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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Using baby name friend likes

19 replies

maybebaby2023 · 04/04/2023 14:25

Best friend and I are both expecting our first babies, due a week apart. We’re having a boy and friend is having a girl. I’ve found it really difficult to find a name I love (that DP also likes!) and think I might’ve cracked it - George. We (DP and I) both like it due to Greek heritage and the name is of Greek origin.

I searched “George” in my WhatsApp chat with friend as I wasn’t sure whether I’d mentioned it to her or not. I then found that prior to us finding out what we’re having (we both found out at 16w) she had said she liked Alfie or George for a boy. Obviously it’s not been mentioned since as she is having a girl. At the time I had replied saying George was a nice name but didn’t think anything more of it. I’ve gone round in circles with names a million times since then.

I now feel slightly awkward saying I am now loving the name George as she is the type to suggest that I’ve “stolen” her boy name…. When she may or may not ever have a boy, and may or may not ever call him George. Any suggestions on how to broach this? I know she has no rights to the name but I just feel a bit awkward!

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Howtohideasausage · 04/04/2023 14:29

Are you due first? Don’t say anything and call your child George. It’s relatively popular so hardly copying.

daisydalrymple · 04/04/2023 14:32

Say it’s the one DP put forward and you both agreed on it.

JenniferBarkley · 04/04/2023 15:02

Oh gosh you forgot all about that, seems so long since she didn't know she was having a girl. Isn't it funny how similar your tastes are! Her girls name probably would've made your short list too. Maybe one day there'll be two Georges who are friends and play together wouldn't it be lovely.

Etc.

Just brush past it. She would be categorically insane to make a big deal out of you using a boys name she mentioned once five months ago - especially when it's as popular as George (which is lovely).

MrsMischiefOnTour · 04/04/2023 15:03

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Pinksorrel · 04/04/2023 15:13

It's fine. You should avoid giving your children the same names as your siblings (if you are close), but any more distant relatives or friends is fine. Especially when the name is really common, like George. And especially when you are having the baby first!

My only reservation would be if you would be annoyed if she still calls a future baby George. It's fine for you to use the name first, but you'd be unreasonable to complain if she wants to use it too.

Napmum · 04/04/2023 15:18

You didn't remember until you searched WhatsApp it is not like it's a rare name. Name your child. Tell her afterwards.

If she complains, just explain you didn't remember and that you came across it because you were looking at names from Greece

ZacharinaQuack · 04/04/2023 15:24

When our neighbours were expecting babies at the same time as us, we had a frank chat about how it literally didn't matter if you had the same name as your parents' friends' child, whom you might or might not be friends with later on. Then we just got on with picking our favourite baby names and didn't share them beforehand.

Original poster

maybebaby2023 · 04/04/2023 15:25

Thanks everyone. Yes, I’m due first and she knows she’s having a girl so not like there’s any risk of her baby being called George. I know the entire point behind this post is silly but it’s good to get some feedback on how to go about it, as I said, she is the type that would make a snide comment about her having said that name first. Might be a good idea to introduce that DP suggested it as a previous poster suggested - she knows we’ve been finding it hard agreeing on names! Thank you

OP posts:

ZacharinaQuack · 04/04/2023 15:27

Just say you know she likes it too (because you do!) and that you'll be fine with it if she has a future George, and there'll probably be loads of little Georges at school anyway.

MrsMischiefOnTour · 04/04/2023 15:39

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aNewYorkerInLondon · 04/04/2023 15:46

@MrsMischiefOnTour, wasn't one of Nancy Drew's best female friends named George? And that was the 1930s! 😁

Mariposista · 04/04/2023 15:47

She is having a girl so this is a total non issue.
If she wishes to use Georgia, or Georgina (both lovely girl's names) she can do.

Likethestarsabove547 · 04/04/2023 15:53

Use the name you like.
Me and DP picked one boys name we agreed on and both loved. We found out a friend loves the name too and it is what he would call his son. He isn't in a relationship or having a baby so was easy for us to use the name. I've said to him if he still likes the name when he's in that position to just use it. No one owns a name.
There are exceptions to this. We had one girls name that we agreed on. Unfortunately it was the same name that our friends had called their daughter when she was still born. That to me was a no go name and always will be.

puddingandsun · 04/04/2023 16:21

Every Greek family I know has a George or Georgina. You can't go wrong with it and it's popular enough to not cause arguments (and feel as special only to her).

I'd keep thinking though. There are so many lovely boy names with Greek connection.

user1492757084 · 05/04/2023 10:07

George is handsome.

Also Geordie

MyOtherUsernameIsDave · 05/04/2023 10:32

George is hugely popular, there are loads of them at school.

My DS has 3 in his class and 3 of my friends have a George, so it’s not like she’s not going to hear the name elsewhere. Maybe just have a chat about it.

SneezyEvie · 05/04/2023 13:37

She also said she liked Alfie. My friend and I were due a couple of months apart from each other with our girls and we both really liked the name Matilda. In the end, neither of us ended up picking it!! Go with George.

Anothernewname13 · 06/04/2023 11:50

These things are so awkward but I think ultimately it just comes down to who is having the baby first? She’s not even having a boy, potentially won’t even have another child, never mind have a future possible boy so you’re more than allowed to use the name for the real life boy you’re having now 🙈 I’m in a similar predicament but we’re both having the same and due very close together so I’m now just going to have to hang off until the last week to be able to choose my name based on what they pick first! I won’t give anything away even if they choose the name I wanted though

Original poster

maybebaby2023 · 06/04/2023 19:14

Thanks all. I mentioned it to her, introducing it as DP's suggestion and she was quick to remind me that it was "her" boy name due to it being her partner's middle name and her partner's dad's name. She also said she is liking the name Georgia for a girl, despite being set on a completely different name throughout, so unsure whether that's just to add a further dig or if she genuinely is considering Georgia as a name. Regardless, I don't feel bad about using it, as I (and others) have said, she may not ever have a boy. It's also quite hard for us to find another British-sounding name with any vague link to Greece so I feel George is a good fit for us. It's also not too popular where we are (Scotland) at no 46 in last year's stats, I think it's more popular in England.

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