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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Using older son’s middle name as baby’s name?

50 replies

Tommymommy33 · 18/12/2019 05:45

Hi all,

My husband and I are expecting baby #3 in a few months. We currently have 2 boys. If we have a third boy, the name we like best (more like the ONLY name we can think of that we like) is our older son’s middle name. (Gabriel in case anyone is wondering.)

My question is- is that strange to take my older’s son’s middle name and use it as a first name? I suppose it does, but is it worse than picking a name we don’t love for our baby?

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strawberry2017 · 20/12/2019 19:37

I don't like that idea at all if I'm honest.

sycamore54321 · 20/12/2019 19:38

This comes up every now and again on here and I think it’s a horrid idea. I would hate to be have a name recycled from a sibling. Absolutely hate it. At best, it won’t bother him, but at worst it might make him feel unloved, undeserving of enough attention that his parents would choose a name for him. And it could foster serious sibling rivalry.

Even if he’s fine with it, you also risk making the middle son left out too - none of his names good enough to recycle?

Honestly, any other name on the planet apart from the four you’ve already given your two sons would be better.

FREEM · 20/12/2019 19:39

We thought of doing this and becauae the said child was 12 we asked her and she was outraged!
so we didn't

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 20/12/2019 19:45

Not a fan of this idea-

let DC 3 be their own person with their own unique name

Original poster

Tommymommy33 · 21/12/2019 14:21

Thanks so much everyone! I read some great points- one made me tear up (about honoring big brother) and another made me laugh. It also told me that I must really like the name because it doesn’t even bother me that some people don’t like it :) I’m starting another thread for other names (like was suggested here). I appreciate everyone’s comments!

OP posts:

Chanel05 · 21/12/2019 14:45

I think it's odd. My dad has two brothers and he is the eldest of the three. His middle name is David and the third sibling, his youngest brother's middle name is also David. I've always found this very strange.

missjaysays · 21/12/2019 22:51

The Queen did it

Grufallosfriends · 22/12/2019 09:03

There are more than enough names that everyone have their own names! There's really no need to reuse names.

sycamore54321 · 23/12/2019 07:11

You’re obviously not for persuasion but I’ll just repeat that no younger sibling wants to be “honouring” their eldest sibling and no middle sibling would like being left out of that.

OverByYer · 23/12/2019 07:13

It’s a lovely name but it also I think gives the message that you can’t be bothered to think of a name just for him

Grufallosfriends · 23/12/2019 08:05

Your youngest son deserves his own names.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 23/12/2019 08:09

It’s not weird. It’s quite common in some cultures. My own family has a certain set of names that have been used as first and middle names by the same generation.

Grufallosfriends · 23/12/2019 08:10

In what culture is it common to use the same names?

Skyejuly · 23/12/2019 08:12

It's been done in our family. My sisters name is my middle name. It's never been an issue in 32yrs.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 23/12/2019 08:31

Many Catholics have Mary and Ann as first and second names in the same family and Mohammed appears as both first and middle names in many Islamic families. Heck, I knew a Mohammed who had three Mohammeds in his own name!

cosytoaster · 23/12/2019 12:43

I did this for the same reason, there were other names we liked individually but not one we could agree on. It has never been a problem or an issue at all; DS2 loves his name and doesn't mind at all that it's recycled!
Gabriel is a great name, btw (DS2s middle name!)

LTEMercedes · 23/12/2019 14:40

Can't see a problem with that :)

MrsMummyBx · 29/12/2019 11:20

@Tommymommy33 what did you decide in the end? Having the exact same dilemma!

Primrosepenny · 29/12/2019 13:22

My eldest’s name is the middle name of my second

Primrosepenny · 29/12/2019 13:22

@Grufallosfriends Spanish, Italian etc

Starlight456 · 29/12/2019 13:26

I find it odd. My dsis and I don’t have a middle name. I grew up feeling they couldn’t be bothered to think of two names.

Your youngest may feel the same.

PlantPotting · 29/12/2019 13:34

What did you decide to do @Tommymommy33

Aragog · 29/12/2019 13:37

Yes, it's fine.

It was really normal thing to do in the past - come across it all the time when looking at ancestry records.

Aragog · 29/12/2019 13:41

but at worst it might make him feel unloved, undeserving of enough attention that his parents would choose a name for him.

Thats only likely if he has a difficult or uncaring relationship with his parents anyway, so would think there would be far bigger issues at play than a name

A child in a loving caring family is unlikely to have such issues.

heroineinahalfshell · 30/12/2019 11:41

My brother's name is the same as my half-brother's middle name (same dad, half-brother is 20 years older than my brother). The entire family thinks it's weird and uninspired. Thankfully my dad was able to talk my mum out of naming me the same name as his first wife, which would have been even weirder

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