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Awkward situation

78 replies

J100420 · 22/12/2019 21:38

Am I out of order or being a bitch. Me and h2b are expecting our first child in April. Me and my sister in law have always discussed names of babies. I always had a little boys name but was never sure on a girls name. Now we've found out we're having a girl we cannot decide/agree on a name all that's in my head is the name my sister in law wants.... Should I confront her or just try and find an alternative name? As I don't think i would be happy if she pinched my boys name?! I'm so torn but I cannot get this name out my head!

OP posts:
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WeirdedOut2019 · 22/12/2019 22:16

My sister did this to me and I do think it was poor behaviour on her part. Don't do it.

OhioOhioOhio · 22/12/2019 22:20

What's the name? We can find a new but similar one for you

milenacoco · 22/12/2019 22:21

Me and my friend were in the same situation, we both loved the name Tyler for a baby boy but after hearing it so much we both went off the name and it caused unnecessary arguments

GaaaaarlicBread · 22/12/2019 22:22

What’s the name ?? Maybe we can help with alternatives ?

Keepmewarm · 22/12/2019 22:24

Talk to her.

Serabi · 22/12/2019 22:44

I'd always hold a bit of deep down resentment if I'd shared a name with my SIL and she used it. You're being foolish or naive if you think she will be 100% ok with this so why bother

deboishmum · 22/12/2019 22:51

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travellover · 22/12/2019 22:59

Honestly if she's not even pregnant or in the process of trying then I'd use it (unless it was a sentimental name for her, ie named after her mom etc) - nobody can claim a name, especially when they aren't even pregnant. I always had 'set' names and now I'm pregnant I have completely different ones! If your heart is set on it then use it Smile

Astronica · 22/12/2019 23:25

I think you should make a real effort to find another name. There are thousands of possibilities and I can't believe that you can't find another you could love.

CalleighDoodle · 22/12/2019 23:28

Why the actual fuck would you confront her?! It’s her name choice! What would you be confronting her about?!

Name you baby any name you choose. Assume SIL will still use the name though. Assume everyone knows you knew this waS the name she chose.

Rumbelow · 22/12/2019 23:29

Find something else. There is definitely more than one nice name out there. It’s so not worth the inevitable fallout that would result from this, especially as it sounds like you and SIL have a lovely close relationship right now. It’s not worth sabotaging that over a name.

What is it? Maybe we can suggest something in a similar vein?

WireBrushAndDettolMaam · 22/12/2019 23:30

Confront her? Hmm

Odd language.

Pick another name. You know this is the name she has chosen for future children.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 22/12/2019 23:31

If it was the only name I liked I’d still use it. However don’t get peeved if she does still decide to go with it.

DeRigueurMortis · 23/12/2019 02:23

There is a truth in the saying "you don't own a name", that said names are important.

That's why, as parents we often agonise after the names we give our children,

There are names I love but could have never named a child of mine because of the emotional response I feel to that name - a bully at school, a name that evokes a distressing event or even the name of a much loved recently deceased family member (too raw).

The point is as much as no one has a claim on a name, it's emotive.

So if your SIL has said this is the "name" if you use it, is not necessarily a case of they will get over it in time. Every single time that name is used it provokes a memory.

So my suggestion is to be upfront.

Speak to her about it. She might be ok. Otherwise pick another name.

Also take into account how you might feel when your child is born.

DH and I had a name for our son, but when he was born and we held him it just didn't seem right. Neither of us can explain it - but that want not his name and despite lots of discussions prior to the birth we ended up with a name we'd both previously ruled out because it felt right when we met him Grin

So perhaps keep an open mind, but I'd definitely caution against using the name you want without asking and their blessing.

puds11 · 23/12/2019 02:43

It’s a dick move to use a name you know someone else intends to use. No you don’t own a name but I’m pretty sure anyone would be upset by this especially if the name is unusual

NameChangedNoImagination · 23/12/2019 03:11

If my SIL did this to me I'd think she was a fucking psycho.

rottiemum88 · 23/12/2019 03:32

OP can you honestly, hand on heart say this is the only girls name you like, really?? Think long and hard about it because it seems unbelievably unlikely, given the millions of names out there that 1. This is the only name you could possibly like and 2. That would "go" with the middle name/surname you have, whatever that means. What seems to have happened is that you've fixated on the name because your SIL has told you it's what she would use and now your brain isn't letting you move beyond that. However, it sounds like you'd be pretty upset with your SIL if she was to do the same to you, so I think you need to forget about the name and pick another, even if right now it doesn't feel like you like it as much. Names grow on you and it isn't going to be worth the animosity you'll cause if you decide to use it...

rottiemum88 · 23/12/2019 03:33

If my SIL did this to me I'd think she was a fucking psycho.

Also this, a bit.

MrsBertBibby · 23/12/2019 07:10

Sheesh, you know you'd be upset if she did it, so why would you consider doing it yourself?

You can't actually be that dim. Surely?

TatianaLarina · 23/12/2019 20:17

Isn’t it partly because you can’t have it that you want it so much?

If you could have it you probably wouldn’t be so sure about it.

LolaLollypop · 23/12/2019 20:22

Why not just talk to her about it? She might be thrilled that you love the name and want to use it. Unless she's pregnant with a girl right now I can't really see it being a problem - and unless the name has a personal reason for her, her mum/best friends name for example.

There's so many unknowns at the moment - will she ever have a baby, will it be a girl, will you even be SIL by the time she does?!

Just talk to her about it.

Cohle · 23/12/2019 20:28

It would be a really horrible thing to do.

I wouldn't want that tainting my child's name personally.

LiviaSoprano · 23/12/2019 20:31

I'd find another name.

Palavah · 23/12/2019 20:32

I can't believe that the middle name and surname are such that 1000s of names wouldn't work with them as a first name.

If you talk to her then there's a chance she'll feel obliged to say she doesn't mind even if she does. I'd be gutted if my sister-in-law got pregnant and decided to use the name I have my heart set on.

Don't be a dick.

MikeUniformMike · 23/12/2019 20:32

The SIL isn't even ttc.
She might never have a daughter, or she might and pick a completely different name.
If you love it, use it.