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Original poster

Are people going to think we're massive Friends fans?

38 replies

Mosaia · 02/07/2018 20:18

We have two dc already - Rachel and Joseph - and are expecting a third.

We didn't deliberately go for a biblical theme with the first two, and as we're not religious, we'd rather choose a completely non-biblical name for the third so that it doesn't look like a pattern.

Dc3 is a girl, and we'd narrowed our choice down to Jessica, Lorna and Phoebe. Then today a friend pointed out that if we went for Phoebe, we'd have named our children after 3 of the cast of Friends.

Would that be your first thought faced with three children called Rachel, Joseph and Phoebe? Does it matter? Are we going to have to rule out Phoebe?

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Original poster
Mosaia · 02/07/2018 20:18

Our Joseph is always a Joe, never a Joey if that matters!

OP posts:
ChessieFL · 02/07/2018 20:19

Just don’t call the boy Joey and you’ll be fine.

MakeLemonade · 02/07/2018 20:19

Would not cross my mind for a single second unless you call you nickname Joseph Joey?

Eatsleepworkrepeat · 02/07/2018 20:22

I didn't notice the joey connection, but if you ever introduced your two girls as Rachel and phoebe I'd immediately think friends, sorry.

PellyBay · 02/07/2018 20:22

Wouldn't worry about it. They're nice names. And 'Friends' is unlikely to have much widespread resonance for their generation.

Youaremysunshine2017 · 02/07/2018 20:23

It would probably only ever cross your mind. My baby's middle name is Andrew after my dad who died. I considered using my step dad and dh's stepdads too which would have been Michael and George but we'd have sounded like massive Wham fans so left it with Andrew!

Bobbiepin · 02/07/2018 20:24

I might make the connection but to be frank, I would think you're pretty awesome for it. Not considering Monica are you?

Bringmewineandcake · 02/07/2018 20:25

If I heard Rachel and Phoebe I’d think of Friends, but other than a vague wonder I wouldn’t give it any more thought than that.
Phoebe is a pretty name so go with it if you like it.

4GreenApples · 02/07/2018 20:30

I don’t think it matters. It’s unlikely that Friends will be a major cultural reference for your DC’s generation.

Nothisispatrick · 02/07/2018 20:32

Yes I would immediately think of friends.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 02/07/2018 20:33

I’d think of friends.

Gooseysgirl · 02/07/2018 20:39

Yes I would think of friends

OhBergine · 02/07/2018 20:46

Unless your Joseph is known as Joey, I wouldn't notice.

Iown5pairsofDocMartens · 02/07/2018 20:47

I hate friends.

But I think it's kinda cute.

SoNotaWendy · 02/07/2018 20:50

I would think of friends but I wouldn't mention it.

bridgetreilly · 02/07/2018 21:27

I would pick Jessica or Lorna, if I were you.

OlennasWimple · 02/07/2018 21:29

Yes, I would think of Friends. Jessica and Lorna are both lovely names, go with one of those

NataliaOsipova · 02/07/2018 21:31

I don’t think it matters. It’s unlikely that Friends will be a major cultural reference for your DC’s generation

This. And - for what it's worth - it didn't strike me until you pointed out the reference and I'm definitely "of that era"....

Eenymeeny123 · 02/07/2018 21:31

I would too, to be honest.

DownWentTheFlag · 02/07/2018 21:32

Yes I would think of Friends.
And Pheobe is Biblical!

Childrenofthesun · 02/07/2018 21:34

I thought you were going to say Chandler! I think that's the only one of the names that will be forever linked to Friends.

StripyDeckchair · 02/07/2018 21:36

I don't think most people will see Rachel and Joseph as a biblical theme - they are common (and lovely) names.

Also Phoebe is biblical! Romans 16.1-2. She's a pretty important figure for thinking about women in the Christian tradition because she seems to have had a position of authority in the early church.

gingerpickles · 02/07/2018 21:37

My brother and I are Rachel and Ross. We were before Friends and have never escaped it.

But I wouldn't think of Friends with those names. Only if Joseph became Joey.

auntyflonono · 03/07/2018 10:15

I wouldn't have made the connection!

AppleKatie · 03/07/2018 10:22

I would make the connection, wonder if you were massive fans and smile.

I wouldn’t think less of you though, it’s not a terrible association.

I agree if you had a Ross, Chandler or Monica alongside a Rachel/Phoebe/Joey it would seem more obvious somehow.