Can I give the same name…?

[Tkoko]

I am struggling to understand if I can give to my son the same name as my brother did to his? Although there are so many names I just love the name Evan that my nephew has. Although we live in different countries I still don’t feel like I have a right to do it. What do you think?

In theory there is nothing legally stopping you giving your DS the same as his cousin.
But i wouldn’t. One of my friends named her DS the same name as her brothers son. It was her dad, brother and nephews name so out of four males in the family all had the same first name.

You are in a different country so there would rarely be mix ups.
Could you ask your nephew if he would mind if you named your son after him.
The older cousin might feel quite honoured.
That is the only way I would use it. I would not use Evan as a competitor to your nephew but rather as an honouring.

Do you like ..
Ewan
Owen
Evander
John
Ian
Xavier
Oban

well Evan was a variation for Slavic Ivan… that’s why it was so good… i imagine that Evan, Ewan and Ivan are all the same and it would be a reference to my origin… Owen, evander and john, Xavier and Oban are beautiful but very “stranger-ish” for both Italy and Ukrainian family from my side. Ian is a good one and used both in Ukraine, internationals and I guess easy for Italians… I like it but much less that Evan (Ivan).

Is Evan a family name? If so, go for it.

No it didn’t you are associating the name with someone you love; which is why you keep coming back to it but honestly first cousins is too close and not fair on your nephew

I absolutely wouldn't. Not only does it completely look like you've stolen their chosen name, with no imagination of your own, but your poor parents will have the confusion of two grandsons with the same name. Just no!

Yes, just use one you like less, you’ll get used to it. I had use a non-preferred name because half the family couldn’t pronounce my top 5, I didn’t care once he was born.

Hey OP,

I wouldn't, sorry. My SIL used a name for her second (my own middle name) that I would have liked to use for my third. But it was taken so I looked for something else.

I think Ivan could work, it's not identical, but if I were you I wouldn't.

What about :

Axel
Anders
Johann/Yohann (another variation on Ivan)
Jonas
Max
Alexander

You will be a laughing stock. Keep looking and you will find something else. Good luck.

Yes you are right… Ivan is exactly Evan in this case because they had the same issue being a Slavic family living in the USA. So it was a way to find an international name that would be adapted to Slavic diminutives. Alexander would be for Sasha. Daniel would be for Daniil and Danya. Andrew for Andrei. Dimitry for Dima, Matvei for Matthew. Seems like many but not those 1000 as you would think

Why does the name need Slavic roots? Family members will learn to pronounce a foreign name. I’m mixed race and my name isn’t from either of the countries. This will mean you can find more names that you like. Don’t go for Evan or anything that sounds similar.

I understand what you're saying, I lived in eastern europe.

For my kids I considered names like Dimitri, Max, Boris, Ilya...

Agree with others that it doesn't HAVE to be a slavic name unless you want it.

My brother and our cousin had the same name, Mark.
I often reflected that of all the names in the world, my aunt picked that.

I wanted or Slavic or one international that sound simple… my only choice for now is Alexander (Alex) I am just not in love with them… well if it’s not Slavic and it’s not Italian …I am lost 😞

Exactly. You’ll find another name.

You may not be in love with the name but it is a beautiful, solid name and you will love your son no doubt and he will represent the name in his own unique way. ❤️

It's exactly the same situation if your partner hates your top names. Happens to lots of people where they have different styles, and you have to compromise on one you only "like" rather than love. I know it feels like a big deal but you will grow to love the name because it's the name of your child. Alexander is a lovely name and I actually much prefer it to Evan.

You love Evan partly because you love your nephew. You don't have to start from the point of loving a name. It just needs to be a name you quite like, goes with your surname etc. Once it is associated with your little boy, you will then naturally develop a fondness for the name. Although you like Evan, there is no opportunity to fall in love with the name because it is your son's, as u already love the name for other reasons. You will always feel that awkwardness about Evan and Evan going to visit their grandparents , a niggle that you won't have if u pick a new name for your son.

Would Milan work? Slavic name with similar feel to Evan, and also Italian link.

I wouldn’t use the same name as I think it’s unfair to the children and also your parents. There are millions of other names.

my sister wanted to call her child a name that rhymed with my child and I said it wasn’t fair on the children, think similar to Milly and Tilly. She chose a different name.

How would your brother/his partner/your nephew feel about this, would they mind? I'd personally not even consider it as an option and would find another name, even if it wasn't my first choice.

No.

I live in Milan… and my best friends’ son name is Milan… so no)

Literally people have been doing that forever?

Is this a joke?

Or are you going to come after all the people who named their son Mohamed? Or Patrick?

Oops! Sorry, fair enough. Jovan?