Would you think this is weird?

[hulahoopqueen]

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!

Your MIL is a drama queen. I have four cousins named after my dad, literally all of them have the same first name and it's never been a problem, and we're a very close family.

My name rhymes with my older cousins, which I've always hated, then her brother married another rhyme name. So 3 people in out family now with the same name except for one letter and surname! I don't think it's an issue as such.

The only pairing that I mentally snigger at when I hear it, is siblings called Sam & Ella (and yes I do know of a sibling pair & a cousin pair with the boy Sam & the girl Ella)

But I don't not bat an eyelid or comment on this because well it's rude & they're not my children.
Unlike my late mother in law coming across a sibling Sam & Ella & saying aloud in earshot of said children & parents "that's a bit unfortunate"
MIL was quickly dragged away when the parents glared.

Do not bat not I don't not bat!

You should use the name you want, but we did take a name we like off our list because it's the same as a cousin of our child bar one letter. We didn't tell anyone, we just decided it might be confusing and sound silly within the family.
The names in question are Ruby/Rudy so much more alike than millie and lily

Go for it: we have 4 cousins all with names ending in A - think similar to Eva, Isla, Ava, Olivia and it's a bit of a mouthful at times but they are all different names in their own right

Totally fine - it’s not the same name

I have three cousins who all have the same name. Sort of rhyming is nothing

About two thirds of the male members of my family are called either John or Anthony. Rhyming names in cousins wouldn’t even register.

Are they just trying to veto other 'illy' names like Tilly, Billie and Lily?

Or all 'ee' sounding names - like Sophie, Lucy and Katie?

Either way, it's ridiculous. They're cousins and it doesn't matter if one is called Millie-Anne and one is called Lily.

Tell them you've changed your mind and are now considering Emilia or Mila to avoid two 'ee' endings 😉

give Lily the name Ann as a middle name

Personally I wouldn’t use it. We always loved the name Lyla but her cousin is Ayla & was just too similar we couldn’t do it in the end.

Not weird at all 🤷‍♀️ not even as siblings

Side note: knew sisters called Amy and Amelia - that’s what I’d find weird!

It’s totally fine. Ignore them.

Not weird, and also nobody else's business what you name your child. My daughter has the same middle name as her cousin (admittedly because I totally forgot) but I couldn't care less. Who would it really affect in reality? The girls themselves will probably think it's cool!

Seems fine. It baffles me entirely why you’d discuss names before baby is here safely and their name decided by the actual parents,

She is called Sandra. She also has a brother called Andrew.

I know of two sisters called Millie and Emily which I do think is really strange, but I don't think it matters nearly half as much for cousins.

I think it’s absolutely fine. It’s hard to believe sometimes that there are people out there who are so petty and controlling!

Keep the name but don't hyphenated.

In many cultures it's tradition to name children after grandparents, so many cousins will have the exact same name. Just watch My big fat Greek wedding for example 😀 I wouldn't hesitate to use a name I loved if my siblings or siblings in law wanted to use/already had used a specific name.

This is such a non-issue, they’re just looking for problems! Same name would be weird but sort-of rhyming, nah.

Only a silly Billy would worry about Millie and Lily.

(‘family tensions’? I would worry about a DH who was afraid of such a thing over such a trivial issue)

I think it’s fine, they’re not that similar and you’re not that close.

Tell them when you have a boy you’ll call it Billy. It can be a family tradition!

As a blended family, I ended up with a sister and step sister with the same name. Didn’t bother any of us, we all know who we were talking about.

Lily is a beautiful name, if you want it, use it.

Smile and do as you like. Your baby your choice. If you give way this could be the thin end of the wedge about all sorts of other stuff so stand firm.