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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Would you use the name of an old close friend for your baby?

13 replies

cerealmixx · 31/03/2019 11:03

He was my OH's best friend at university, they lived together for 3 years, but since then we moved abroad and so did he, so we have only seen each other 1 every couple of years since (3 times in the last 10 years actually!). They stay in touch through WhatsApp but it's very much a long-distance friendship nowadas.

I love his name and I'm in the process of persuading OH that we can use it because they so rarely see each other these days anyway! He says he likes the name, but if we use it his friend will constantly joke about how we named our child after him and he's not sure he can bear it!

What do you think? Would you do it?

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DarlingLittleBabyName · 31/03/2019 11:09

if you really love the name, I don't think he should stand in the way! maybe you should call him and tell him "we're not naming our kid after you, it's just a name we like!" doesn't sound like he would hate it either OP! good luck! x

Luckyduck88 · 31/03/2019 11:16

How unique is the name... of it's James or Thomas then I'm sure people wouldn't make the link? If it's something much more rare then they will... and how much would that likely bother you?

Original poster

cerealmixx · 31/03/2019 11:19

It doesn't bother me! It's my OH who doesn't want jokes from his university friends! The name was 115th for boys last year so not exactly highly common.

I'm pretty sure we're going to use it, but I'm also curious about whether other people would do similar, or have done? I know I could never use the name of one of my close CLOSE school friends because there's too much of an association. But a long-distance old friend or a colleague... to me seems more ok?

OP posts:

iknowimcoming · 31/03/2019 11:19

Hi - I named my dd the same name as a friend of mine because I've always liked it - she subsequently named her son the same name as my Ds because she likes it, it's no big deal and on Christmas cards we always refer to big x and little x

Cecedrake8989 · 31/03/2019 12:07

Depends - if the name is Harry or Jack then sure. If it's something really unusual like Peregrine or something then it might be a bit obvious. But id just let him know beforehand 'we love your name so we're going for it for our baby'

Mystiques · 31/03/2019 12:51

I would but expect friend to joke/comment about it.
My son has an uncommon name but there was someone in my year at high school with the same name (never spoke to them). Bumped into a large group of people from school at a bar, the guy with the same name was amongst them and everyone made a bit of a joke about it.

user14869556378 · 31/03/2019 12:54

Who cares?! I’d take it as a compliment if someone loved my name enough to use it for their baby.

Calixtine · 31/03/2019 17:50

Dominic? I like it! I’d go for it, if you don’t speak to the friend that often any more then opportunities for joking will hopefully be limited anyway. Seems a silly reason not to use the name you love.

barkinatthemoon · 31/03/2019 18:05

I used the same fairly unusual name as an old school friend for dd. She isn't named after her, I just always liked the name and so did dh when I mentioned it. Old school friend saw our fb announcement and commented on it being a great name choice, but I think she knows she's not named after her. lol

Tillygetsit · 31/03/2019 23:50

My dad is named the same as a college friend. Just loved the name. We lost touch and she doesnt even know.

BlackPrism · 31/03/2019 23:53

Cole is a gorgeous name if it's that one, just say it's after Cole Sprouse

GreatDuckCookery · 01/04/2019 09:19

I think it’s fine OP. Just have an answer ready when he asks if DS is named after him.

YemenRoadYemen · 01/04/2019 09:24

DS has the same name as an old friend of mine that I spent a lot of time with as a child, and who I see once or twice a year now.

His name was DH's choice rather than mine (named after a family member), and we had a bit of a laugh about it at the time. It did feel slightly odd, if I'm honest, but no big deal in the grand scheme of things.

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