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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

AIBU to consider this name?

59 replies

HamFace · 11/06/2015 18:39

Too wimpy to post in actual AIBU but...

DH and I are really struggling to agree on a name for our very soon to arrive DS.

We have one name that we both really like - goes well with our surname and chosen middle name.- top 20ish name but not overly used where we live...all great...except...
A good friend of mine called her DS this who was still born at 24weeks gestation. I've tentatively brought it up with her & she said about how she has no ownership of the name & although she may feel sad it could be sort of nice. But I really don't know if she is just being nice!! Confused I would really hate to upset her & her family, and worry that our mutual friends might think I was a bit of a dick choosing the same name. But I really really like it! I really don't know what to do ð??? so oh wise mumsnet - be brutal...would it be ok and almost 'in honour of' or is it a total no go?

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Lady84 · 11/06/2015 19:40

We had a good friend who had been through this awfulness and DH kept saying that he really likes the name they had but I just didn't feel we could do it- it would make them too sad.

How about using it as the Middle name?

HamFace · 11/06/2015 19:50

We already have a middle name as DH has a 'family name' that gets passed down. It's so hard. I wish we could just find another name we loved as much. ?? thankyou for replying

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TattieHowkerz · 11/06/2015 19:51

Would you use the name if her child had lived?

Paddingtonthebear · 11/06/2015 19:53

I wouldn't

Redglitter · 11/06/2015 19:53

I wouldn't. I think it would be very unfair. Every time your friend sees your son it's going to hammer home her loss. If it's fairly recent she's also going to be faced with your son reaching milestones at a similar age as her son would have. Using his name will I'd think make a hard situation even worse.

Could you keep it in reserve incase you have another wee boy in the future?

For this one I'd say definitely find another name

lilivonshtupp · 11/06/2015 19:53

No one owns a name, and your friend has been really sweet about this, but I think I'd find it a tiny bit dickish of someone to choose the name in these circumstances.

Why start a baby's life with baggage already attached to the name? I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

Shadow1986 · 11/06/2015 19:54

No I couldn't do this. Sorry.

BagsyThisName · 11/06/2015 19:54

My friend had a late miscarriage and couldn't even look at our colleague who had an older child with this name.

If I was in your place I wouldn't, there often are lots of reasons why we cant pick the names we like.

Wishful80smontage · 11/06/2015 19:54

No I would either I'm sorry it would be a no go for me

SylvaniansAtEase · 11/06/2015 19:55

Don't. I think you would regret it... which would be truly terrible if it were then your baby's name. Don't go there.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 11/06/2015 19:56

Your friend is being very kind

No. Don't. Every 'first steps' Facebook photo. Every Christmas card signed love Emma, Dan and Jack. You don't think those will make her life just a bit harder?

HoggleHoggle · 11/06/2015 19:56

Definitely not, sorry.

TheAuthoress · 11/06/2015 19:56

No, I don't think you should.

SmokyRobinson · 11/06/2015 19:56

No, I wouldn't use it.

It will always have the connection with your friends extreme sadness , which wouldn't be fair to both her and you LO

lilivonshtupp · 11/06/2015 19:57

BTW - I think you have to listen to the first part of what she said, which is that this would make you sad. I genuinely feel that she added that it sort of might be nice so she didn't feel like a horrible person in case you went through with it anyway.

LeChien · 11/06/2015 19:57

I wouldn't. Of course no-one owns a name, but this would be very insensitive for your friend, no matter how lovely she's being about it.

Orangeisthenewbanana · 11/06/2015 19:57

You have been lovely to ask your friend, and she has been lovely back but I think it would be really hard for her and her DP long term to constantly see/hear the name of the child they tragically lost. Sorry.

TopCivilServant · 11/06/2015 19:57

I wouldn't either, sorry

HeffaLumpers · 11/06/2015 19:58

No, I couldn't do that to her. It isn't fair. Find another name

ScrambledEggAndToast · 11/06/2015 19:58

I couldn't bring myself to choose that name when there are so many others to choose from.

HamFace · 11/06/2015 19:58

I've been trying to think of that and yes, I think we would have as it is quite a popular name - so it's not 'stealing the name' so much as I don't want her to be sad seeing me with my DS & almost rubbing it in with the same name! She went on to have another DD who is 1 now so we will be meeting up for lunches etc with babies

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chairmeoh · 11/06/2015 19:59

I wouldn't do it. Are there any similar names?

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 11/06/2015 20:00

It isn't the same as sharing a popular name with a surviving child though. That isn't causing a grieving family extra pain.

BikeRunSki · 11/06/2015 20:03

I wouldn't. I've been in almost the same situation When I was expecting dc2 dh said he'd like to give it his grandfather's name if it was a boy. A few weeks later a friend of ours had her second baby at 24 weeks and gave him this name. Three weeks later he died. The family in question live in our village and their dc1 is the same age as our dc1, so we knew they'd be at school together, and I'd see the parents often. We decided then that we would only use the name with their blessing, having explained why it was meaningful to us.
In the end dc2 was a girl!

HamFace · 11/06/2015 20:03

Ooh lots of replies as I was typing last message and same general consensus. I think you're all right really. It's been 2 years so still quite fresh. Why is it there are soooo many names in the world and I had to love that one. Thanks for the honest replies.

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