Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Should all begin with same initial?

25 replies

MotherofLs · 26/09/2022 19:35

Evening all!

So for a bit of context I have 3 children, two boys and a girl, and I'm currently pregnant with my fourth and last. I know I'm having another girl but am having a bit of an issue with naming...

All my kids have names beginning with L. This wasn't planned at all but it just so happened that me and DH loved these names best so chose them. Problem being that we don't especially love any L names for this baby but worry that she'll stand out as the only non L...

I know that realistically sibling names don't have to match or fit together since they'll have their own lives one day but I just don't like the idea of making her the odd one out or being questioned about it all the time.

I guess I'm asking if you think that I'm thinking to much into this or not?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
LostInMeadows · 26/09/2022 22:15

Like you said, you don't like any L names this time around. You could give her a L name that you don't really like and isn't so nice...just so she can match in. Or find her a name that you love.

I wouldn't think too much into it, the kids will probably make a joke out of it and giggle when they're older but at the end of the day she does fit in because you all share a surname and everyone would probably be happier with her name being nice rather than starting with a L.

Babdoc · 26/09/2022 22:19

Good luck trying to sort out whose mail is whose when it all arrives at the house addressed to L.Bloggs! This last child could be the only one who doesn’t get her letters opened by the wrong sibling.
You can give her any name you like - with any initial.

Gysophilla · 26/09/2022 22:21

Had a colleague with four children all with same initial and had issues with airlines cancelling seats thinking duplicate child bookings. Happened several times!

use a different initial…

HidingFromDD · 26/09/2022 22:24

As a child of a family with 4 same initials, she’ll probably be ecstatic that she’s the only one who’s post doesn’t get mixed up when they get to mid/late teens.

appreciate that it’s too late for most of your children but this is precisely why my Dcs have names all starting with different initials…

SkyeBlue28 · 26/09/2022 22:49

I think you should choose a name you love and I don’t think it will matter too much that she has a different initial. I can imagine it being asked from time to time but I don’t think anyone would find it strange. It would be worse to go with a name that you don’t like so much.

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 26/09/2022 22:58

I think there'll be comments either way.

If it's Leo, Luke, Lily and Lara you'll get 'ooooh all your kids have the same initial. Like the Kardashians'

And if it's Leo, Luke, Lily and Sophie you'll get 'how come you didn't continue the L theme with baby no.4?'.

So pick the name you like best.

drquestion · 26/09/2022 23:04

My 4th has a different naming 'pattern' to the others (not the same first initial). We just chose a name we loved.

NuffSaidSam · 26/09/2022 23:14

I think it would be far better to use a different initial.

Better for her and better for the rest of the family who won't have people thinking you're massive, cringey Kardashian fans!

Adultchildofelderlyparents · 26/09/2022 23:19

This is the sort of thing you will probably think about a lot now, but as soon as the baby is born and named you'll barely give it another thought whether or not you choose an "L" name.
It seems cute to have matching initials though, if you already have three. There are loads of girls L names, you really don't like any?
What about going half way (same sound, different initial) with something like Eloise, Eleanor, Elizabeth?

DuesToTheDirt · 26/09/2022 23:36

People don't get that much post these days.

But my brain mixes up names that begin with the same initial, especially if they are close family, so I'd always be saying Lily - no, Lionel, I mean Laura...

Beautifulsunflowers · 27/09/2022 07:52

Is there a name you like that has a nn starting with L?
Elizabeth nn lizzie for example.

FettleOfKish · 27/09/2022 08:08

Gysophilla · 26/09/2022 22:21

Had a colleague with four children all with same initial and had issues with airlines cancelling seats thinking duplicate child bookings. Happened several times!

use a different initial…

I've worked in airline bookings for almost 20 years and I've heard a lot of stuff but never of this happening, because they work on full first name and surname. Are any of them multiples so same date of birth? That's more likely to cause confusion.

Anyway, OP, give her a name that you love and if people ask (I don't know why they would) you tell them exactly that.

Luana1 · 27/09/2022 08:33

Me and my siblings all have the same initial. It was actually quite annoying. From cancelled swimming lessons (they assumed my mum had accidentally made multiple bookings for the same child) to my brother once accidentally paying in a tax refund cheque I had received (that brother even has the same middle initial as me too), and lots of other little things meant that I wouldn't do that to a sibling set, it's also quite Kardashian!

Starlightstarbright1 · 27/09/2022 08:36

My mum always said she regretted giving me and my sister same initial for the post issue.... which then seems extreme tbh but give the baby a name you love.

Roselilly36 · 27/09/2022 08:38

Can cause a lot of confusion, when they get older, many years ago I used to work in financial services, the times things would get mixed up. Much easier to have different initials.

tranquiltortoise · 27/09/2022 09:23

You're overthinking this.

All my siblings except one start with the same letter. It's literally a non-issue.

Very occasionally someone remarks on it and might find it a little funny that all of us have the same letter and the other is different, but honestly, worrying about naming your child because of this is really daft.

Madamecastafiore · 27/09/2022 09:25

It always makes me think of Pauline Fowler with Michelle, Mark and Martin.

Original poster
MotherofLs · 27/09/2022 09:31

There are a few L names we think are lovely just not our favourite. For example we both like Lyra but not as much as our other non L picks.

My kids are still fairly young (oldest is 7) but having the same initial hasn't come up as a problem yet. My kids aren't exactly drowning in post and when they all live their separate lives I don't think that would matter much either way.

As for the Kardashian thing - I'm fairly certain there were families with the same initial before the Kardashians came along 😂I grew up with some.

OP posts:
olympicsrock · 27/09/2022 09:33

Chose a name without the L. Four is too much and a bit twee. ( mine both have the same initial by chance as names we liked)

Dreamingcats · 27/09/2022 09:35

I'd go non-L. My brain struggles to distinguish lots of similar names. They all blend together. Just choose your favourite name.

pamshortsbrokenbothherlegs · 27/09/2022 09:52

If it was me I'd go non-L, but my persnickety nature would mean I'd want the name to still go well with the others. I'd probably get around this by choosing something that has a strong L sound within it, just not in the first letter. So Orla rather than Luna, for example.

bloominglovelyorange · 27/09/2022 10:36

"post" as a concern always makes me smile

i don't get any post anymore , almost everything online
friends send cards but put my name on that

fruitbrewhaha · 27/09/2022 10:40

You could call her Elle.

Squeezedsquash · 27/09/2022 10:44

Call her Elle (or Eleanor)- different and the same :)

stormelf · 27/09/2022 10:58

I grew up with a family where three of the siblings had the same initial and one didn't. I never really noticed it to be honest

New posts on this thread. Refresh page