Crowther. This probably raises no smiles now at all because only the over-45s will have any idea who Leslie Crowther was.

Will the famous person you're thinking of still be famous as your little one grows up?

Onesleeptillwembley · 23/07/2014 13:54

Should be ok as long as it's not got unfortunate connotations.

Harold Shipman, for example, would probably raise eyebrows.

PuppyMonkey · 23/07/2014 13:57

Grin at Leslie Crowther

RitaConnors · 23/07/2014 13:58

We were talking about this at work today as there was a child who had the same name as a man who has committed a horrible crime and we were talking about how you would deal with it.

One of the women at work has a son who is called Jack Nicholson. He's her third and she liked the name jack and decided to go for it.

Legionofboom · 23/07/2014 14:03

I don't think I would tbh, unless it was a passing six week wonder type celebrity.

I would hate to have a name that everyone immediately associated with someone else.

I knew a Tom Jones once and he felt as though he didn't have his own name Sad

janie2 · 23/07/2014 14:04

Any name could become famous!

I had to think for a few seconds to get who you were talking about.

My son has a name sake who is a famous musician but it hasn't been an issue.

If you like it use it. This person id describe as having bern very famous but not so now.

Original poster
Bearsinmotion · 23/07/2014 14:07

Will the famous person you're thinking of still be famous as your little one grows up?

I don't think so - she's not superstar famous now! And she's got a pretty positive public persona. DP is dead against it though.

Any name could become famous!

This is a very good point!

OP posts:
squoosh · 23/07/2014 14:18

Any name could become famous..........but most won't.

Personally I'd hate to share a name with a famous person, even if that famous person didn't have superstar levels of fame. Being called Naomi Campbell/Cheryl Cole/Jessica Ennis etc. it would just be a pain in the bum.

DiaDuit · 23/07/2014 14:21

janie how on earth can you have worked out who OP was talking about? Confused

BobPatandIgglePiggle · 23/07/2014 14:25

My brother has a movie star name - he does get a bit of grief for it. Could you use a different version of the name??

Isabella220 · 23/07/2014 14:26

My only problem is that you never know which celebrity might go off the rails and you don't want your child being associated with somebody with an awful reputation, that may have been fine ten years before.

ShovettyMcShovetty · 23/07/2014 14:49

I don't think it matters. I worked with a Diana Ross once and that was fine. I kind of forgot about the famous Diana Ross and just got used to the colleague Diana Ross.

Your DD may decide to change her surname if she gets married. That could even result in a celeb name! I've heard of that happening before, like Katherine Smith married John Jenkins and became Ketherine Jenkins or whatever.

I love the name Naomi as well. Do it! Grin

ashesandfire · 23/07/2014 14:51

I think it depends on who it is
For me, Jack Nicholson wouldn't really be a problem, but I once taught a Katie Price, and I think that is a problem (especially as she tried to live up to her namesake [hmmm]) Although I don't think she was particularly famous when her parents named her so I suppose that does lend weight to the argument that any name can become famous!

Jenijena · 23/07/2014 14:56

My husbands surname prompts the response 'oh, any relation to....' quite a lot of the time. So one of my favourite boy's names is out of the window...

MummyBeerest · 23/07/2014 14:57

I knew 3 Elizabeth Taylors. It's a lovely name, they love having their name, Elizabeth Taylor is awesome.

It all depends on who the famous person is.

Original poster
Bearsinmotion · 23/07/2014 15:09

Let's just say it's a young, red haired model who went to Cambridge!

OP posts:
squoosh · 23/07/2014 15:13

Hmmm, you could probably get away with that as she's not super duper famous. Personally I'd probably still avoid though.

p.s. my friend knows her a little and says she's lovely.

Vintagejazz · 23/07/2014 15:22

I think it would probably be okay. As both names are quite normal there are probably a good few people with that combination. And she's not super famous.

weatherall · 23/07/2014 15:58

I dated someone who has the same name as a boy band member.

It has meant I've been unable to find him online/on fb as the other one always comes up.

You may see this as a plus or minus.

wigglesrock · 23/07/2014 16:23

I think you'd get away with that one Smile . It's a lovely name btw.

DiaDuit · 23/07/2014 17:22

To search to find out who you meant and although i recognise her to see i wouldnt have recognised her name.

I say go for it. Smile

DiaDuit · 23/07/2014 17:23

i had to search.

Holfin · 23/07/2014 17:28

I have heard of her but if I saw it in a birth announcement I doubt I would make the connection. I would use it.