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Baby names

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

What do you think????

31 replies

Iamstrugglingtopick · 05/04/2021 19:58

My son is Frank after our great great grandad, great grandad and grandad. Hence old family name.

Sister is adamant on Frankie for her boy. Would you mind? It does not bother me but people have commented saying it is too similar

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Anoisagusaris · 05/04/2021 19:59

It’s not just similar, it’s basically the same name.

SionnachRua · 05/04/2021 19:59

If it doesn't bother you, why does it matter what these others think?

TheRedFox · 05/04/2021 20:00

To me it is essentially the same name and given they are going to be cousins, I wouldn't do it (if I were your sister).

ElderMillennial · 05/04/2021 20:00

It is very similar but if it doesn't bother you then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks

jellyfishinatent · 05/04/2021 20:02

If it doesn't bother you, don't let it start bothering you!

You are sibings so have the same great great / great / grandad, no problem wanting to honour the same family members

If it helps I much prefer Frank to Frankie Grin

Aquamarine1029 · 05/04/2021 20:04

3 of my cousins, who are siblings, each named one of their sons after my dad. It's never been an issue aside from clarifying which one we're talking about occasionally. Personally, I wouldn't give my child the same name as my sibling's child, but to each their own I suppose.

Adventing · 05/04/2021 20:05

I think age gap and how close you live makes a difference. If you live on the same street and they're likely to end up in the same class then I think that would bother me than if theres a five year age gap and you live at different ends of the country

Adventing · 05/04/2021 20:06

*would bother me more

TuvoknotSpock · 05/04/2021 20:07

That s the risk if you name your DC after direct ancestors. It would be weird if it wasn't a family name

jellyteeth · 05/04/2021 20:08

Do you call your son Frankie as a nickname? I think it's a bit unoriginal of her. 1) you've essentially already used the name and 2) there's just so many Frankies around now

PandaFluff · 05/04/2021 20:09

Francesca nn Frankie is fine

sarah13xx · 05/04/2021 20:12

Yeah.. wayyy too similar, why would she even consider it? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Edenember · 05/04/2021 20:22

I would be annoyed but it’s whether you’re annoyed that matters. Without wanting to start a family feud, I also think it’s worth considering how the children may feel, which will largely depend on closeness of the relationship and proximity as other pps have said. Ultimately I guess you can’t control whether she does or not, and if there are no misgivings there to express then I suppose it’s not an issue?

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 06/04/2021 00:17

I'd be a bit annoyed in your shoes if it wasn't a family name, but since it is I think it would be unfair for you to object - she's probably upset you got there first, as she might have always wanted to honour her Grandad Frank too. Just be glad you got to choose the less cutesy (imo) version!

ErrolTheDragon · 06/04/2021 00:21

It used to be entirely normal for sets of cousins to use some of the same names. I've got a brother and 3 cousins with the same name - and it wasn't even a family name, just a traditional bog standard one.

LudoTrouble · 06/04/2021 00:27

We have two cousins with the same name in our family. Nobody cares. It's only an issue if you really mind, and then you have to decide whether to talk to her about it.

Synchrony · 06/04/2021 02:16

If it's what your sister wants to name her child, and you don't mind, then I don't see a problem.

Crunchymum · 06/04/2021 11:12

Your sister is odd.

campion · 06/04/2021 11:14

It doesn't matter.
More confusing is father and son with the same name but even they seem to cope.

TatianaBis · 06/04/2021 11:59

It would annoy me. Can’t she have as a middle name?

TatianaBis · 06/04/2021 12:01

A couple of my siblings had kids before me, chose some great names, some of which were family names. (Violet, Phoebe, Laurence). Afaiwc they were then off limits.

JemimaJoy · 07/04/2021 14:09

If its a family name from your family and not your partners then no. She has just as much right to use it.

Violetlavenders · 07/04/2021 14:12

It would annoy me. Names are meant to identify us!

ColonelPine · 07/04/2021 14:18

I have two cousins with exactly the same name. Until now, it had never occurred to me that that was unusual at all! So no it wouldn’t bother me!

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 07/04/2021 14:34

So you'll have big Frank and she'll have little Frank. No biggie, as far as I'm concerned - my best friend and I at high school had EXACTLY the same name - first name and surname, identical spellings and all 😂