Would you use the same or a very similar name?

[BlackberryandNettle]

If a friend had used it for their child. Does the gap between them make a difference? For example Anna/Hannah or Isabelle/ Isabella or Lara/Clara?

We had a name settled for a second Dd but a close friend has just used almost the same name

Yep. Wouldn't bother me at all - a name doesn't belong to someone

Anna and Hannah are totally different names IMO
Same for Lara and Clara

Isabelle and Isabella are the only ones which are virtually the same

In any of these cases yes I would still use the name, unless it was an incredibly unusual name

I agree, those examples you've given are quite different names - with the exception of Isabelle/Isabella. I wouldn't even think twice about Anna/Hannah etc.

Personally I would need to consider if I'd mind similar sounding names as people often confuse them. So an Ellen might be called Helen or Sophia but just get called Sophie or a Juliet, Julie, Julianne, an Emmeline as Emily.
Its not a deal breaker but its something to consider.

Blackberryandnettle might help if you say the names in question.

I suppose it depends on your friendship and circumstances etc.

Have you ever had the conversation regarding names?

Depends on the friendship basis and how that's likely to be in a few years time. An acquaintance or someone you haven't known for long I wouldn't care. Might bother me if it was my best friend of 20 years who I saw daily though!

Yeah, wouldn't bother me with the examples you have given. Only thing that could bother me was a name that could have the nn. e.g. Abigail/Abbey

if different name - and the examples you give - it wouldn't bother me. if same name used by close friends or godparents then it would indicate a 'no-one owns a name and i don't care a toss what you think' attitude. Would i want this sort of person as a friend...prob not. from the other perspective i wouldn't want my child having the same name as somone else i knew really well - thoug i understand that if its a top ten name then this isn't an issue for someone