Is calling my baby this too weird?

[BigThunderMountainRailroad]

Okay so this morning my very much loved Granny passed away :(. I’m absolutely gutted. She lived next door to me all my life and I was so close to her. The woman literally did everything for me, my siblings and my cousins. She was in a nursing home for the last years of her life with dementia and I visited her every day (until Covid kicked off).

I’m 16 weeks pregnant and I feel I would really like to name my baby after her if it’s a girl. The ever so slight reservation I have is my sister has the same name as my granny! Would it be too weird for my sister and my baby to have the same name?

I know people might say it’s no weirder than my granny and sister having the same name for all those years but I’m worried people will criticise me for passing the name down a third generation and class it as being “overused”.

Is this weird? Or not? My husband likes the name and says it’s entirely up to me!

Completely fine to use! Your nan would be thrilled :)

Not weird. I would try and find a variation to use as a nickname day to day though.

I think it's lovely, and you could always check with your sister if you're really worried about her reaction.

My daughter has my sister's name as her middle name.

I wouldn’t find it weird. There are families where the females all get named Marie, Maria, and Mary. You could also use it as a middle name.

I forgot to say how very, very sorry I am for your loss.

I hope you're doing as well as you can.

Would be a wonderful tribute, I’m sure your sister will see it this way?
So sorry for your loss, she sounds a lovely Granny

Is it a name that lends itself to different short forms like Katherine or Elizabeth? Would it upset your sister?

I’m sorry for your loss and using her name is nice way to remember her. Would her surname work as a middle name for a boy?

I would just think how you are going to distinguish them when you are all together? I have the same name as a relatives partner and I hate the confusion or us being referred to in relation to other people. Are there different diminutives that can be used when together? E.g if your sister is Elizabeth sometimes Liz can your daughter be Elizabeth but also Lizzie or Eliza?

I'd probably run it past my sister first tbh, people are weird. Def as a middle name at least though. Is there a variation you could use so if she's Emma use Emmeline or Emily for example?

I think its lovely. If there is a diminutive you could use to distinguish between sister and DD that would be great. Do choose a good middle name so DD can decide when she is older if she hates it.

Not weird at all, but maybe speak to your sister and sound out how she might feel?

Not the same situation, but my sister gave my middle name as a middle name for her oldest daughter and I was SO happy about it - my first niece and was tickled to have that link. It's now a strong possibility as a first name for my currently-cooking DC, if it's a girl. So we'd all have it in one way or another!

Sorry for your loss OP, she sounds like a wonderful granny.

There’s nothing weird about a child having the same name as her Great Grandma and Auntie.

I don’t think you need to run a name passed anyone. It’s no one else’s business what you call your baby. It’s a lovely idea. Sorry to hear about your grandma.

I had an aunt with the same name as me. It was never a problem!

It's entirely personal and up to you.
We have a similar situation - DH's gran, auntie and sister all have the same name (and now my brother's girlfriend lol). Based on this I've said that name is out for our baby, which is a shame as I like it. But for me, my child being the 5th (4th living) of a name is too much! We'll probably use it as a middle name though.

I am sorry for your loss.
I think it's fine.
I know a family where the grandfather, son and grandson are all named a name- lets say Lee, they are Big Lee, Lee and Wee Lee to the family when talking about them.

My mum did this - my brother has the same name as her brother (my uncle). It’s fine and no-one thinks anything of it - we just need to clarify sometimes whether we’re talking about Uncle Bob or brother Bob!

No issue at all.

I was named after 2 aunties, my dad’s and my mum’s sisters. It was a Katherine type name and we were eg, Katy, Cathy and Kitty.

I have a grandfather, an uncle and a cousin with the same first name. (Both uncle and cousin named after grandfather) They each have their own nickname for example Jay, Jamie, Jimmy. Even if they didn’t it wouldn’t matter really. I think you should go for it! Sorry about your Granny

My brother has the same name as my uncle (Mum's brother) - I think it's a bit weird to be honest. So many other names to choose from.

Can you not just use it as a middle name?

Lovely idea, In memory of your special Granny, you can't go wrong.

I have the same name as my mum and she named my sister after her own sister. No one has ever commented on it being weird. They’re both lovely names. We all have different nicknames though which does make things easier on a practical level.

Thanks everyone for your replies! You’ve all made really valid points

Just to clarify a few things,

It probably would have been helpful if I told you all what her name was! 🙄 My granny was called Mollie. (My sister’s spelling is slightly different though as she’s Molly!)

I’ve talked to my sister about it and she says she’s very happy for the baby to have the same name as her!

Guess it’s just time now to wait and see if the baby is a girl or a boy!!

Lovely name and lovely tribute! Go for it. And so sorry for your loss