Is it tacky for the whole family to have the same initials?

[PringleWingle]

Been wondering so I thought I'd ask some baby naming experts. 😉

Both mine and DH's names begin with the letter L. We're currently pregnant with our first and we both fell in love with the name Lydia, but I'm worried it might be tacky (and weirdly 'cultish' haha) if we all have the same initials. I took DH's last name as well if that's relevant so we'll all be L [surname].

Babipur

DH and I both have same first, middle and surname initials. Eldest DC also has the same three initials, though it wasn't intended as we just really liked the names. (First name a very normal, popular name and middle name after a close relative who had died so would have been that regardless).

When we had DC2, relatives thought we would give them the same initials and started taking the piss suggesting ridiculous out-dated names that began with the same letters. It made me so upset that they thought naming our newborn was simply a joke and they were all laughing at us and DC1's name. So we immediately ruled out all of the (nice normal!) names that began with our initials and chose different letters.

@Georgie743 , parcels, private things.
@thicklysettled , of course.

@sashh , So she could be Mary Lydia but you call her Lydia.
Do not do this. You get called the 'wrong' name a lot. When someone calls out 'Mary' o 'Mary Wingle', you will be expecting 'Lydia' or 'Mary Lydia Wingle'.
I say this as a 'Sarah James Nast'.

I sort of did this by accident. DP’s real name starts with a C (but nobody except his parents actually call him by it, I literally never have. Nn starts with an L), my name starts with a Ch and dd’s name with a K. It wasn’t until she was about one and a doctor asked our names for a form and said Haha, like the Kardashians that I realised our names all start with the same sound 🫣 If you think you will be embarrassed by comments like that, don’t do it.

DH and I happen to have the sane first two initials. Now we also have the same surname, ie: we are both XY Surname.

DS has a completely different set of initials and is ABC surname.

The names we agreed/liked/had significance for DD (dc2) are XXY Surname.

DS (15) is not upset/sad/feels single out etc that he is not an "X", or "XY".
DD (12) does not think it's really that special. It's just names.

So we live in a household where 3 of us have the same initials, and one of us doesn't. No one minds, and it's not a problem practically.

DBro also has the same first initial as me. Again, it's never been a problem, apart from a tiny, easily resolved issue in the late 70s, pre digital banking.

My initial is the same as my parents, they didn’t do it on purpose just liked the name. Can honestly say no one ever commented on it, it just never came up. People always mention the post on here but that was never an issue: Mr S Smith, Mrs S Smith and Miss S Smith, it was fine!

I’m not sure why having the same initials is being described as ‘tacky’? 👀

The only thing I can think of that could be a potential negative would be the confusion. Same initials on letters etc but it’s not really a big deal.

It would be if you gave all your kids L names, but one is fine. You two didn’t chose your names

Kardashians innit

This is definitely an issue, I can remember a situation when I worked at the bank where Mr J Smith opened his dad’s Mr J Smith bank statement and found stuff out he shouldn’t. Quickly added the SNR to his addressing!

I know a family where the 7 kids and the mum all share the same first initial. I often wonder if she always hoped to have a big family and if not did she regret going with it for the first couple because the kids that came later have very unusual names/spellings 🫣
Go with the name if you genuinely like it, I think it’s a bit twee but nothing wrong with that if you like it ☺️

I think it’s fine. What I do find twee and somewhat naff is when siblings all have the same initial. Or all have names ending in the same sound.

I really hope that post was a joke. Jenny doesn't fit, does she?! But sadly, it's hard to tell.

Always reminds me of Pauline Fowlers kids.

@Pocketfullofdogtreats , yes it was a joke. All different initials and the most conventional spellings here.

I grew up with a parent with the same initial and it meant my post (letters, parcels, bank statements etc) got opened by mistake.
It is a big deal when you're a teenager and wished that DM would check before opening it.

Agree with the Pauline Fowler comment.

I think I would use Lydia in the middle or shelve it and use for a potential dd2 as then it won’t seem so matchy.

I'm not sure I'd say 'tacky' but certainly setting up for confusion and irritation for all the time they live at home (25 years plus more than likely).
I mean, obviously you can't help the fact you and your partner have the same initials, but you can make life a bit easier for your child.

I have the same initials as my Dad and My brother has the same as my mum, entirely by accident. I remember taking a call for ‘A Smith’ ‘which one Mr or Mrs?’ Could have been brother or mother. Finally works out it was for my Mum.

We're a tacky family - DMum, DDad, bro and I all have same initials. Love it.

I don't think it matters. I think Lydia is a lovely name so I would go ahead and use it. Of course if you have a second child I'd avoid any further L names. My two children have the same initial and it's a complete non-issue.

My friend says speaking from experience if you do use Lydia, just make sure you don't have your bank card as L Smith when you order from eg Lovehoney especially once they're late teens/young adults and ordering stuff themselves.....

I know a few families who have stuck with the same initials,

one with J and they have Jack , Josiah and Jacob, even the dog is jasper.
i also know another family who have 8 children , girls all begin with K boys all begin with A.

another family I know all the children start with R.

i find it a bit tacky and unoriginal.

For your first child, it's fine, but I wouldn't then name any other children with that letter. Just my preference.

I think it's cute

I wouldn’t even realise