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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Is it weird if my baby has the same name as a famous person?

84 replies

bristollady · 31/03/2018 22:18

We have a quite common surname which means choosing first names is quite hard! There’s one name I really like for a girl but when coupled with our surname it would mean she has the same name as a famous singer. This singer was more famous in the 80s, so perhaps by the time our little one has grown up, no one will think of it...although she’s a bit of an icon so maybe not. This singer is fabulous, so personally I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t want to saddle her with something she might find annoying in later life. What does everyone think? It’s so hard to discuss this without telling you the actual name!

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MrKaplansGlasses · 31/03/2018 23:01

I have absolutely no idea who Grace Jones is. Just asked DH and he doesn't either. We're 30&33. Just googled and see her stuff is before our time, Id definitely use the name OP

RustyBear · 31/03/2018 23:09

DD shares her name with a famous American actress and model, but she wasn’t famous when DD was born (and it’s not her real name anyway). You can never guarantee that a famous namesake won’t appear, so you might as well go for the name you love.

ErrolTheDragon · 31/03/2018 23:12

I know two Brian Wilsons. But that's such a very un-celeb sounding name that it's ok. I think grace jones is similarly 'normal' enough but some of the others wouldn't be.

Belindabauer · 01/04/2018 01:36

I think Grace Jones is fine .

FellOutOfBed2wice · 01/04/2018 02:22

I don’t think you can do it. Sorry. I went to school with a James Dean, a Tom Jones and a Toni Hadley and I always just think “why the hell would you do that?!” They all hated it too. I know it’s irritating having a common surname so this becomes a problem but I think you need to rethink this!

Addictedtohavingbabies · 01/04/2018 02:59

I went to school with Michael Jackson! If it's Grace Jones I'd say that one is ok.

ChocolateCrunch · 01/04/2018 09:31

She could always be Gracie Jones, if people make remarks. I know a 5 year old Gracie and the name suits her well.

mondler · 01/04/2018 12:04

I know two Tina Turners that work at my friend's company and people snigger.

I think it all depends on how popular they are and if they are likely to fade away over the years or be known forever.

I do love the name Grace but could you use it as a middle name instead?

RuthW · 01/04/2018 21:23

My daughter has the same name a a pop star. My daughter is 21 and pop star (older than daughter) has only been famous less than ten years.

user1472334322 · 02/04/2018 17:48

I know a Phil Collins too! People make mention of the fact he shares his name with the singer and then it's not mentioned again.
Grace Jones is a lovely name. I'm in my 40s and wouldn't have associated it with the singer. Go for it, op.

Thesecondtoast · 02/04/2018 17:54

I know a Phil Collins too. Either it is a common name or the same bloke gets around a bit. I wouldn't put it past him though, he is a complete tosser

FancyNewBeesly · 02/04/2018 17:56

Grace Jones is fine. The names are both common enough that it’s not a big deal. If it were Tinita Tikaram I’d advise against it.

Thistlebelle · 02/04/2018 17:59

I think there are a million beautiful names out there, why would you knowing do that to your child?

Especially if you have a great surname like Jones which pretty much goes with everything.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 02/04/2018 18:00

I think it's fine.

@BikeRunSki, you're called Gary Glitter? I'm sorry to hear that.

MikeUniformMike · 02/04/2018 18:02

If it is Jones and you name you're DD Grace, then if you have a boy, you must call him Tom.

MikeUniformMike · 02/04/2018 18:03

your not you're.
If the surname is Turner, how about Anthea or Paige?

Oysterbabe · 02/04/2018 18:32

The Phil Collins I know is a tosser too, must be the same bloke.

user1472334322 · 02/04/2018 18:37

The Phil Collins I know is definitely not a tosser! He's a great bloke.

gettingtherequickly · 02/04/2018 18:42

No, Grace Jones is fine. Very few people would remember.

lalaloopyhead · 02/04/2018 18:46

I didn't go with Grace as a name for this reason, though DD is nearly 19 so the name may have felt more recent back then.
Also vetoed another name though because there was someone same name Jones in my class at school.

I wouldn't worry too much about other people, I would go with how it sounds too your ear - as in do you feel like you are saying Grace Jones (the singer) when you say the name.

madamedepoppadom · 02/04/2018 19:35

Now you've hinted at the actual name I'd say go for it. It's classic enough that it doesn't feel like it could only ever be used by one person. I thought you were going to say Kim Wilde at first!

My DC were at school with a James Brown. Same sort of thing - yes, you might register that there was a singer of the same name, but it's such a sensible, unstarry sort of name that it doesn't sound as if you're trying to make people think of a singer.

RockafellerSkank · 02/04/2018 19:45

I know a young Grace Jones, and they called her brother Tom!

BRS, Alice Cooper? Marilyn Manson? Jessie Hawkes? :D

Thesecondtoast · 02/04/2018 19:47

The Phil Collins I know was mucking about with a 19 year old with his pregnant girlfriend at home, looking after his children from a previous relationship sometimes. Must be a few Phil Collins' around.

RockafellerSkank · 02/04/2018 19:49

OP, how about Indianna? :D

MikeUniformMike · 02/04/2018 20:00

Or Indiana.
Or Samantha, or Aled, or Brian...

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