Can I use my nephew's middle names??

[VanillaIce]

My sister has three DCs and gave them each two middle names, so nine excellent names gone between them, including most of our nice family names. Her son is called Edward Alexander John.

Now, do you think I could reasonably call my baby boy Alexander Edward? Or use just one of the three in my name somewhere (other than Edward as a first name, obviously)? I've always loved them and they reference my DH's family as well as mine. My other fave is John as that's our Dad's name. Do you think she would expect all those names to be "off the table" for any future babies in the family?

It may help to know that she recently had a daughter and gave her my middle name so she obviously thinks it's ok to pinch from a generation up!

We haven't had a great relationship over the past couple of years to be honest, haven't seen much of each other. She is the type of person to er... "take the hump" over the slightest thing. Rather complicated person. Ahem...

What do you think?

I think it would be fine to have Leo Edward for example

Alexander Edward a bit odd if you ask me

Leo John fine, John Leo fine

leo just an example

I can't see a problem with it myself. My DH's brother is called John Michael and their cousin is called Michael John, and it has never been an issue. It is not as if they are known by their full names iyswim - they are just John and Mike.

These names aren't even family names, which I think gives it all the more reason as to why it shouldn't be a problem in your case. Although I appreciate it is more difficult with your sister being as you describe.

I would only pinch one, not two names from each child. But if the first names are different, most people would never even know.
Good luck!

Ask her?

I have to confess to being a bit when bil and his wife used our ds1s middle name as their ds1s middle name - more that it showed lack of imagination than anything else; bil's wife has sworn him on pain of death to reveal the names pre-selected for their hypothetical daughter lest they be stolen ... I'm thinking the 2 middle names each probably justifies lifting one from each of them.

Of course you can use them! They are just middle names so won't really use them for anything much themselves, and they are all very common names, so hardly like you've nicked something uber unique!

Not a problem IMO. No one goes around using their middle names. Heck, I don't even know if most people I know even have a middle name.

I think you should be able to use ONE of the middle names she's used (as a first name or middle name). Would use the same first name.

But the names all sound very classic, standard middle name stuff (I like classic names too).

Leo Edward is lovely btw, is that on the cards? great name.

Jamieandhismagictorch, that is so true. One of my brothers asked me after my dc1 born 'so whats your middle name?" I couldn't believe he didn't knwo. I know all my family's mns.

Of course you can! People don't own the right to names. If someone I knew used my daughter's name I'd just take it as a compliment - they must obviously really like the name to want to use it themselves.

If I ever have another DD, I'd love to call her Elizabeth - my middle name and my sister's first name.

Go for it. She can't keep all the good names, especially if they're middle names. And reversing the first and middle names is fine. I wouldn't take a first name though.