How close a link is too close?

[avocadotoast]

DH and I have started talking about names, and there's a couple of girls' names we like (although don't get me started on boys' names...).

One of the names is more unusual than the other, and is the name someone at work gave her daughter last Feb. We're a small department, and I think it's recent enough that it'd rule it out as an option for me.

The other is the name of the daughter of the guy I sit next to at work, but she's older (5 or 6 I think). I love the name but I'm still not sure if it's too close a link to be usable. I know I won't be sitting next to him forever, and certainly won't be at my work forever, but still unsure. DH thinks I'm being daft - what does anyone else think?

I think it is fine. If you said it was the same name as your best friends chikd or a siblings child then there would be an issue.

I'm not sure.

If I had a daughter with a very popular name like Sophie I wouldn't blink if a colleague chose it for their daughter too. If my daughter was called something more unusual like Esmeralda I'd think my colleague was a bit weird if they chose the same name.

Chap at work recently gave his dd the same v unusual name as his line manager! Everyone was a bit

I don't think it's too close at all. But I only think nieces and nephews are too close, any other name is fair game!

No one owns a name so if you love it go for it. You could be all complimentary on their daughters name and just say how much you loved it etc, its not as if you are stealing anything. I would have no issue with someone using a name I had.

I don't think the chap at work would mind, I think I am just being a little silly! It's not an unusual name, it's in the top 40 from last year, so I think it's fair game. Thanks everyone!

Yes I would use a name that someone at work had used, unless it was very unusual - even if the children are born quite close together.

My good friend named her ds the same name I had chosen for if we had a boy, and I would still have used it, because it is a very common name, but also its a family name that has meaning to me. It wasn't a problem in the end because we had a girl and are now expecting another girl

I like a name that a colleague has used for their son and even though I know it's fine to use I think it will just be awkward. Going to save it for a future child when I'm in a future job!
If you don't think it would be awkward though then go for it!