Would you use unintentionally 'matchy matchy' name for 2nd baby girl?

[VanquishedColston]

DH and I have been finding it impossible to agree on a girl's name for our baby due next month (sex unknown) - everything I like, he doesn't, and vice versa (although I have made a lot more suggestions than he has!! He is stuck on a couple of names from his family which he keeps bringing up over and over).

We had the same issue with DD1 too, but finally managed to agree on something and that's what we used for our now-3yo - but basically we had no 'shortlist' for girls, it was DD's name and that was literally all we could agree on, so nothing leftover to help us out this time around essentially.

However, totally at random we DID manage to find something we both liked just coincidentally last week, just based on a conversation in the car re something on the radio. I think we would actually both be happy to use this name.

The only thing is, it's quite similar to our current DD's name, and also to my name too. All the same first letter, and ending with the same sound. So think something along the lines of Lucy, Lottie and Laurie. I am also very close to my sister and she named her son Lachie😂 So effectively if we use this name the children in my family would be named Lucy, Lottie and Lachie. Obviously these are not the actual names, but these examples reflect the vibe.

Would you use the name we landed on?? I had initially resolved to avoid another name starting with the letter in question, but this random name that popped up genuinely is the only thing we have been able to agree on and the baby is literally due in 4 weeks now.

I have never really been a fan of 'matchy matchy' names for siblings and it has not been done on purpose here, I have not looked for a name very similar to my current DD's, I would much prefer if we could have landed on something less similar and starting with a different letter at least - but here we are.

I am tempted just to use it if the baby is a girl as we really cannot agree on anything else, but also wondering if it will make us seem a bit weird 🙈

What do you think?

I'd keep looking for names, but look at ones starting with other letters.
If you like Lottie you might like Hattie, if you like Laurie you might like Toby or whatever.

Personally I would have deliberately avoided this, even if it was unintentional (no one will no whether it's intentional or not and many will assume it was). My dds get introduced as a pair fairly often so it would come up frequently. There are so many names out there that it should be easy enough to avoid.

I have the same first initial as my sister and both of us getting mail as Miss G Dawn was a pain when we both lived at home, at one stage we had the same bank and they mixed up some account instructions once!

I have the same first initial as my sister and both of us getting mail as Miss G Dawn was a pain when we both lived at home, at one stage we had the same bank and they mixed up some account instructions once!

Yes I feel this pain as me and my dad have the same first initial too, so when post came for just 'L Colston' it could have been for either of us.

It would be easier to comment if you told us the names? Understand why you might not want to.
I’m trying to think of examples of what you’ve described to help me decide! So it’s like

Lacey and Lucy
Abbey and Ashleigh
Katie and Carly
Morgan and Madison
Molly and Miley

that sort of thing?

Generally I would say it doesn’t really matter if you both like the names and they aren’t likely to be mixed up by people. I think it’s kinda cute.

unless they are derivative's of the same name completely (e.g Sophie and Sophia) I don't think it matters.
The first 3 grandchildren in our family are girls with S names. My work colleague's name starts with an F, as do her 2 children. My old boss was a C, as was his wife and their two boys...etc etc

As you don't know the sex of the baby, why don't you wait until he is born?

My sons have accidentally kind of matchy names, both 5 letters long starting with the same letter. They don't sound exactly the same, but I think people always think it's an intentional thing when they hear the names.

It wasn't really intentional, but like you we struggled to find names we both liked, and the two that we landed on are just a bit similar. We're going to have a nightmare if a third boy comes along haha.

Anyway only a couple of people have ever asked me about it and when I tell them how we landed on the names that's kind of the end of it. I don't think it's going to present huge problems really.

Dd3 has a friend named Billy and his sisters are Tilly and Milly. Of course their real names are William, Matilda and Amelia but no one uses them. Don't think people spend too long thinking of it though!

Thanks everyone, I appreciate it's a bit frustrating not sharing the actual names but tbh it has taken 2 pregnancies and a lot of searching and stress to finally land on this new name as a real possibility so I don't want to put it on here and get loads of negative feedback about it 😂

The example I gave of Lucy and Lottie is pretty accurate in reflecting the sounds of both names in question, so that's effectively how close they would be - not exactly the same sound or derived from the same root name, but starting and ending in the same way.

Re waiting until the baby is born, I'd rather have a rough idea before then really, even if it's not 100% set in stone, as once he/she arrives then the pressure is really on and people will be asking about it constantly. Boys are no issue as we have quite a few we like - none of which start with the dreaded letter in question 😅- it's just girls we have had an issue with both times around.

As everyone else has said, it really depends on the actual names and how much of an overlap they are.

Lucy and Lottie seem ok, especially if one is actually Charlotte.
Lara and Lana sound very silly, even if one is actually Alannah.
Lucy and Libby sound ok, especially if one is Elizabeth.
Lucy and Lacey sound silly.

It’s difficult choosing a name when you are struggling to agree. But I’d remember you are naming an individual, not the second of a matching pair.

In my close family, the girls have matchy names, and that includes the dog. Just do it 😁

I think the examples you have used are fine. I know they’re not the actual names, but if there are differences like you’ve illustrated, then go for it! I would be wary of very similar sounding names like Milly and Molly or Rita and Peter!