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Baby names

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

Giving baby same name as childhood dog

15 replies

FN23 · 20/01/2021 20:19

Husband and I are really really struggling for boys names. We're keeping the gender a surprise and have lots of girls names so sods law I'm sure we'll have a boy. We both love one, single name and then have a few others which are nice but meh. Nothing special and don't feel quite right. The boys name we do like just so happens to be his old family dog's name. It's a biblical, human name, not Rover. We're very secretive about name choices and were with our daughter so there's not really the option of sounding it out beforehand. The dog passed away almost 10 years ago now. We both loved him, but he was problematic bless him. Nervous nature which led to quite destructive behaviour. Some of my husbands siblings were not so fond of him and I worry about their attitude if we went ahead with the name. Any thoughts?

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BathTangle · 20/01/2021 20:26

I wouldn't worry: I gave my oldest child the name of my first pet and nobody commented at all! (Again a human name, not a pet type name)

BathTangle · 20/01/2021 20:26

(Said pet was a grumpy sod... but the name is gorgeous!)

Cindie943811A · 20/01/2021 20:29

Go for it if you really like the name. After a short while the name will be your son’s and the dog reference forgotten. My DGD has our old beloved cat’s name and she’s quite ok with it. Her mother grew up with the cat and loved her name, which she had a voice in naming.

ILoveStickers · 20/01/2021 21:03

I wouldn't worry either. My elderly relative briefly objected to a young relative using her cats name (which was of the Tom, Ed, Max variety).

Obviously, the cat is long forgotten and the young man is the "proper" Tom/Ed/Max now!

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 20/01/2021 22:03

Once he's here, I think everyone will associate your son with the name rather than a pet who passed away a decade ago - so I wouldn't worry about it personally if it's a name you love.

FluffyEggsontoast · 20/01/2021 23:18

Agree with @IamnotwhouthinkIam

Quail15 · 21/01/2021 07:47

My daughter has the same name as my childhood pet Rabbit 😂 my mum made a comment but other than that nobody said anything.

If we were having another girl she would have had the same name as my DH's childhood dog but it's a boy this time.

Mooselaurels · 21/01/2021 07:49

If it's good enough for Indiana Jones...

FN23 · 21/01/2021 08:02

Thanks everyone! 😊

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BeforeThisThenWhat · 21/01/2021 09:14

I used pets names for two of my kids. I didn't see any reason not to.

MimiDaisy11 · 21/01/2021 15:52

I think people might think of the dog when they hear the name but soon they'll just associate it with the baby.

It's annoying my partner ruled out a name I really liked based on him having a cat with that name (again human name).

FN23 · 21/01/2021 16:24

I've come to realise I'm not worried about what other people will think. Our name choices don't need to please anyone else. I have genuine concerns that my SILs could be petty enough to treat baby badly over reusing the name.

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Santaiscovidfree · 21/01/2021 16:29

Depends maybe if the family ddog bit any family members!! They may have bad association with the name!!
Our 4 ddogs have dc names. One being a girl in ds's class. Made ds keep quiet incase they were offended. Tbf ddog had the name first!

MaddeningtheUnhelpful · 21/01/2021 16:32

My son has the same name as a cat my sister had at the time he was born. It's a 'human' name and suited my DS. We never found it weird at all

Smilingdonkey · 22/01/2021 00:45

My DD has the same name as my childhood pet goat ... I didn't even make the connection until she was several months old 😬🤣 x

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