Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

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

Flip

1 2

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?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

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

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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!

OP posts:

shumway · 16/07/2018 16:40

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

MollyHuaCha · 16/07/2018 16:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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!

OP posts:

Flip

1 2