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Original poster

Naming baby after my (living) sister?

18 replies

Enwi · 11/01/2018 09:48

Hi everyone,
I’m only 16 weeks pregnant so a way off needing to make any final decisions, but DP and I are really struggling to find names we both like (or even any just one of us likes!). One name we both love is Seraphina. I think it’s a beautiful name and DP agrees. The only possible issue is that my sister is also called Seraphina, but has always hated her name and gone by the name ‘Fi’ instead. I feel like naming my baby after my sister whilst she’s still alive is a bit of an odd thing to do, but I also feel like it’s a shame to not use a name I love when my sister isn’t even using it anyway!
I haven’t spoken to my sister about it yet, but I’m almost certain she would be glad to have the baby named after her... even though she hates the name herself Grin
What do you think? Too weird or OK since she goes by a different name?

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Iwantamarshmallow · 11/01/2018 09:52

I dont think thats weird at all . It's probably quite common to name a child after a living relative. Check with your Dsis but I'm sure she'll be thrilled.

FreddieClaryHorshieLion · 11/01/2018 10:00

It’s rather common in many cultures, isn’t it? It’s fine imo.

TinoTheArtisticMouse · 11/01/2018 12:31

As a side issue though - why doesn't your sister like it? Your child may experience the same issues.
It's one thing to like a name, but another to live with it as your own name. I love Persephone, it sounds beautiful, but I wouldn't want to be called it, and wouldn't name a child it.

sunshineonmyshoulder · 11/01/2018 13:15

I wouldn’t say it’s weird at all. That’s what we are doing naming our daughter after my sister. There’s plenty of families who have a few people with the same name. My dad is named after his dad, my brother in law is named after my father in law and his son is named after them too.

SeraphinaDombegh · 11/01/2018 13:44

It's a beautiful name OP! My username agrees too Grin my DS1 is named the same as my brother. My BiL has the same name as his uncle. It's fine!

Original poster
Enwi · 11/01/2018 13:48

Thanks everyone, I think we might just go ahead.
Tino- both my sisters have quite unusual names. One hates it, one absolutely loves it. Lots of people with perfectly ordinary names hate them too so unfortunately I can only go off what sounds good to me Smile

OP posts:
MrsTiggyWinkle3 · 11/01/2018 16:00

I think it would be a nice thing to do OP. It's a lovely name.

What is your other sister called? I like unusual names and am interestedSmile

PemberleyP · 11/01/2018 17:47

I think it’s a bit weird to give your child the same name as your sibling, but there’s nothing to say you can’t if you want to! Maybe just check your sister’s OK with the idea first.

If it were me, I’d want to give my child their own name, for practical reasons and also because it’s just such a special, personal thing picking out a name for your child and (just personal opinion here) it seems a bit of a shame if that name is already attached to someone else you know so well, a bit of a cop-out.

PotteringAlong · 11/01/2018 17:50

I don’t think it’s weird in itself. I do think it’s weird if you know she hates it; it’s a bit like you’re rubbing her nose in a name she dislikes intensely whilst wanting her to be happy that someone else is sharing the name she hates. Bizarre.

Original poster
Enwi · 11/01/2018 18:40

Pemberley- I think that’s the point though, the name isn’t really attached to my sister. It also isn’t a problem for any logistical reasons. Baby will have a completely different surname and my sister has never, ever gone by the name Seraphina. I don’t really associate it with her at all.
I definitely want to ask her opinion on it before I name my child, but as it’s a name that she has completely disassociated with I can’t imagine why she’d care about someone else having it.
My other sister is called Danica. Pronounced Dan-i-ca not Dan-ee-ca.

OP posts:
PemberleyP · 12/01/2018 10:15

Sounds like you’ve answered your own q then!

FreddieClaryHorshieLion · 12/01/2018 10:24

I’d name her Seraphina. It’s beautiful and you seem to really love it.

Danica is one of my favourite names and the meaning is lovely :) But the people I know pronounce it Da-nee-tsuh.

Original poster
Enwi · 12/01/2018 12:59

Well I was wondering if it was odd in the social sense- I know it will be logistically okay Smile
I love Danica too!

OP posts:
harrietm87 · 12/01/2018 16:41

I have the same name as my mum's sister. My mum maintains her choice was nothing to do with her sister's name, she just liked it! To be fair there is a 15 year age gap between them so they didn't really grow up together, and my mum says she'd always loved it as a name.

Anyway when I was a baby I called myself by my full name, so my family tend to do that with me to distinguish between my aunt and me, so she is X and I'm X Surname - I don't mind it at all! And I think my aunt was very flattered!

FreddieClaryHorshieLion · 12/01/2018 19:07

harriet

I’m a good deal older than my sister and I was the one that suggested her name.

I’ve been kind of kicking myself for it, tbh...

Situp · 12/01/2018 19:14

I am named after my mums sister who is still living. We have been called big x and little x for 40 years when we are together which is a bit daft now but it really has never been a problem

NewYearNiki · 12/01/2018 20:17

I would actually be quite touched if I had a niece who was given my name.

What do your parents think of having a granddaughter with the same name as their daughter.

OlennasWimple · 12/01/2018 20:19

What about the sister who isn't having a baby named after her?

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