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Baby names

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Original poster

Reusing a name...

35 replies

Fruitcake13 · 04/11/2018 09:15

So I'm expecting DD4 in 8 weeks, DH and I are not agreeing on names but we both love one of DD3's middle name.

What would you think of somebody using a middle name of a child for the new arrival so eg
DD3 Ruby Anne Olivia
Then naming DD4 Olivia Jane May

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WrongKindOfFace · 04/11/2018 09:17

No, the poor child needs its own name.

liquidrevolution · 04/11/2018 09:21

Why not? the Cambridges did it with Louis.

RoseMartha · 04/11/2018 09:22

It is ok, i know other families who have done this

EyeDrops · 04/11/2018 09:23

I wouldn't - to me it feels like "we didn't like this name enough for (child's) first name but it'll do for you"!

I do overthink things though..!

VodkaRevelation · 04/11/2018 09:24

Of course you can. “Poor child needs their own name”?! Poor child? Honestly, it’s a and. Hardly anyone knows my middle name. Very few people will know you’ve used your daughter’s middle name.

If you love it, use it. Your DD4 will come to no harm, neither will your DD3.

SallyWD · 04/11/2018 09:44

It's fine! Most people never know the middle names anyway. My friend used Henry as a first name and middle name for her 2 sons.

Starlight345 · 04/11/2018 09:48

I wouldn’t . I grew up without a middle name I felt my parents didn’t care enough to even think of 2 names. So I would of felt the same if I had my sisters middle name

Enidblyton1 · 04/11/2018 09:50

It’s absolutely fine!

tarheelbaby · 04/11/2018 09:54

Go ask the Duchess of Cambridge. She's re-used one of Prince George's middle names for Prince Louis.

A friend has used the same middle name for all 3 of her daughters 'to give them something in common', although they all have different first names. Since they don't all have the same surname and could changes surnames if they married, it has a certain logic.

I wouldn't do it but you might have good reasons you're not mentioning - like it's a family name.

What will you tell DD4 when she asks why her first name is the same as DD3's middle name?

Veterinari · 04/11/2018 09:59

I know families that have done this. I think it slightly odd but it doesn’t seem to bother them!

ZebraKid71 · 04/11/2018 10:05

I'd use the same middle name, but not a middle name of one child as first name for another.. Unless it is a family name, then I think it's OK.

If not, it just seems like you didn't like it enough for your other daughters first name and are clutching at straws.

Alfie190 · 04/11/2018 10:05

No I wouldn't. I agree with the person that said it feels like the name wasn't good enough for DD3 but is fine for DD4.

Original poster
Fruitcake13 · 04/11/2018 10:35

Thank you for the replies.

We should never of used the name for DD3 middle name because we knew we were going to have a 4th, I suppose we kind of hoped baby would be a boy so we could use the name we love for a boy.

It isn't a family name.
The thought had crossed my mind that DD4 would think we couldn't be arsed to think of a name for her, it's not that at all, there's just none that we love as much.
So difficult when your children are the same sex!

OP posts:
ChanklyBore · 04/11/2018 10:37

I thought you were going to say reusing the name of a lost baby.

raviolidreaming · 04/11/2018 11:34

to me it feels like "we didn't like this name enough for (child's) first name but it'll do for you"!

To me it would feel like you were naming after that daughter - on different than naming after an aunt or granny - which is more positive.

MrsStrowman · 04/11/2018 11:49

My SILs first name is her younger sister's middle name, it's a choice that's always perplexed her

bridgetreilly · 04/11/2018 16:44

I think it's weird, tbh. There's plenty of names out there. I'd find another one.

RoomWithALoon · 04/11/2018 16:44

My grandad was Bernard Christopher and had a brother called Christopher Bernard. But it was weird - everyone tells the story.

whiskeysourpuss · 04/11/2018 16:51

There's a girl in DS's class called Erin Abby... her elder sister is called Abby Erin... everyone thinks it's daft.

DD had a boy in her class called William Harry & he had a brother called William Jack - they went by their middle names.

It's not something that I would do but obviously people do it.

starkid · 04/11/2018 17:20

I don't think it's a good idea. Do you like the name Olive though, maybe?

MikeUniformMike · 04/11/2018 19:09

It's fine.

Another2day · 05/11/2018 06:56

I would continue to look until you find a name for your new dd. A name that belongs just to her!

There are literally thousands of girls names to choose from.

PawsomePugFancier · 05/11/2018 10:32

Not a big deal, unless the child for other reasons feels second best to their sister and is looking for "evidence," that they are hard done by. I doubt there are many people for whom this alone was a big deal.

Are there any really close names, like Olive if it was Olivia? That would be fine as well.

Notso · 05/11/2018 10:45

to me it feels like "we didn't like this name enough for (child's) first name but it'll do for you"!

This! Names are personal, it's lovely to use a family name to honour somebody but to take a siblings name seems a bit off.
I understand it gets more tricky the more children you have. However there are loads of lovely names out there OP you'll come up with something that's just right for your DD.

Cherries101 · 05/11/2018 10:49

Middle names, in my opinion, don’t really matter and so can be used as a first name for another child.