We can't name our daughter Rachel, can we?

[TiggyWiggyLetsGo]

I have loved the name Rachel since I was a little girl. My husband also loves the name. It's a nice classic name that isn't too popular at the moment.

However, our surname is Chandler. We can't call her Rachel Chandler, can we?

To be honest I’m of the Frienda generation and I didn’t make the connection.

I think it’s fine.

I think it is a lovely name. Classic and strong and I would use it despite the connection to Friends (which is a program I cannot stand).

I'd go for it.

If you changed your surname to chanandeler-bong then her mail would say ms chanandeler-bong 🤣🤣

Her generation is far away in the future - the name will mean nothing to them . A few teens might like Friends now, but they'll be middle-aged by the time DD is at work. I'd give her the name you love and don't make a thing of it .

I don't think it matters. People of the " friends generation" will smile the first time then they will forget about it mostly.

Why on earth not? It sounds lovely. I too like the name, Rachel and it goes well with Chandler.

I love the name Rachel but I don't think it goes well with chandler I'm afraid, and for me the friends reference is too strong. Not that I think she'd get any negative comments, just a lifetime of friends jokes that might drive her mad.

Also this is exactly the kind of thread that might end up in a rag so ANY LAZY LOITERING JOURNO SCUM CAN PISS OFF (it happened to me a few months ago on a baby names thread!)

I know a Rachel Chandler and it’s hinestly never crossed my mind!

I'd go for it!

I know of a Rachel Chandler. I am a huge fan of Friends and I can honestly say this has never occurred to me!

Friends is old hat now. Very 90s.

Within my siblings we have a Rachel, Joey, and Ross. All born before friends. Nobody ever makes the Friends connection unless we make a joke and they have an 'oh yeah!' moment.

I don't think this will be a problem. I think it would look more "themey" if they were both first names of siblings, but when one is a surname, it won't seem as if you chose them both for a reason. I also really like the name Rachel in itself and would love to see it used more!

Friends is old hat now. Very 90s.

No it's not, all the teenagers watch it now, my DD and all her friends included.
But I don't think most people would make the connection with that name, OP, so go for it, if you love it enough.

Oh, go for it if you like it! It's so rare that a couple actually agrees on a name that it would be a real shame not to use it. Rachel is a lovely, classic name and how long are people still going to be watching a comedy series from the 90s? Her generation almost certainly won't. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Sorry but you absolutely can't

It's perfectly fine OP. I wouldn't even have made the connection tbh and I loved Friends!

I have made the connection with friends bit that probably won't be significant for her as it's already an old series.

I do however find the twice CH sound a bit hard to produce and listen to.

Yes, I think that’s fine.

Friends wasn’t that good even at the time.

I am a huge friends and would definitely make a connection. However, that wouldn't out me off using it.

I'd maybe spell it Rachael to differentiate a little,but I think it's totally fine. It's not a ridiculous association and it's one for which the only people who make it will likely have positive connotations.

I don't think it mattees at all - makes it easier to remember too. Leah is a definite no due to the chandelier problem!

Friends has aged really badly. No- one born now will watch it. Use the name.

Of course you can. Friends is old now. By the time your dd is at school it will be even older.

I definitely noticed the link and it would put me off using the name. Friends was a cultural phenomenon - my kids still watch it.

I'm not sure whether this generation of babies will know of friends, but it was my immediate thought on viewing your thread title, before I even read your OP!