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Baby names

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

Original poster

Can I call my baby Jacob?

30 replies

Loopsroo · 28/05/2019 17:28

I am struggling with boys names!

The only one I am really set on is Jacob but my brother’s baby is James.

Are these too similar? Can I name my baby Jacob?

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moofolk · 28/05/2019 17:31

Do it if that's the name you want.

Many siblings have similar names. Remember that although James and Jacob are not that similar, you may be painting yourself into a corner of you have any future kids in terms of choosing more matching names.

RiddleMeThis2018 · 28/05/2019 17:31

I think you can.

notenoughbottletonight · 28/05/2019 17:34

I have two J's so yes ;)

Petalflowers · 28/05/2019 17:35

Yes, you can. They both begin with J, but are different sounding names.

rosydreams · 28/05/2019 17:37

we have chosen Jennifer for our next child my name is Josephine and our daughter is Julia.Its fine and a nice name

SundayMorningSun · 28/05/2019 17:40

James and Jacob are definitely fine for two cousins. Both lovely names, and not that similar in sound.

youarenotkiddingme · 28/05/2019 17:41

Of course you can.

My ds and my sisters ds are similar.
Not identical but think same number of letters, ending sounds the same and same 'design' (cvcvc).

They are 7 years age difference and her ds was 4 before it really dawned on me! It was when him and ds were writing m/drawing together and both write their names on paper together!

I also love Jacob. He may become a Jake that sounds more like James but they are totally different names.

anothernotherone · 28/05/2019 17:45

They're cousins not brothers, of course you can! The only thing too similar to a cousin's name is the identical name or a derivative (so James and Jamie, and Jim - not that anyone uses that as a given name - are the only ones cousin James takes off the menu).

moofolk · 28/05/2019 19:45

Yes I had misread and thought the kids would be brothers but they are cousins.

It's fine and nothing to worry about.

peanutbutterandbananas · 28/05/2019 19:46

Not too similar at all! Jacob is a lovely name

NoSauce · 28/05/2019 19:49

It’s absolutely fine OP. I know brothers called James and Jacob.

Soozikinzi · 28/05/2019 19:59

Of course! My stepson is called Jacob it's a lovely name he's a dad himself now and still likes his name . I have 5 sons and the youngest is called Jack which is so similar I know ! We asked Jake if he minded us calling him Jack since we'd run out of names we both liked for boys . By this time Jacob was 21 and he said of course ! he liked the name as well even though they were so similar x

DramaAlpaca · 28/05/2019 20:01

Of course you can. Perfectly fine for cousins.

FangsTasticBeast · 28/05/2019 20:05

Two of mine have names beginning with j, Jacob is one of them . My nephew also has a J name. 2 of my other dc start with a C . Of course you can. I don’t think James and Jacob are similar anyway

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 28/05/2019 20:15

I know a large batch of cousins which includes three whose names begin with the same letter. Nobody cares.

If you like the name, use it.

MikeUniformMike · 28/05/2019 20:19

Jacob and James mean the same. In French, both are Jacques,

SundayMorningSun · 28/05/2019 20:41

@MikeUniformMike I don't think the names' origin really matters in this case. It's like saying can you have cousins called Isobel and Elizabeth, or Anya and Hannah, or Molly and Maria. I think it's definitely fine.

MikeUniformMike · 28/05/2019 20:53

James and Jacob are fine for cousins.

LouiseMiltonSpatula · 28/05/2019 20:54

You definitely can, those names are miles apart imo

KinderSurpriseBump · 28/05/2019 21:20

They have the same meaning but if the boys are cousins it's fine.
Good luck

Rainbowknickers · 28/05/2019 21:23

I had a Joshua my mate had a jake and my sister in law had a Jakson nobody ever got them mixed up
Jacob is a lovely name xxx

raquelW · 28/05/2019 21:37

My lb is called Jacob and one of his middle names is James (after a grandparent). I dithered over it a bit, but glad I went with it in the end.

ErrantTesselation · 28/05/2019 21:55

I thought this was going to be because of Rees-Mogg!

Anyway, I don't think the James thing is an issue:)

PrincessLouis · 28/05/2019 23:12

Totally fine go for it

Chilledout11 · 28/05/2019 23:14

Cousins - totally fine