Is using a parent/child combo the same as the royal family a no go?

[Mariposa123]

Curious to see ideas! We are due DC2 in a few months, and are a bit unstuck on names. dH has a name that he’s always liked, which I’m happy to use. However, he’s concerned that when people see it combined with our names, it looks too much like we’ve copied the royal family. Not the names, but an example being Catherine calling their daughter Charlotte.

We’ve asked a few people what they think and when we’ve pointed out the similarities they’ve said it’s best avoided, but I’m not sure if people would actually notice if we hadn’t said anything. He thinks we can’t use the name, even though it’s one we both like.

What would your thoughts be in this situation?

Can you say what the names are? I don't think Catherine with a Charlotte is odd at all. I might think your preoccupation with the RF is odd though if it bring it up like that!

I have no idea what you mean, how are Catherine and Charlotte similar?

Even if your names are Will and Kate and you call your daughter Charlotte, apart from one or two 'Oh, just like the royal family!' over the next few years I don't think most people will notice, care or comment.

Wasn't Charlotte a nod to Prince Charles ? Not sure what you mean by it going with Catherine unless you mean same initials

Is it like you been called Kate, your husband been Charles and wanting to call your child Harry/ lilibet?
All of you would have names from current various royal families?

Most of the current crop of royal names are fairly classic or generic- William, Catherine, Harry, Meghan, George, Charlotte, Archie etc.

I wouldn’t think twice about seeing any combination of them since they’re already v popular.

Unless your name is Eugenie and you’re thinking about naming your baby August, that might be more of an obvious match!

I think it’s ok because both are very common names. I wouldn’t think the parents were massive royal family fans or anything. Obviously as long as her brothers aren’t George & Louis.

Was trying not to be too outing as we’ve discussed it with family and I know my mum’s on here!

The names are Charles and William. I agree that people wouldn’t think too much of it. He thinks as time goes on it’ll become more obvious to people though.

I don’t think op is worried names are similar, but they are the same names as Kate Middleton and her daughter Charlotte? Rather than that the names are similar to each other.

Yes they are very common names which I don’t think are too obvious a link. Also DC1 has a classic but not royal name so no obvious theme in our choices

@idontlikealdi

I have no idea what you mean, how are Catherine and Charlotte similar?

She means because Kate Middleton is called Catherine and has a daughter called Charlotte, is that weird to use the same "pattern"? Like if you were called Elizabeth and called your son Charles. Or William and called your son George. Or Harry and called your son Archie. Or Andrew and called your daughter Beatrice. People might say "oh, like in the royal family?"

I think it really depends what the names are OP. Harry and Archie might be weird. William and Charlotte maybe less so.

I would notice but not care, even though I'm not a fan of the Royal family! I would go for it, I think you are overthinking things.

I think Charles and William is fine. Also if you have DC1 you're unlikely to write/say their names together very often anyway as any cards you write etc will have DC1 on too.

I actually know a family with a Charles and. William father/son and it had not occurred to me until the post above. And I'm quite into royals!

Unless you're Catherine/Kate and your husband is Charles (not Charlie) and your son William I can't imagine many people will even notice. Even if they do it's hardly an issue.

I have just realised that my father, his mother and brother all have RF names but not in the same pattern, which I hadn't noticed for 40 years.

I knew a Charles who had sons called William & Harry.
It was noticed but never mentioned.
It’s not a big deal.

Charles and William is fine; they’re standard men’s names which go well together. If you and your DH were called Harry and Meghan and you called your daughter Lilibet, then that would be odd - but absolutely no problem with Charles and William. Aside from anything else, you’ll probably write cards etc as “Love from Mariposa, Charles, DC1 and William”, which makes it even less obvious.

I've just realised I have this! I'm a Catherine and have a child with the same name as one of Kate and William's. Never occurred to me before and no one else has mentioned it. So I'd go for it!

Honestly, OP, those names could hardly any more generic. Or classic, depending on your POV.

I thought you were going to say you were a Meghan married to a Harry, and were planning to have twins called Archie and Lilibet.

Haha thanks everyone! My name is decidedly non royal, so I agree with everyone here it wouldn’t be an issue.

I’ll have to show this to DH and see if it changes his mind.

Really not a big deal, I think you’re fine.

Unrelatedly I know two couples called William and Kate! If they had kids and went with George or Charlotte or Louis I might be surprised but I don’t think that would make it a problem

only if you are not re-naming the adult to achieve that

I don't think I would immediately notice if it was something like Catherine and Charlotte. If I did notice it would be interesting but not a big deal, certainly not a problem. If it's something more unusual e.g Meg(h)an and Archie or Andrew and Eugenie, it would be more obvious and you might get a lot of funny comments.

I know two brothers called Harry and William, and couples with names like Liz and Phil, Anne and Mark, Margaret and Tony, and Sarah and Andrew.

Not a big deal imo because the "major" royals have such popular names anyway. William and Charles have both stayed in the top 100 for over a century.