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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 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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AAA89 · 16/02/2020 22:59

My girls and me all have the same letter at the start of our names lol it wasnt intentional at all, DD1 I loved her name DD2 was the only female name me and DP could agree on. No clue what we will be calling DC3 but it will be based on a name that we both love not on if it's the same first letter or not. Go with what feels right and ignore what other people say, it's your baby not theirs :)

Rachelhaydenberk1 · 16/02/2020 23:06

I think it would be a cute theme if they were closer in age but sounds like they are far apart in age so I dont think you need to feel obligated to do a same letter theme.

I think if asked about it just be honest and say we didnt give your siblings a name with the same first letter on purpose- it's just what we ended up agreeing on and for you we liked this other name. No big deal.

InsomCho · 16/02/2020 23:16

No way would I use the same name. Two the same is bad enough, but could be coincidence. Three or more is cringingly naff. Giving the third a different initial also redeems the first two having the same name because it makes it clear you aren't deliberately trying to make some matching set rather than considering your children to be individuals.

Jossina · 16/02/2020 23:22

Once you've gotten to three I think it's better to keep with it actually. So long as you're sure you won't have a fourth, because that, IMO, is when it becomes seriously cheesy and naff. Though I hope their middle initials are all different, otherwise marking things can be a pain.

Wintersun13 · 18/02/2020 18:03

I'm confused by the whole postal thing. Here that wouldn't be an issue at all. People get mail addressed to Mr./Mrs. Lastname, or Mr./Mrs. Firstname Lastname. I've never heard of people getting mail addressed to Mr./Mrs. F. Lastname unless they actively asked for this to happen.

This aside, I agree that initials - whether the same or not - should not factor in your decision. Don't pick a name just so it starts with N, that's when your child might feel shortchanged if they find out. But don't say no to a name you love just because it happens to start with N.

People who think siblings' names starting with the same letter is naff have way too much time on their hands if they care about this sort of random details !

hannahfaith · 19/02/2020 23:36

If it's a boy I would for a girl I feel you have more room to stray, but at the same time if you and DH find a name y'all love that doesn't start with that letter I don't think it'd be the end of the world
Personally I would if I had a boy or a girl but it's entirely up to you.

AlohaMolly · 20/02/2020 00:08

I grew up with someone who was part of a family with 5-6 children all with names starting with k!

HeddaGarbled · 20/02/2020 00:14

It just looks like you’re copying the Kardashians.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/02/2020 00:16

Or the Duggars.

Hypergear · 23/02/2020 08:59

Always found the intentional same initial thing so tacky!

teacuptale · 23/02/2020 09:54

I wouldn’t worry about it being the same letter. I agree with others that post can be a pain. I live with someone else with same first initial and same surname. I once had highly confidential health information opened by them as the envelope was addressed to initial last name. I’ve tried to swap to online correspondence where possible for everything but things still arrive for initial last name. For this reason I chose names for my dc with different first initials to each other and the rest of the household.

teacuptale · 23/02/2020 09:56

Just realised my post above is confusing... what I was trying to say is that I made a personal choice based on postal irritations, but if you love the name then go for it. I also don’t think that a third child would feel sad about having a different initial.

XingMing · 24/02/2020 17:56

It would simplify buying name tapes and labelling kit when you have three at school.

Whatsyourflava · 24/02/2020 19:24

Has this helped at all @Ohhgreat

CatrionaNess · 24/02/2020 21:26

I named all my children with different first name letters but they all have J middle names because I named the first three and then felt the fourth would feel left out and then decided the fifth would have a different letter but then decided he would be our last so felt I couldn't even more. Have since had 2 more and just always felt like I couldn't have 5/6 j middle names and then 1/2 without right at the end. Really wish I'd decided to give no. 3 the name I ended up giving to no. 4 as a first name rather than sticking with the j thing because it just got harder and harder to get out of. Also ended up not being able to use names I really loved because I limited myself to only first names and then had to use names I wouldn't have otherwise chosen because I felt I had to stick with the j theme.
Obviously if you love n names go for it, but don't hem yourself in and strike names you really love off the list because they don't start with n.

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