Having essentially the same name for a boy and girl

[Farrar]

Is it weird?

The names are Theodore and Theodora - I love them both but I feel like I'm cheating myself by having essentially the same name for a boy and a girl 🙈. We've been set on Theodore for years.

Boy would be shortened to Theo, Teddy or TJ (the second name will be J, family tradition!) and girl would be Thea (which I love on its own, or even Teddy - depends if she liked it as she grew older).

I also love Seraphina for a girl but DH thinks it's a bit 'out there' - I disagree, but then I'm called Tamara and I'm from a family of non-mainstream names!

I say all this and I'll probably change my mind as the time gets nearer anyway.

No, you can’t have a girl and boy called Theodore and Theodora.

I don't mean having them both called that. There's only going to be one - I just don't know if they're a boy or girl yet.

I would say yes.

Haha ok makes sense. Yes that’s fine!

Do you mean you don't know what you're having yet and you've picked Theodore if a boy and Theodora if a girl? If so, fine.

Otherwise, if you actually are having/ have one of each, then no.

I think that’s fine too :) I like Robin for a boy and a girl :)

Uhh... x-post

Oh thank God. I thought it was going to be like the Simone/Simon siblings I knew when I was a kid.

I liked Alex for a boy and a girl. Not weird at all imo.

Absolutely. We had a unisex name for our DC2. Really like Theo and Thea.

Oh why not?! Theodora is a beautiful name.
I have a Theodore. Nearly 16 now!

Thank you all - obviously didn't write the original post very well ha. Definitely not going to be both.

I just feel like it's cheating myself a little bit but I do love both Theo & Thea for short so it doesn't really matter!

As I say, the girls name may change but we've been set on Theodore for a long time - I just hope it doesn't get any more popular.

I would say that would be fine. I've known some friends who have the same names fro their children.

❤️ Seraphina

Absolutely ridiculous

Is there the possibility of another in the future? Just wondering if you use Theodora whether you'll be disappointed if you have a boy later and can't use Theodore.

You could use Dorothea for a girl and still have Theodore in reserve for any future boy

That’s fine, they are just 2 names you like!

Great name choices, although I have a Theodora so I could be a bit biased

So many people not reading the op!

Op you explained it fine! It’s people not really reading it right.

Of course it’s fine and both are lovely names whichever gender you end up with

That's fine, a good idea in fact. Makes life much easier.

Went to school with a Seraphina at school, NN Fee. Never heard of any of others.

If you like Theodora/Theodore go for it, although they not seems fairly common. Unless your planning on naming one sibling Theodora and the other Theodore, although that would allow for the mumsnet obsession for 'names that go'

You're not cheating yourself though because you're only going to be having either a boy or a girl so you'll only be using one of the names honestly confused as to why you'd think it's a problem.

We were the same. Theodore is a family name, and i just loved Theodora (had a DD in the end )
I also love Seraphina, and will probably use it if we have another DD in the future.

I don't really see the dilemma.

A friend is considering Ethan/Bethan.
I considered Oliver/Olivia.