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Original poster

Are these sister names OK?

47 replies

drinkingteawhenitshot · 16/07/2018 16:22

My DD1 is Maeve. She was named after our amazing midwife, and we are not Irish at all so I'm not looking for an Irish name. I am English, and my husband is half-Indian, half Canadian, but we both live and grew up in the UK.

My husband had a lovely great aunt named Nina whom he wants to honour. I do like the name, but my biggest hang-up is that it does not "go" with Maeve. I do not know why I care about this so much! My husband thinks it's a silly reason not to use a family name, especially as our family doesn't really "match" anyway! But it's picking at me.

Any thoughts? Also, now I know I'm really picking, but my name is Nicola, sometimes Nikki -- that's not too close to Nina is it to be confusing, right?

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Pibplob · 16/07/2018 16:25

I think they are both lovely names. Maeve and Nina sound good together.

SayNoToCarrots · 16/07/2018 16:27

It would never occur to me that Nina doesn't go with Maeve. It's not like Tarquin and Steve, is it? Your name is a bit similar but remember, millions of men give their sons an identical full name to themselves and people manage

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 16/07/2018 16:33

I think Maeve and Nina sound great together. Unusual but not weird, cool, iyswim, but not try-hard...

MollyHuaCha · 16/07/2018 16:35

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
drinkingteawhenitshot · 16/07/2018 16:38

Oh this is helpful! Thanks MollyHuaCha for being honest, but I guess I don't see Nina like Krystal, Demi, Lacy or Lexi at all, but as quite classic. The Queen Mother's mother's name was Nina!

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shumway · 16/07/2018 16:40

I think non-matchy names actually work better for siblings.

MollyHuaCha · 16/07/2018 16:43

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TroubledLichen · 16/07/2018 16:45

I know sisters who are Maeve and Nina! There’s a 3rd sister called Clare. All under 10. I disagree that they don’t go.

Bringmewineandcake · 16/07/2018 16:46

I thinks they’re both lovely names that are not too popular but also not wildly out there.
They sound perfectly balanced for sisters to me.

Original poster
drinkingteawhenitshot · 16/07/2018 16:46

No Molly, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want an honest opinion! I think I was just surprised :).

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 16/07/2018 16:47

I think Maeve and Nina go really well. But then MN would hate the combo of mine and my sisters names.

BitOutOfPractice · 16/07/2018 16:48

I think they are both lovely names and go well together.

You're a rare creature OP, almost universal liking of two names is a rare thing indeed on MN!

LucyFox · 16/07/2018 16:50

Nina is nice and it is unusual enough to sit well with Maeve without being outrageous
Another option could be to call her Janine, nn Nina?

LynetteScavo · 16/07/2018 16:52

I see Nina in a group with Krystal, Demi, Lacy, Lexi.

I'm really surprised by this!

Personally I think Nina and Meave go well.

MikeUniformMike · 16/07/2018 16:57

I think Nina's great and it is fine for Maeve's sister. In doesn't sound too like Nikki. Don't use it as short for Janine, as that is just silly.

surlycurly · 16/07/2018 17:04

I like them both. But... they don't match! Sorry.

HumpHumpWhale · 16/07/2018 18:14

I'm Irish and I think they go fine together. It's not unusual in Ireland for siblings to have a mix of Irish and non-Irish names. Nina, while not an Irish name, has quite an Irish sound to my ears. That might be because of the town Nenagh, which is pronounced like Nina. I think they're both pretty names, and 'going together' is so subjective. And also not that important.

SoyDora · 16/07/2018 18:17

Why would sibling names need to match?! I think they sound fine together.
I could understand if they were something like lexi-Rae and Persephone, but they’re hardly wildly different styles are they?

daisypond · 16/07/2018 18:36

I think they're fine together - not outrageously different sort of names. I really like Nina.

NataliaOsipova · 16/07/2018 18:39

They're fine together. What "matches" anyway? I really like the name Nina; unusual but classic.

Original poster
drinkingteawhenitshot · 16/07/2018 18:40

Thanks so much everyone! Glad so many seem to think they match! I'm not sure I'm entirely convinced but I have been totally won over to the idea that it is a silly idea that they should have to match all! I would feel ridiculous denying my DH a name meaningful to him and that I actually like just because it doesn't "go" with DD1. Think Nina is now at the top of my shortlist.

OP posts:
NataliaOsipova · 16/07/2018 18:41

....and Nina sounds nothing like Nikki or Nicola, so I wouldn't worry about that.

Royallypissedoff1 · 16/07/2018 18:43

Nina always reminds me of an emergency services siren 😂
But it's cute OP and it does go with Maeve

confuddledconfuddle · 16/07/2018 18:50

I'm Irish (NI) and I think they go perfectly well. It would be quite common to have siblings with a mix of Irish and non Irish names. They are just picked by what the parents like.

However if you did want an Irish theme other names that sound a bit like Nina to me

Ríona
Nuala
Ina
Lena

Original poster
drinkingteawhenitshot · 16/07/2018 19:03

Love Nuala poster confuddledconfuddle but don't think I could get away with it!

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