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Baby names

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

Is this weird?

36 replies

pigglepot · 23/07/2021 14:34

I'm due very close to a close family member. I know I'm having a girl but she doesn't know what she's having yet. When I saw her last she told me her favourite boys name which is the male version of our favourite girls name. She's due a month before me. Is it acceptable/weird to call my DD the name we like if she has already called her son (if she had a boy) the male name. They are identical names apart from the addition of two letters. Think George/Georgie, Charles/Charlie, Joe/Jonie

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KirstenBlest · 23/07/2021 15:42

A bit but if she has a girl it won't matter.

It depends on whether you live nearby, are sisters/SILs.

I know 2 SILs, married to 2 brothers so not blood related , and they have DDs with similar names. The names are something like May and Maeve.

They aren't quite the same age, and you get used to it.

pigglepot · 23/07/2021 16:00

@KirstenBlest

A bit but if she has a girl it won't matter.

It depends on whether you live nearby, are sisters/SILs.

I know 2 SILs, married to 2 brothers so not blood related , and they have DDs with similar names. The names are something like May and Maeve.

They aren't quite the same age, and you get used to it.

Oh for sure if she has a girl there won't be an issue as the name she wants for a girl (I think) is very different. We are related by blood. We don't live close but we are close I would say and speak often and see each other several times a year. The babies will be a month apart 😂🤦‍♀️
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BunnyRuddington · 23/07/2021 16:47

Let's hope it's a girl then Smile

Aquamarine1029 · 23/07/2021 16:52

I wouldn't even worry about it.

DotDotDotDotDot · 23/07/2021 17:09

Did you tell her when she mentioned it? What did she think?

KirstenBlest · 23/07/2021 17:18

It depends on the name. If it was something as close as Charley and Charlie then no., but Jonny and Jenny yes.

KirstenBlest · 23/07/2021 17:26

I think the example I gave would probably be something like:

Brother1 and MrsB1 have a Annie. Brother2 and MrsB2 have an Anna who is 2 yrs younger than her cousin.
Brothers have a sister called Hannah. (not the real names but that sort of similar).

Are the names Harry and Harriet? If they are go for it.
I can also think of 2 brothers where one has a son called Barry and the other has a son called Harry. (**not the real names). I don' think it was an issue, and it didn't cross my mind until i saw a photo of them together.

TotorosCatBus · 23/07/2021 18:46

I think it's a massive risk because you don't know what nicknames she may use. Her Charles could be known as Charlie

JungleBeats · 23/07/2021 18:48

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

pigglepot · 23/07/2021 18:56

@DotDotDotDotDot

Did you tell her when she mentioned it? What did she think?
Yup we said that it was the name we were thinking of too. They said they had reservations about it for a couple of reasons but today when I was speaking to her about names on WhatsApp I said we were still undecided and she said that they were still keen on the boy version of the name.

Problem is now that's shes said it again today it's made me think the girl name is actually the name we definitely want.

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pigglepot · 23/07/2021 18:57

@KirstenBlest

It depends on the name. If it was something as close as Charley and Charlie then no., but Jonny and Jenny yes.
I don't want to say the exact names because it's very identifying but it's literally Bill/Billie. The same name but the girl version has two extra letters at the end.
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pigglepot · 23/07/2021 18:59

@JungleBeats

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest.
So you wouldn't think it was a bit weird if there were two family members born a month apart. Boy Bill and girl Billie? I want it to not bother me but i worry it would be odd for the children and for the wider family?
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KirstenBlest · 23/07/2021 19:00

You will have a month before your baby arrives to think of another name and a few weeks after.

You never know, when baby Leona cousin of Leo turns up, she might look like a Clarissa or Bryony or something.

There's no rush.

pigglepot · 23/07/2021 19:09

@KirstenBlest

You will have a month before your baby arrives to think of another name and a few weeks after.

You never know, when baby Leona cousin of Leo turns up, she might look like a Clarissa or Bryony or something.

There's no rush.

Totally agree I'm just infuriatingly indecisive and couldn't decide for weeks on my first DDs name so would have loved to have made a decision 😅. Post birth hormones and baby naming is not a good mix for me! 😜
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KirstenBlest · 23/07/2021 19:12

What sort of name is it? We could come up with some suggestions.

Rbaby · 23/07/2021 19:44

You might be two weeks early and she two weeks late...!

Pingued · 23/07/2021 19:51

@Rbaby

You might be two weeks early and she two weeks late...!
This is true!

I think you're going to have to ask if she minds if you used the name. Are there shared grandparents? They might find it a nightmare.

RavenclawsRoar · 23/07/2021 20:25

DH and his cousin have really similar b/g names - think Joseph and Josephine. Both have the same nn! I think it's a bit weird as their mums are sisters and had them at a similar time but no one in their family seems to mind. I actually mentioned it to dh the other day and he said it had never occurred to him!!

NuffSaidSam · 23/07/2021 20:30

Personally, it would put me off the name. But if you're ok with it and if the relative is ok with it, go for it.

It might be nice bonding thing for them to share a name!

KirstenBlest · 23/07/2021 20:33

Is it Oliver and Olivia?

omgthepain · 23/07/2021 20:43

I know a family and Grandpa was Robin

grandson is Robin
Grand-daughter (cousin not sister) is Robyn

As Grandpa Robin was a great man

I think it's quite nice in some ways they live miles apart

Cbeebiesrehab · 23/07/2021 23:40

My sister and my cousin have the boy/girl version of the same name. No issues…when I pointed it out to my mother and asked her if her sister and asked her if she minded she said ‘no, why would she? Why would I mind’ 😂

Just10moreminutesplease · 23/07/2021 23:47

If you’re close I personally wouldn’t do it. They might end up with the same nickname which would bother me.

If this wouldn’t bother you (and you don’t mind a bit of awkwardness is your family member does mind) then go for it.

Congratulations on your pregnancy Smile.

MrsGilly1 · 24/07/2021 07:59

I would have other names in mind that you like just as equally as now you have told her the female version she may chose to go with that if the baby a girl X

Helpmetopickone · 26/07/2021 19:52

I do not see a problem at all, I have two cousins with the same first name and surname. Never been an issue and I’ll be completely honest no one inside the family has ever batted an eyelid

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