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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Neighbours have just used our baby name!

25 replies

jdear · 09/07/2015 18:11

Our baby girl is due in October and we've had a name picked out for a while, even before I was pregnant really. We've recently moved house and our neighbours have been really lovely, I don't know if we will be friends as such but certainly our children will play together. Well today she's had a baby girl and called her by the name we've (secretly) chosen! Do you think this will be a problem? It's quite a common name and I'm sure there will be a couple of other girls in her class at school with the same name but that doesn't bother us. I suppose when I was young there were lots of Rachels, Laurens etc and it wasn't weird. I'm just worried about shouting her name when she's out playing with her namesake when she's older!

The neighbours have their house up for sale by the way but they said a few weeks ago that they've changed their mind and are going to stay here.

We really don't want to change the name!

OP posts:

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ollieplimsoles · 09/07/2015 18:17

Aw that is a bit annoying!

If its quite a common name it shouldn't be too much of a problem, maybe if you get talking to her mention that you will be using the name in october and planned to for a while?

Original poster

jdear · 09/07/2015 18:21

We thought that Ollie - just so they don't think we are copying them! But will have to swear them to secrecy

OP posts:

ollieplimsoles · 09/07/2015 18:24

Our baby is due in October too, we have picked out our names but no one is pregnant near us or in the family so we are safe!

I would be a bit miffed it that happened to me, only because it took us ages to decide on these names and when the neighbours got wind they would just think we are copying!

But they are only your neighbours, its not like their baby is related to you or anything

DevaDiva · 09/07/2015 18:32

Tbh if my next door neighbour called their child the same name as mine and that close together, I'd think they it was a bit strange and be a bit pissed off.

But then in I am VERY judgey

Maybe they'll change their mind again about moving?

nothanksbyenow · 09/07/2015 18:40

I think you should go with your choice- you might not be neighbours forever!

BothEndsBurning · 09/07/2015 19:14

No, it doesn't matter. One or other of the girls may end up with a name variation or nickname anyway.

charlyn · 09/07/2015 19:46

I wouldn't use the name because if you are neighbours then the two children will probably end up in the same class at school.

Original poster

jdear · 09/07/2015 19:54

Luckily they won't be in the same year as neighbours' little girl has just been born (july) and ours is due at the end of October. Possibly not even the same school as there's a few round here!

OP posts:

reuset · 09/07/2015 19:56

Usually I'd say use what you like, but I'd be having a rethink here.

ShadowFire · 09/07/2015 20:00

I think I'd still use the name I wanted.

They may have changed their minds about moving for now, but if they've actually put the house on the market now, then I'd guess they're probably going to change it back at some point.

Plus, you're (currently) not good friends, it's a common name, and your children won't be in the same school year, so no need to worry about them being in the same classes.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/07/2015 20:02

I wouldn't use it. I think it would look really odd, however much you like the name.

Footle · 09/07/2015 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 09/07/2015 20:04

Id still use it. No doubts. But im not much of a people person so I dont tend to do much more than a cursory hello with ours.

WankerDeAsalWipe · 09/07/2015 21:08

I'm with DevaDiva, but i'd maybe have commented as soon as you were introduced as she would have been able to see that you were genuine and not just copying. You really may not be neighbours forever.

However, I am the woman who sweated waiting for SIL to have her baby which was due a month before ours to see what she had and named it. We didn't even have a name in mind or know the sex of the baby but I knew i'd be annoyed if she picked something that I liked that we hadn't thought of! :o

In the end she had a girl and we had a boy and I wouldn't have chosen the name she did although it was nice :)

daisydalrymple · 09/07/2015 21:14

Dh's good friends had a baby girl just before us and used the name we'd chosen. Changing wasn't an option as we were naming her after someone very special to us. I just got dh to tell them immediately wow. Fab name, what a coincidence that's what we're going to use if we have a girl.

They since broke up and we never see the children, dh sees his friend a couple of times a year. Non issue. But I'd def address it now x

PattyPenguin · 09/07/2015 21:18

When my son was born my husband chose a name that four other boys in our street of 40 houses already had. He didn't go to the same school as them and they were older anyway, by varying amounts, and one by one most moved away from the street anyway.

Whereas the name I gave my daughter I thought was unusual - I'd known or known of only 4 people with this name in 40 years. Lo and behold, she was one of four or five with the same name in the same year group at nursery, at primary school and at secondary school - not all the same kids, must have been a dozen girls all told with the same name between her turning 3 and leaving school at 18.

These things happen.

TRexingInAsda · 09/07/2015 21:19

Don't even think about changing the name, that's ridiculous! Whatever name you pick someone could always move in next door with a kid of that name. Just go with the one you like. In a few years you won't even remember what your neighbours kid was called.

specialsubject · 09/07/2015 21:21

use the planned name. Do adults really accuse each other of 'copying'????

if you don't want to tell them in advance, tell them when yours is born that you had the same one planned.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 09/07/2015 21:24

I see no reason why you can't use it. Especially if it's a name you've had your heart set on. I mean it's notice the children live in the same house.
Also how do you know your dcs will certainly play together. Just be because they are around the same age are NDNs does not mean they're going to be best friends and grow up together.
My dd and our NDN dd have never exchanged one word, and they're around the same age

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 09/07/2015 21:25

Not as if...,Not noticed.

barbecue · 09/07/2015 21:46

Use it anyway.

TheCowThatLaughs · 09/07/2015 21:53

I would still use it, and if I was your neighbour I wouldn't think you had copied. And if I did think you had I would just think you had good taste.

AssembleTheMinions · 09/07/2015 22:05

I would still use it. I worked with someone while we were both pregnant, she was 3 months ahead of me. We were discussing names and I mentioned what I was planning for my dd. she had never heard of it but loved it, had a girl and used it. When my dd was born I did very briefly consider changing it but loved it so much I couldn't bring myself to. When I called in to show off dd, everyone said 'oh you called her X, the same as Mary's dd'

Anyway 'Mary' left after 6 months and never saw her again.i would still be kicking myself if I had given dd a different name.

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 10/07/2015 08:02

A good friend of mine had his ds. Two weeks later, their neighbour had their ds.
First was "Matthew Owen"
The neighbours named theirs "owain Matthew"
Small village, only one school. April/may babies.
Always play together after school, never causes a problem.
If your neighbour questions your choice, just smile and say " oh yes, hadn't thought of the connection with yours, we are naming her after my mum/grandma..."

trixymalixy · 10/07/2015 08:10

My neighbour and I were pregnant at the same time. We were going to call the baby after DH's grandma if it was a girl. At a party the neighbour mentioned that she would call her baby that and I told her that that was our preferred name too.

She had her baby a week before me and it was a boy, so didn't really have to make an awkward decision in the end. Although at a party one of her family members asked DD's name and when I said it they said " Oh you're the one who stole X's baby name!!" I was .

DD is now 5 and the neighbours moved away a couple of years ago, we would be totally kicking ourselves if we'd not used the name we loved.

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