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Baby names

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

Original poster

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

57 replies

rosemarycait96 · 08/07/2022 15:53

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.

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MsMcGonagall · 08/07/2022 19:52

I wouldn't do it, way too odd. Emily would be fine.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 08/07/2022 20:02

Weird.

PritiPatelsMaker · 08/07/2022 20:08

I was going to suggest Emma as a middle name too but your other choices all end in the 'a' sound, except for Emily and Emily Emma doesn't really flow.

Are there any other girls names on the list?

Luredbyapomegranate · 09/07/2022 00:07

It’s fine. Emma is a lovely classic. Not unusual to have a couple in a family.

ShirleyPhallus · 09/07/2022 07:32

I’d get this if it was a really beautiful unusual name but Emma is so standard that there are hundreds of other strong, classic names that would do just as well.

PrisonerofZeroCovid · 09/07/2022 07:39

My SIL, BIL (SIL's husband) and other BIL's wife all have the same unisex name. It's not actually as confusing as you'd think.

Other suggestions with a similarity sound - Stella??

mizzo · 09/07/2022 07:49

I wouldn't do it. DH vetoed a middle name I loved because it's his brothers middle name.

Anna and Kate have a similar feel to Emma.

Dic · 09/07/2022 09:18

That's weird to me.

Luluuuuuuuuuu85 · 09/07/2022 09:47

I put a thread on here years ago about a similar thing- we loved a nn for Elizabeth which is my SIL's name. The feedback was a resounding 'no'! I personally wouldn't do it (and we didn't use SIL's name for DD1!).

HJ40 · 09/07/2022 10:22

How odd for your husband's favourite name for his child to be the same name as his sister.

pixiebex86 · 09/07/2022 10:23

A bit odd....there's plenty of other beautiful names to choose from.

ancientgran · 09/07/2022 11:48

I don't know what is odd about it. Some families have the same name coming up generation after generation. I've got 6 GC, four of them are named for a grandparent or great grantparent. Doesn't cause any confusion at all. If someone says, "Billy did well at school today" no one thinks his granddad has gone back into education.

stuntbubbles · 09/07/2022 11:50

Not weird at all to me. Go back a couple of generations and everyone seemed to have the same name. My dad has the same name as his nephew. Besides, presumably your SIL won’t be Emma to your baby Emma: she’ll be Auntie Emma. Different!

KylieCharlene · 09/07/2022 11:51

I think Emily would work better.

Other classic names
Rachel
Rebecca
Alice
Jane
Sarah
Louisa

PriamFarrl · 09/07/2022 11:54

I have the same name as my aunt. We were always Big Priam and Little Priam. But she is my aunt by marriage and married my uncle shortly after I was born.

How has Emma even made the list when it’s a family name?

ancientgran · 09/07/2022 11:57

PriamFarrl · 09/07/2022 11:54

I have the same name as my aunt. We were always Big Priam and Little Priam. But she is my aunt by marriage and married my uncle shortly after I was born.

How has Emma even made the list when it’s a family name?

Because they like it, isn't that how most names get on the list?

BusySittingDown · 09/07/2022 11:58

I'd be buzzing if my niece was named after me, not weird at all!

However, my name is crap and chavvy so I wouldn't wish it on a child. My name is NOT Emma, which IMO is lovely and a classic so I'd say go for it!

WimpoleHat · 09/07/2022 11:59

RaininSummer · 08/07/2022 16:24

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

This. She’ll be “little Emma” all her life otherwise.

maddiemookins16mum · 09/07/2022 12:23

I’m from a Scottish family, we have a big Archie (92), Archie (60 - son of big Archie) and wee Archie (30s - son of big Archie’s daughter).
We also have big Tom, Tom and wee Tom.
Everyone knows who is being spoken about.

supadupapupascupa · 09/07/2022 12:25

Honestly, everyone will get over. It's a non issue. Once baby is here no problem

ancientgran · 09/07/2022 12:51

WimpoleHat · 09/07/2022 11:59

This. She’ll be “little Emma” all her life otherwise.

Show quote history

Doesn't happen to any of the children in my family, in one case the older person is known as Big and the name.

Theoldwoman · 09/07/2022 14:19

I don’t like Emma, but love Emily!!

RenegadeMatron · 09/07/2022 14:26

HJ40 · 09/07/2022 10:22

How odd for your husband's favourite name for his child to be the same name as his sister.

First thing I thought, too.

And for him to say you’re mad for not wanting to go for it.

He obviously really loves the name…..

Underhisi · 10/07/2022 11:30

If it were a name like Elizabeth where there are plenty of nickname options then I think it would be fine but I wouldn't with Emma.

liveforsummer · 10/07/2022 11:36

Wouldn't be weird. I'd imagine she'd be flattered however word of warning. I work across primary 1 and 2 and our classes are currently packed full of Emma's, Emily, Ella and Ellies All a bit samey and people get muddled plus have to be referred to with their second initial.