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Baby names

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

Siblings too close??

41 replies

twizzlesticka · 21/10/2022 00:26

Expecting a baby girl, and in love with one particular girls name... but I'm a bit concerned it's too close to my DS's name?

I don't want to give the exact names for fear of being outing, but let's say my DS is named... Brel. (Thankfully he isn't!) The equivalent name I'm considering for DD would be Ella.

So something like, Brel and Ella? i.e. the names share one strong syllable sound, as siblings?

Please tell me if I'm overthinking this or if it's just too close!!

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DramaAlpaca · 21/10/2022 00:35

I'm not sure, as it's hard to work out what the two names could be!

Could you tell us, then name change if you're worried about being recognised?

Beyondshit · 21/10/2022 00:36

Impossible to advise without knowing the names

Threelittlelambs · 21/10/2022 00:39

If your child was in danger could you confuse the two?

Ihatethenewlook · 21/10/2022 00:41

Sorry op but this thread is ridiculous. We can’t tell you if the names are too similar when given just a part of the name?

twizzlesticka · 21/10/2022 00:46

@Ihatethenewlook Maybe I've been too honest. If I hadn't told you that those weren't the real names, would you say Brel and Ella were too similar for a sibset?

Knowing DS's name, and the girls name I'm thinking of, I know the answer would be the same. So I don't think the thread is ridiculous 🤷🏻‍♀️

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twizzlesticka · 21/10/2022 00:47

@Threelittlelambs I don't think so no? Would you confuse Brel and Ella? I just don't know if it's too twee!

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OhHeyBabe · 21/10/2022 00:47

You really need to give actual names

RandomCatGenerator · 21/10/2022 00:50

Sorry OP, without the actual names it’s impossible to tell!

TheSausageKingofChicago · 21/10/2022 00:50

Like Stan and Anna?

It could work. Depends on the names. Are they different genders?

twizzlesticka · 21/10/2022 00:54

@OhHeyBabe Ok, actual names are Brel and Ella!!

I can't give actual names. I was looking for peoples views on the names I've given as representative, as I know I can apply that same logic to the actual names.

My DS's name is quite uncommon, and if I do use the name I'm thinking of as a girls name for DD I wouldn't be comfortable having started a thread online linking the names and asking for opinions, so I'm not going to post the actual names - regardless of number of requests unfortunately. If that kills the thread so be it!

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RhubarbFairy · 21/10/2022 00:56

Do you have an Oliver and you want to name her Olivia?

For me that's too close, but I know someone who did it. Son goes by Ollie and daughter by Liv though.

I also know a Joanne and Joseph sibling pair. Both go by Jo(e).

twizzlesticka · 21/10/2022 00:56

@TheSausageKingofChicago Yes exactly! Stan and Anna is probably a better example, I'm not sure Brel is even really a name but it was all I could think of 😂🙈

Different genders yes. Do you think ok, or too close?

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MarmiteCoriander · 21/10/2022 00:57

Is Brel a real name you are thinking of choosing, or a similar sounding one, or also starts with B name you want or your name rhymes with Brel??? Sorry, I have no clue what you are asking???

TheSausageKingofChicago · 21/10/2022 00:58

I actually like Stan and Anna!

twizzlesticka · 21/10/2022 00:59

@RhubarbFairy More like Oliver and Veronica? So not the same name at all, but the same sound for one syllable.

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twizzlesticka · 21/10/2022 01:01

@TheSausageKingofChicago Thanks, that's really helpful!! ♥️

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imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 21/10/2022 01:02

Oliver and Veronica sound nothing alike so I think you're worrying about nothing.

I also like Stan and Anna.

My ex's mum used to shorten his little sisters name so it sounded a lot like his. More than a few times he answered his mum shouting up the stairs for her.

OhHeyBabe · 21/10/2022 01:03

I don't think anyone can judge without actual names. Some names work and some don't x

twizzlesticka · 21/10/2022 01:06

@MarmiteCoriander I'm just asking how close is too close really, for close sounding sibling names - particularly names that use the same SOUND for one of the syllables?

I used Brel and Ella (br-EL and EL-la) as an example, but @TheSausageKingofChicago came up with a much better one of Stan and Anna (St-AN and AN-na).

So would Brel and Ella, (or Stan and Anna,) be weird sibling names, because they share a syllable? Or is it fine?

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Noodledesk · 21/10/2022 01:08

I think both the Brel/Ella and Stan/Anna pairs sound fine so I reckon the real names will probably sound different enough too.

OhHeyBabe · 21/10/2022 01:08

twizzlesticka · 21/10/2022 01:06

@MarmiteCoriander I'm just asking how close is too close really, for close sounding sibling names - particularly names that use the same SOUND for one of the syllables?

I used Brel and Ella (br-EL and EL-la) as an example, but @TheSausageKingofChicago came up with a much better one of Stan and Anna (St-AN and AN-na).

So would Brel and Ella, (or Stan and Anna,) be weird sibling names, because they share a syllable? Or is it fine?

Yes both examples would sound silly.

thaegumathteth · 21/10/2022 01:09

As others have said it's hard to say because

Brel & Ella = too close I'd say
Stan & Anna = I reckon probably ok
Oliver & Veronica = obviously ok don't see issue at all

CallieQ · 21/10/2022 01:09

You should say the names

TheSausageKingofChicago · 21/10/2022 01:10

I think the fact that the rhyming syllable is in a different part of the name helps. So the entire name doesn’t actually rhyme IYSWIM.

Olly and Molly would be too close, for example.

twizzlesticka · 21/10/2022 01:10

@OhHeyBabe Unsure why you're now giving judgements on example names when you've made clear (twice) that you think it's a pointless exercise? Thanks though 😘

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