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Baby names

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Two children same first initial

45 replies

satelliteheart · 24/05/2022 14:16

I've always had a personal rule that I wouldn't give two of my children the same first initial. I feel when they're older and getting post getting letters for Mr A Smith with be super confusing if there are two Mr A Smiths in the house.

I think this partly stems from my own childhood, I have the same first initial as my dad and he'd frequently "accidentally" open my post claiming he mistook the Miss for Mr and I felt like I had no privacy

Now I'm pregnant with baby number 3 and the only boys name dh and I can agree on has the same first initial as ds1

Is my self-imposed rule stupid and I should give it up? Or does it make sense to others?

OP posts:
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Lupyto · 26/05/2022 07:52

Oh I think it’s best to avoid same initial if possible. Nhs post still post rather than email.

soulinablackberrypie · 28/05/2022 21:51

I had this rule as well and I actually vetoed my own favourite boys' name for that reason. However, it doesn't really bother me when other people do it, and I know of several families that have two or more people with the same initial and don't seem to have had any problems.

olympicsrock · 28/05/2022 21:57

My sons have same first initial ( different middle initials) .
No issue at all, in fact very useful as I label everything T. surname and the younger one has hand me down things automatically correctly labelled.

VanillaIce1 · 28/05/2022 22:02

I've got two same initial names and will carry it on if I have another boy.

Wasn't intentional at first but there are lots of lovely names that do begin with R

Ahlola · 28/05/2022 22:11

I have the same initial as my DSIS. Never had an issue with it at all. Never opened each other's post. I honestly just think your dad was probably being nosey.

My DH and DS1 have the same initials. Again, absolutely no issues. I have more issues with people mixing up DS1 first name and last name because yes we did give him a surname as a forename and our surname can be a forename too.

MrsDamonSalvatore · 28/05/2022 22:20

My mum and I had the same initial as each other and my two brothers had the same initial as my Dad. Can’t say it was ever an issue back in the day. My own 2 children (and my exH) all have the same initial. Again, never been an issue. Usually letters come in their full names or using occasionally both initials, so I don’t think we’ve ever had a confusion.

user3199 · 28/05/2022 22:39

My cousin and his wife share an initial and their 5(!) children share an initial (different to their parents one). Wouldn't take that approach personally but it hasn't caused them any problems as far as I know. And your children will be adults living independently of each other for most of their lives. I really don't think they will care long term of they share an initial or not. Just choose the name you like most.

butterflyflutterby123 · 28/05/2022 22:46

I have the same initial as one brother. Two of my other brothers Also hare an initial. Not intentional, very different names and has never come up. Not a problem, and not relevant to our lives. Name your baby whatever you like and whatever feels right fit the baby.

satelliteheart · 29/05/2022 09:26

Thanks all, lots of mixed opinions. I think we'll try to avoid the same initial but interesting to see others have shared initials and don't have any issues

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 29/05/2022 09:59

Honestly wouldn’t worry about it

OneCup · 29/05/2022 10:24

In an ideal world, I would avoid it but if it's only the only name you love, I'd go for it

Appleseesaw · 29/05/2022 10:32

I avoided the same initial for my children. I share a first initial with another member of my household and there is often uncertainty over what post belongs to which person. On one occasion, medical details were posted to ‘first initial surname’ and the wrong person opened it.

Fivebeanchilli · 29/05/2022 10:42

I would feel the same way but, if it was the only name and we really loved it, I'd still use it. So I guess the initial would put me off but not enough to never use the name.

thewalrus · 22/06/2022 15:28

Two of my DC have the same initial. There have never been any mix-ups, privacy breaches that I can think of. I've just asked them (separately) if it's ever been something they've minded and they both looked at me like I'd lost the plot. (Tbf, they do that often!)

Luredbyapomegranate · 22/06/2022 21:02

It's not a big deal

TakeMe2Insanity · 23/06/2022 23:07

I’d only do the same initial for everyone, not the same 2 and 1 with something else. It always looks as if they’ve missed out 🤷🏻‍♀️

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 23/06/2022 23:12

Me and DBro - same initial and surname growing up. Not really a problem.
Me, DH and DD - same first and middle initials and surname. Still not problem.

In 50 years I’ve barely even lived in a household without someone who shared my initial and surname and it’s really not been a problem.

bridgetreilly · 26/06/2022 00:34

Just because your dad didn’t respect boundaries doesn’t mean that your children will have a problem. Same initial as my sibling and never had an issue with it.

Loulou1712 · 26/06/2022 05:57

It's so hard isn't it!
I've got this self imposed rule too, esp as I'm pregnant with number 3 so don't want 1 to feel left out but if we loved a name I wouldn't rule it out, naming babies is so hard! I broke a 'rule' with number 2 giving her an unusual name after hating growing up with mine and swearing I'd never do it to my child 😂 x

user1492757084 · 26/06/2022 13:30

Your original opinion is sound so stick with it. Choose another name.

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