One family: Tom, Tommy AND Thomas?

[pinkorblue21]

Firstly, I know "no one owns a name" but people can have strong opinions.

So, this is the situation;

Paternal cousin has a DS15 called Thomas, but nn Tommy.
Maternal cousin has DS5 called Thomas. Always Thomas, never shortened.
I'm the common denominator cousin, the other two know each other but not well. They would see each other rarely, usually weddings etc within our middle family. They'd be aware of each other's children, but I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't know names.

I'm now pregnant with DC1. The only boy name DH and I can really agree on is Thomas, nn Tom.

So in my family there would be a Tommy, Thomas and Tom. That's weird isn't it? Potential to offend/raise eyebrows on both sides of the family?

Do I need to strike it from the (very short) list?

It seems a shame to use the same name when there are so many to choose from

Never mind the potential for issues for misunderstandings

@chickadeeeeeeeee yes, I know there are plenty of other names to choose from, but it's the only one DH and I really love and can agree on. It feels a shame to go with a name we don't love just because it could get confusing a couple of times a year when seeing second cousins.

I just wanted to gauge what people think about it really. We have some time yet, so we may come across a name we love just as much.

@Nell96 you've named four of the other second cousins! it's tricky, because my older cousins got first dibs at the good names!

I think that's fine. Especially a name like Thomas, which is such a classic. I really love the name Thomas.

We have two Alexanders in our extended family and nobody batted and eyelid. I would use my cousins' dc names without even thinking about it. It's so far removed. It's fine.

It would have been perfectly normal for most of history! I say go for it.

Both of my male cousins (on the same side) have the same first name as my dad.

My uncle and his grandson have the same name.

There's also a liberal (and repeated) use of parents'/grandparents' first names as middle names and middle names as first

All have the same surname.

None of these names are unusual. I've never thought it was odd and it only ever occurs to me that some people think it might be when I see these threads. Although now that I have thought about it it does, as a PP noted, show a staggering lack of imagination on the part of that side of my family

@PissedOffAgain, I knew a family where every first born male was named William. Their surname? McWilliams! I quite like it, but imaginative it is not

Love Thomas. Go for it op!