Am I being unreasonable? Chosen the same name as a family member

[RosieG82]

Hi all. We’ve decided on a name for our unborn daughter which is the same name as my cousin’s child, who is around 6. A couple of family members have said it’s strange that we’ve chosen the same name as ‘there are so many names to choose from.’ I get that but this name is the only name we have both agreed on and both love.
For context, my entire family (including my cousin) live a few hours away. I only see my cousin perhaps once a year at family events, and have never interacted with her daughter. I feel that both kids having the same name isn’t an issue at all and have been slightly miffed with the negative comments. I could understand if I wanted to choose a name the same/very similar to one of my siblings’ children, but a cousin who I’ve barely spoken to in years ? What would you do?

In my family there is a "family name" that one boy in every family seems to receive, so there are multiple cousins with the same name, and multiple men/boys with identical first and last names. Quite amusing at family gatherings really. And just in case anyone is wondering, nobody is coerced into giving their son the name, and nobody would say anything or be offended if one set of parents bucked the trend and went with a different name. We just all like the totally run of the mill, traditional name.
Also, I have no imagination, so I was quite pleased to have a family name ready for my son. It was decided as soon as we knew we were having a boy. Different story with our daughter - the debate went on for months and she was 10 days old before we decided on a name!

Definitely the right choice op.
I have a very, very common name for the era I was born. Hence there are so many duplicates, not within my family, but I can imagine it'd be similar. Here's what happens if you have a common name:

Oh are you inviting Sarah?
What, fat Sarah or glasses Sarah?
No, Sarah with the buck teeth.
Oh right.

I was ugly name and my friend fat name. I know it doesn't happen with everyone but it's an unnecessary risk. They all end up with initials, surnames or descriptions if names are the same.

Your baby is her own unique person and I'm sure you have picked a lovely name to reflect that.

Use it. In my family several cousins who are also each other's cousins have used the same names. 2 of the duplicated names are not generally popular.
The only one that was commented on were very close in age. Something like Beatrice Rose born in December followed by her 2nd cousin Beatrice May in May.

I dunno, I'm not particularly close to my cousin's, and dhs live far away, and in other countries, so we don't see a great deal of them, but I'd be a bit annoyed if they named their baby the same as one of our DC. Mainly because mine have, not really unusual, but definitely not common names, and I think it would be strange at any family weddings, funerals, Xmas get togethers etc, to have two with the same name there. I know it would just irritate me somehow! I certainly wouldn't fall out with anyone over it though. But if it is genuinely the only name you both agree on then they'll have to suck it up!

@WhenSheWasBadshewasawesome , we did that too. Big Sarah, Little Sarah. Freckles Sarah, Piggy Sarah, ...

There weren't many Sarahs at school but it seemed to happen to the duplicated names

@KirstenBlest yes and it's never flattering.
Sarah big jugs or swatty Sarah is probably about the best you could hope for.

@WhenSheWasBadshewasawesome , I went to a 'nice' school.
I think Fat Dave and Sally Snot were probably the meanest we did.

Nicknames were usually based on surnames

Just use the name. Everyone will get used to it.

How common is the name? If it's an usual name, then it's an issue. If it's a common name, then it's a none issue. I have cousins with the same name but they are named after their DPs. Although we had some family members have the same name for their kids and it was an issue. It was the name someone famous named their child and it's very popular. I didn't see the issue although they lived not far from each other the kids won't really be mixing.

I wouldn’t do it. Of course anyone is free to choose any name they like, but we avoided any names that family members had taken, and I would be (irrationally probably!) a bit annoyed if a cousin used one of our children’s names for their baby.