Our top girls' name is also my sister-in-law's name!

[rosemarycait96]

Total coincidence, but my top girls' names are as follows

Emma
Emily
Matilda
Hannah

Boys, for good measure:
Eric
William
Edward
Alistair

We've pretty much picked out Emma as our favourite for a girl, but my husband's sister is also called Emma - would that be weird, or shall we go with Emily which sounds similar and is our second favourite?

My husband thinks I'm mad and he doesn't have a problem with it, but I want other opinions.

ps. And any name suggestions you might have that'll go on my list - classic, simple and timeless please! I just love hearing everyone's faves.

Emma is a lovely name, I am sure you SIL would love it ! I don't think it's weird at all

Love Emma. I bet your SIL would love it!

My cousin has the same name as his Uncle. So that's my Auntie naming her son the same name as her brother. No one has ever said anything negative about it 🤷‍♀️

Are there any other family members who might be annoyed/jealous? My brother has the same name as my husband's step dad and I'd love to give my baby that name as a middle name (after my brother) but I know my husband's dad would be upset thinking it's after the step dad.

If not, no issues

Only if you want your sil to think you named your baby after her!

Seems a bit odd when there millions of other names to choose from.

In my family practically everyone is named for someone older (or dead) so it seems quite normal to me. Can you ask SIL what she thinks?

I would go with Emily give your child some individuality within the family, we have this situation in my family my husband is ‘Big Peter’ and my nephew is ‘Little Peter’ which was fine when my nephew was a child, he doesn’t appreciate it so much now he is a 6ft 20 something.

In previous generations it was entirely normal to name DC for family members and on that basis it's not weird. We have eg 'little' Ann, Auntie Ann, Jack/ John /Johnnie etc .If you are not going along the line of naming her at least partly for your DSil , pick another name.

I wouldn't. It is a lovely name but as others have said, there are so many other names to consider.

If you have DSis would they be put out if you named LO after your DSIL?

For me, that's too close a relation to use the same name. It's just confusing.

Will they have the same surname as well?
Do you and DH see his family often?

I would hesitate tbh even though it's a great name.

That’s way too close a relationship for me, I would use Emily or one of your other lovely names.

Emmeline?

I met an Emma nicknamed Emmie recently, thought that was very cute on a little girl. It’d differentiate between the two of them!

Far too close. What about Emeline?

Emilia nn Emmie?

Naming children after family members both living and dead is an acceptable thing in my family (first names as well as middle names). People don't 'own' their names.

Why not sit SIL down and ask her if she would mind. Insist she's honest.

Your dh's favourite name for your baby is his sisters name? That sounds very unusual. They must be very close. I'd go for a different name personally.

Your dh's favourite name for your baby is his sisters name? That sounds very unusual. They must be very close. I'd go for a different name personally

Not that unusual I'm afraid. DH wanted to give DS the same name as our DCat. Some men just have a capacity for demonstrating a stunning lack of imagination

I'd hate it personally I love my sister to bits but would find it weird to have a child with the same name. Go for Emily.

How about asking SIL? Personally I'd think it was quite cute to have a niece with the same name. I grew up with my aunt's name as my middle name and she's my favourite for that reason (they're all lovely so there's nothing else in it 😂)

So who brought up Emma when his sister is an Emma? Like did you say “ooh I always loved the name Emma but obviously that’s your sister’s name” and he said something back like “we could still use that name.” ???

Or did he suggest using it as a tribute to her?

Otherwise why would you want to give your kid a name you’ve spent your whole life associating with someone else?

A name is so much a part of a person I can’t imagine not associating my sisters name with her and her only.

or use emma as a middle name tribute to Big Emma. That’s a usual thing to do.

also Emmie is nice.

Honestlt, I think it's a bit odd, and would be quite confusing. I considered giving my daughter the same name as a cousin I rarely see who is 15 years younger than me but felt like even that was pushing it a bit!

I like Matilda - good strong name. I find Emily and Hannah extremely dull and went to school with lots of them. Have you considered -

Emmeline
Eloise
Alma
Thea
Hazel
Anya
Nina
Erin
Luna

I'd find it a little odd to be honest.

I wouldn't use it. It's a bit too close