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Baby names

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

Original poster

Naming baby same name as a cousin?

30 replies

Horse9 · 12/02/2022 09:08

just wondering what people’s thoughts are on naming your baby after your cousin? It’s my second cousin but is more like a first as he’s the same age as me. My mums siblings were much older than her so it worked out he’s more like my first cousin!
Thanks

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TheYearOfSmallThings · 12/02/2022 09:11

I have the same name as my first cousin, and I always liked that. It's probably more unusual now, when people think much more about names and not copying/duplicating/stealing names.

Original poster
Horse9 · 12/02/2022 09:15

I don’t see him much if that affects
It !! He’s my cousins son

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MindyStClaire · 12/02/2022 09:20

I think it depends on the popularity of the name. If it's, day, Oliver then I think people will think "isn't it nice that they share a name". If it's Tarquin, people will assume you have named your son in tribute to your cousin and you have to decide if you're ok with that or if it feels a bit weird for your relationship.

pinkyredrose · 12/02/2022 09:22

What's the problem, if you like it use it!

Original poster
Horse9 · 12/02/2022 09:27

True @MindyStClaire
It’s not an uncommon name

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Jellycatrabbit · 12/02/2022 11:07

My dc has the same fairly common first name, middle initial and surname as my cousin. Cousin and aunt took it as a compliment on their taste in names! Great grandparents find it moderately confusing.

If they had both shared a really unusual name, say, Keturah or Asterios, or we saw loads of each other, it would have been weird.

Cousins son is even less likely to cause offence i would think. My cousins have 12kids between them so far. That's a lot of names to avoid.

harriet465 · 12/02/2022 13:59

I would go for it. I have the same first name as my cousin and never been an issue

DramaAlpaca · 12/02/2022 14:21

It's fine. My BIL shares his first name with not one, but two cousins.

UserBot9to5 · 12/02/2022 15:17

I thought you meant the babies would be first cousins.

This is ok!

M0rT · 12/02/2022 15:27

Someone I know recently gave their baby the same name as me, not after me they just liked the name.
But I felt glad that knowing me hadn't turned them off the name.
I think your cousin will either be flattered thinking it's after him or glad you still like the name enough knowing him to use it.
Also if other people know both of you and that your cousins they will probably just assume it's a family name and your cousin and child are both named after a shared great/grandparent.

parrotonmyshoulder · 12/02/2022 15:51

We did this - he’s not named after the cousins but it was our favourite name. DH and I each have a cousin with the name! We rang our aunties to ‘ask’ if they didn’t mind, but we knew they wouldn’t. Cousins are now 50 and 30. DS is 10. We never see them unless at weddings or funerals.

Luredbyapomegranate · 12/02/2022 17:26

Really doesn’t matter. Just crack on.

Twizbe · 12/02/2022 21:17

I think it's fine. My son is named after my grandpa and it's a family name. I wouldn't mind at all if another cousin used it as well.

User0610134049 · 12/02/2022 21:22

Second cousin I didn’t see much - wouldn’t bother me. First cousin growing up nearby… I wouldn’t.

Goitalone2022 · 12/02/2022 21:24

Not an issue - different generations, lots of kids have their parents name, baby David.

HerRoyalHappiness · 12/02/2022 21:26

It's absolutely fine. I've just said on another thread how 2 cousins on the same side of the family share a name, and it's never been an issue.
Also my cousin and her brother (half brother, he's not my cousin technically) both have DDs called Chloe.
My DD has my mums name
DS1 has my dad's, brothers and stepdads name as a middle name
DS2 has a similar name to another brother and the same middle name as the third brother

It's really absolutely fine to use whatever name you want to use.

ANameChangeAgain · 12/02/2022 21:26

Yes its fine and can be fun. My child and my cousin's child have the same name. My aunt was named after her mum's sister. My cousin, their parent and grandparent all have the same name. We call them little x, big x and great x.

Original poster
Horse9 · 12/02/2022 21:28

Thanks everyone , I’ve had some negative feedback on it from family members saying things along the lines of ‘we’ve already got a X’
So this is reassuring !

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Weclome · 12/02/2022 21:35

A work colleagues husband, son and 2 grandchildren all have the same first name. Her DH, DS and one DGS have the same surname also whereas her DD's son has a different surname.
I don't think they find it confusing, its a family name and I think a lot of the cousins all have the name.
It's David btw so very common

Phos · 13/02/2022 08:21

I don’t think it’s an issue. My cousin and I were pregnant at the same time, she was due a month before me, and she named her daughter Ellie. We had had some longer forms of that on our list and we’d have still used it if that had been our final choice.

harriet465 · 13/02/2022 08:32

I’ve never understood the issue of cousins with the same first name, in our family they are just big x or little x
Ours is a family name though

romdowa · 13/02/2022 08:36

I have cousins that share a name , I've cousins that share my name and my brother and our first cousin share a name. Nobody bats an eye lid really.

mUserBot9to5 · 13/02/2022 08:38

@Horse9

Thanks everyone , I’ve had some negative feedback on it from family members saying things along the lines of ‘we’ve already got a X’ So this is reassuring !
I think negative feedback from your family is more relevant to the decision than comments on mn
Original poster
Horse9 · 13/02/2022 08:48

@mUserBot9to5
They have criticised each of the names I have chosen for different reasons . Sometimes I think the only way to please them is to leave the choice solely up to them!

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Original poster
Horse9 · 13/02/2022 08:53

Which i won’t do obviously !! So they won’t be over the moon with any choice!! Have to please myself and not others. Just wondered what the general consensus was on it
@mUserBot9to5

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