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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Why do siblings names have to 'go' together?

36 replies

sarahsyrup · 04/09/2009 21:15

What am I missing here? When I said my name choices at work, the girls I work with instantly said yeay or nay, for which ones went with my son?s name!

I don't get it. Seems your name is only said with your siblings names for really a pretty short part of your life, hoping you live a long life! And mainly your name stands alone.

What if you marry someone and your names don't go?

Is it just so it flows nicely off the tongue for the parents? Because I don't see that as a very good way to name someone!

Thoughts please....

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choosyfloosy · 04/09/2009 21:16

Yeah I think you're right - and that's a change of mind for me, because I've always thought of sibling names together and considered how I thought they 'went', purely as an expression of their parents' personalities and preferences.

Thank you for a mind-opening topic!

Mamazon · 04/09/2009 21:17

well i guess it would seem odd if you had a Tarquin and a Chardonnay.

not sure if there are names that don't really go though.
i mean they may not be obviously similar in style but a name is ajust a name surely

midnightexpress · 04/09/2009 21:17

Well, we have a Sam, and considered Ella for a girl, but when we heard them together 'Sam and Ella', we just couldn't. We had a boy anyway.

angel1976 · 04/09/2009 21:22

I don't think it is a MUST that siblings' names go together but it's a nice plus... Someone at work was telling me today about his sister and how she has 3 DDs from her first marriage named Lucy, Lily and Sarah (or something similar). She then went on to have 2 DS with her second partner and he was really posh French so her 2 DSs' names are Gaius and Gala-something. I think that's kinda cruel as it pretty much separates the siblings into two groups.

I come from a culture where there is a very fond preference for weird English names and also for siblings to have names that 'match'. I have cousins called Royce and Joyce - no kidding!

Also, SIL went out with someone with the surname Plant and with her first name initial, she would have been A. Plant if she married the guy!

Original poster

sarahsyrup · 04/09/2009 21:23

Midnightexpress, that's a good point, I've never heard of names that together sounded like food poisoning. But that's got to be rare hasn't it. I think most people are just imagining themselves saying their kids names, and it's more about them than the kid as per what choosy said.

What about all the families with step brother and sisters, where names haven't been initially thought of together, I wonder if the kids give a monkeys if their names 'go' or not. Know what I mean?

OP posts:

Original poster

sarahsyrup · 04/09/2009 21:28

Angel - that's funny A.Plant, but not as bad as somebody I know who is thoroughly in love with the name Isaac, and their surname is Hunt. It's boardering on cruel. She cannot give up Issac though....crazy.

OP posts:

PinkTulips · 04/09/2009 21:31

i have to say, i do find it a bit odd to hear a family of names that just sound peculiar together... our neighbours have 5 kids and 5 very differant names and it does sound strange.... can't exploain why though and you're right, it makes no sense and is a bit silly!

I still picked names that sounded good together though

Original poster

sarahsyrup · 04/09/2009 21:35

Yeah, I think I basically agree Pink, I was just trying to analyse it. I read an article that said the first name you pick sort of sets the tone, and as silly as that sounds, I can see that it's true. Like it would be weird to have 3 biblical names and then Coco, or something like that.

OP posts:

MrsVik · 04/09/2009 21:35

I don't think sibling names need to flow beautifully or anything, but I think they should be a similar 'type' of name. I probably wouldn't call a little boy 'Cornelius' or 'Ignatius' or something, only to call his little brother 'Bert'. I think that's the kind of thing that could really encourage sibling jealousy, or a feeling of unworthiness etc.

But apart from those extremes, or when the names are actually terrible together (like...Bert and Ernie or something) then I think it's fine to choose names that don't sound prefect when said together.

LionstarBigPants · 04/09/2009 21:41

I know a family who named their son and daughter Paul and Paula (not twins) - did they really think that one through?

We are currently in a naming dilemma for DC2. I have to admit to taking my DDs name into account because we are going to be announcing them together for some time (until they leave home?) and I think clashing names would sound odd.

cat64 · 04/09/2009 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

angel1976 · 04/09/2009 21:48

sarahsyrup - LOL at I. Hunt! Mind you, I guess you would argue that it's only in correspondence that you would use that and most people won't even make the connection...

MrsVik · 04/09/2009 21:50

Oh, I hadn't even considered I. Hunt when I read that post - I was thinking of the name as a whole. Is my mind really that grubby?

Original poster

sarahsyrup · 04/09/2009 21:51

Angel, yes I. Hunt is funny. But Isaac Hunt is terrible. I think you're not getting it, say it out loud, it's very rude....Unless i've just got a dirty mind?

OP posts:

Original poster

sarahsyrup · 04/09/2009 21:52

Mrs Vik, thank god you're thinking the same as me, I was about to show myself as the only totally grotty minded poster there.

OP posts:

SJisontheway · 04/09/2009 21:52

Couldn't agree more OP. I just don't get it.

BerylCole · 04/09/2009 21:53

Our kids' names don't really 'go' but fuck it - we liked them.

hambler · 04/09/2009 21:54

I have always wondered that too sara

MrsVik · 04/09/2009 21:54

LOL sarahsyrup - I'm sure we can't be the only two :P:P

angel1976 · 04/09/2009 21:55

Just realised what you mean by 'Isaac Hunt'! Pregnancy brain alert!

LOL at BerylCole. Tell us the names so we can judge away?

Original poster

sarahsyrup · 04/09/2009 22:00

Beryl - my kinda lady. They'll grow up to be strong and not give a S* like you. Who the hell wants to get lumped in with their sibling

OP posts:

mathanxiety · 05/09/2009 00:41

It's a little like a family 'brand'. You're projecting some sort of image with your children's names.

LilyBolero · 05/09/2009 01:01

They do have to make some sort of cohesive group, otherwise you could end up shouting 'Tom, Ben, Sam, Hieronymus'.

'Penelope, Ophelia, Ariane, Doris'.

Which would be odd.

boundarybabe · 05/09/2009 20:10

I don't think names have to necessarily 'go' together, but a similar style would probably prevent any feelings of resentment. I love my name now but when I was little none of my teachers could ever pronounce it, and I could never find it on a mug or pen - sounds silly but it's a big deal when you're young and having a sibling with a very common name would have made me even more annoyed!

MissAnnesley · 05/09/2009 20:13

I don't get A. Plant.

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