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Baby names

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

Would you stick with the same letter?

40 replies

Ohhgreat · 12/02/2020 18:16

I have two DS (several years apart) and their names start with the same letter. Say Nathan and Nick (not actual names!). We're expecting our third and wont find out the sex until birth. Would you keep to the same letter? Would it depend if the next baby is another boy or a girl? Btw we didnt choose the second name because it was the same first letter, it was just the only name we could even slightly agree on, and tbh I still dont really like it...

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HotGlueGun · 12/02/2020 18:24

Personally, I think it's a bit naff, but each to their own. If it makes you happy, then go for it.

ChelseaCat · 12/02/2020 18:25

Agree with PP - very tacky

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 12/02/2020 18:26

No, I wouldn't. I find a run of more than two siblings all with the same first initial a bit teeth-clenching. I can't explain why, it just seems oddly deliberate and somewhat 'staged' to me.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 12/02/2020 18:26

I definitely wouldn’t.

Ohhgreat · 12/02/2020 18:33

Interesting. I think I'd only want to keep the same letter if it was another boy, I dont want them feeling like the odd one out, wondering why they didnt get the same letter as their brothers!

OP posts:
saraclara · 12/02/2020 18:39

I doubt they'll even notice, never mind care, that their brothers' names start with the same letter. It's weird to think that they will.

And no, I wouldn't choose names that all begin with the same letter. It's tacky and unimaginative.

TatianaLarina · 12/02/2020 20:01

I know three sisters who all start with T. Tbh it’s hardly noticeable. The only real issue is getting post mixed up.

Omashu · 12/02/2020 20:06

I wouldn’t worry about them feeling left out. Just make it clear that it wasn’t deliberate and it doesn’t matter!

bridgetreilly · 12/02/2020 22:03

I dont want them feeling like the odd one out, wondering why they didnt get the same letter as their brothers!

This is never going to happen. Pick the name that you like most and don't worry about matching.

ElphiasDoge · 12/02/2020 22:09

I actively wouldn’t, especially for same sex siblings. DH and I have the same first initial and that’s enough of a postal nightmare without adding to it. We said no kids with this initial thought even though there are loads of lovely names.

They won’t want to be opening each others bank statements and fighting over who needs to go to the depot for a parcel when they’re older.

Coffeenofilter · 12/02/2020 22:15

I view it the other way. I wouldn't have thought one would feel left out if he didn't have an "n" name, but if I were the third son, I'd possibly feel like my name hadn't been chosen because my parents loved the name but because it fitted in with my brothers. I'd rather have my own name that my parents had lived just for me, rather than be called nigel just to fit the pattern ;)

Coffeenofilter · 12/02/2020 22:15

*loved, not lived.

saraclara · 12/02/2020 22:17

Oh the post thing is awful. One of my daughters had the same initial as me. And once she was of an age to get mail or stayed to be a total pain. And if three boys have the same initial...

saraclara · 12/02/2020 22:18

Or stayed= it started

Emijen · 12/02/2020 22:19

I would if I loved the name, but if not I wouldn’t deliberately try for it

HairyToity · 12/02/2020 22:20

Just go with the name you agree on, if it starts with the same letter, so be it. If it's a different letter so be it.

TheWordmeister · 12/02/2020 22:22

Noooo. It's horribly naff.

Canshopwillshop · 12/02/2020 22:23

No, too forced. Just go with a name you love.

Nowayorhighway · 13/02/2020 10:06

No, not unless you’re a huge Kardashian fan.

Whatsyourflava · 13/02/2020 10:13

I really disagree @Ohhgreat that your third boy might feel short changed that his name starts with a different letter
If anything he will realise the name you chose (deliberately starting with same letter) was obviously third down the pecking order.
The child might well prefer that you picked a name you loved. If he grows up not to like his name he might end up thinking “well mum doesn’t really like my name either she was just forced to use another N name”

Astronica · 13/02/2020 13:18

No, pick a name you love this time. I would actively avoid using the same initial, and no, the child won't feel they're missing out. They might feel relieved.
And, if your partner won't agree to something you like it doesn't mean you have to agree to something you don't like. Hold out.

SibylDeWinter · 13/02/2020 14:32

Agree about the post. The short form of my sister's name can be spelled with the same initial letter as my actual name, and that caused enough problems, even though she didn't use that spelling.

Aquamarine1029 · 13/02/2020 14:36

I would definitely NOT use the same first letter.

Maduixa · 13/02/2020 15:19

Absolutely don't force it by intentionally picking another N - but if you fall in love with say Naomi or Noel and feel that's THE name, I'd still use it. I think the same-initial thing is, if anything, a minor annoyance - maybe the non-N child will feel happy to be different.

Ethellsmum · 16/02/2020 22:50

All 4 of mine start with the same letter. It was not intentional at all, we just liked those names.
My kids have names that I love - I don’t see that as tacky.