Can I make this work?

[lovechocolatetoomuch]

We already have an 18 month old daughter named Aria and expecting our second daughter in the summer. Would really like to call her Tara. Do these names work or are they too matchy/rhymey? I don’t really want other name suggestions as we know lots of lovely girls names but the name Tara has special meaning to DH and would like to honour it so would like to use it if we can. When I told my sister she said it sounds too similar to DD1s name! What do you guys think?

I don't think they are too similar at all, in fact I like them together.

They are quite matchy, but it is important to look at the bigger picture. If they live an average live, they'll spend only 20 years living together as a nuclear family. But 60 years living separately, where it won't be an issue at all.

I'd look at the bigger picture here.

We accidentally gave our children matching names. Nobody noticed for about six months

They don't rhyme at all so they aren't too rhymey, but they are too similar.

I think they go nicely together and are both beautiful names. If the name means that much to you then you should definitely go for it otherwise you might regret naming her something else.

Even if they are quite similar I don’t think it matters too much. Siblings don’t go through life right next to each other, so they will only be “Aria and Tara” to you. At school, work, with friends etc they will just be Aria or Tara.

What about Tamsin, which means 'twin' ?

I think you might end up saying Tara and Ara or Taria and Aria. They’re similar enough to trip over.

They each have a different sound.. 'aara and aaria' and different enough imo!

They will mostly be 'together' at home. Throughout school etc, they will be in different classes, with different friends, on different registers etc.
They'll have their own friends, their own work mates, their own partners, their own families.
So in the grand scheme of things, they will spend a small part of their lives as a 'unit'. So go for it!

I think they’re very similar.

I also think Aria is a very pretty name and very “now”, whereas Tara is a bit dated.

Could you use Tara as a middle name instead?