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Baby names

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Original poster

Would you think this is weird?

75 replies

hulahoopqueen · 12/03/2023 15:12

If you knew two cousins, with similar/rhyming names.

Mine and DH's niece is "Millie".
We're expecting a daughter this summer, and would like to call her "Lily".

MIL and SIL both think the names are far too close, and MIL has made it very clear that she's against it, and would feel awkward telling people in case they think that it's weird that the cousins have rhyming names.

"Millie" is hyphenated with another name, and has a different surname to myself and DH, so it would be eg:

Millie-Anne Stevens
Lily Tucker

Is it just me or is this not really that bad? DH is worried about family tension; I'm feeling a bit resentful that someone who we've seen only a handful of times in the last year is essentially getting a veto on the name. We see SIL and BIL and Millie every 6-8 weeks or so, for a few hours a time. This is usually at MIL's or grandparents' houses. When we've extended invitations, they're usually already busy, or the timing isn't convenient.

Please tell me whether or not I'm being the unreasonable one!

OP posts:
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Woopdee · 12/03/2023 15:13

Not weird at all, I have cousins Jack, Jake and Jacob and no one cares

Original poster
hulahoopqueen · 12/03/2023 15:14

Should add - I've well and truly learnt my lesson about not telling people our name shortlist in future!

OP posts:
Original poster
hulahoopqueen · 12/03/2023 15:15

@Woopdee thank you!

OP posts:
NeverHadANickname · 12/03/2023 15:16

I would use the name, it is no one else's business and I don't think it is weird.

DustyLee123 · 12/03/2023 15:17

I think it’s fine, and nobody else’s business.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 12/03/2023 15:17

Not weird. I have three sets of cousins called eg: Peter and Paul. That means that my grandparents had 2 sets of dgc with the same names. We are clearly a very unimaginative family.

TulipTuesday · 12/03/2023 15:17

My DS is Zach, his younger cousin is Jack. It never occurred to me or anyone else in the family to be bothered about rhyming names Confused

Hermanfromguesswho · 12/03/2023 15:17

Not weird. I have two nephews with exactly the same name! We all work out quite easily who we are talking about!

Nimbostratus100 · 12/03/2023 15:18

not weird, no

Schmutter · 12/03/2023 15:19

Not keen on hyphenated names, but the two names for cousins is completely unremarkable.

I have friends that are sisters and their daughters are Tilly and Lily. Makes no odds.

Rewind20Years · 12/03/2023 15:20

Do not let you mil and sil have control
It will only get worse!!!

FiFiWrites · 12/03/2023 15:22

Well the radfords have got Millie, tillie, Ellie and Hallie 🤣

Skintmamba · 12/03/2023 15:23

Through blending families we ended up with cousins with identical names. It’s fine.

StampOnTheGround · 12/03/2023 15:26

It's absolutely fine, wouldn't hyphenate the first name though - not needed!

updownleftrightstart · 12/03/2023 15:26

They're not too similar at all. MIL and SIL are being silly

PeekAtYou · 12/03/2023 15:27

I would use the name too. If you back down on this then they will try and bulldoze you in other ways and make it harder to say no next time.

My children have been friends with people who have the same name as them or 2 people with the same name and it's not a problem at all.

WashAsDelicates · 12/03/2023 15:30

What business is it of your ILs? Call your child whatever you want, not them. Even if you wanted to call her Millie! (That would be hardcore, under the circumstancesGrin) My ds has the same name as one of his older cousins. It didn't even occur to us until the cousin's dad sent us a family message of congratulations - with a beaming cousin in the background, totally delighted to be 'Big Xyz'.

Nobody gives a damn if their name rhymes with their cousin's name, unless their petty adults have told them to mind.

cptartapp · 12/03/2023 15:30

It's weirder that you're giving any consideration at all to what the IL's think. Why on earth would there be family tensions over a name? Too involved.
Pick what you want. They have more to lose.

StrandedStarfish · 12/03/2023 15:38

My mothers siblings are Lillian, Gillian and William. It’s never been a problem

IHaveNoSpecialTalent · 12/03/2023 15:44

Tell them they're correct that they are too similar and it will be confusing... so in order to make it simple for them you'll be calling your daughter Millie too

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 12/03/2023 15:44

No to the hyphen. Yes to the rhyming name. I can't believe it's even an issue!!

Changemaname1 · 12/03/2023 15:46

Some people are so overdramatic I don’t know how they get through life honestly

OP it’s absolutely fine and non of their business

derbylass81 · 12/03/2023 15:47

It's totally fine.

Your MIL is taking too much on herself. Nothing to do with her. Your daughter and your niece and real people with real lives beyond their relationship with her.

She is the only one who will be saying Millie + Lily. And it's not about her.

Neolara · 12/03/2023 15:48

StrandedStarfish · 12/03/2023 15:38

My mothers siblings are Lillian, Gillian and William. It’s never been a problem

This is brilliant. What is you mum called?

Poppins2016 · 12/03/2023 15:49

I think it's fine. In our family we have cousins with names similar to Arthur and Archie, for example.