Do sibling names have to 'go together'?

[LowryLake]

I've posted a few times here and elsewhere about various names which we've been considering and the comments, both good and bad, have always been really helpful.
At the moment, there are two which we can agree on -

Imogen
Fern

Feedback seems to be that Imogen is a nicer name, but Fern goes better with my daughter's name, Nia (Nee-ah). I get that you obviously can't have rhyming names, names which sound too similar etc., but you're naming individuals, so how important is it really that sibling names 'match'? Is it something which you would give a lot of weight to? Or would you just pick the name you like best?

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

Actually isn't Imogen technically a variation/Shakespearean misprint of Innogen? Innogen is a name from Celtic legend, the same as Nia - so really Imogen and Nia go together very well!

Yes, exactly - that's what I thought. I think you're right - maybe people just like the shortness / simplicity of Nia and Fern together, but I think both work well.

Thanks for your comments all - feel a bit clearer now

I think names shouldn't clash. So in my family we have a set of siblings who all have very Welsh names, bar one. Think Llŷr, Siôr, Iestyn, Angharad and Malcolm. It was a talking point when they were growing up and 'Malcolm' felt left out. Similarly an Ann with sisters Elisabetta, Valentina and Josephine might wonder why she was named so differently from the others.

I don't think Imogen or Fern clash with Nia.

So long as you are avoiding the infamous and probably apocryphal mumsnet triplets “ Faith, Hope and Kevin” you’re probably fine

I would go for the name you like best. They both "go" just fine as far I as I can see. I think it's probably better if sib names are not SO wildly different in style that they sound absurd together but other than that I don't think it matters.

no. they don't have to be matchy or a theme at all

but lots of people like to do it and most people have some criteria/s.

I only ever considered Biblical names that don't start with the same letter as our surname.
we also had to avoid first names of nieces & nephews as they have same surname.
We picked names with either one spelling or the most common spelling.

Also I didn't want repeat initials (1st name) or repeat sets (1st & 2nd names), but after having DD the only name I liked for DS6 had the same start as DD so I broke my rule because they are not the same sex (plus different middle name initials)

some people have nothing like that. they just pick what they like, often spontaneously.
so just go for the one you like