Can I use DS2's middle name as DC3's first name?

[mrsmindcontrol]

I need help. Have 2 DS and am currently preg with DC3 who we strongly suspect will be a boy given the form of our family. As we were definitely not having another after DS2 , we used up all our favourite names on him. He is Oscar Stanley George. We really wanted to use Stanley as a first name but weren't brave enough. Anyhow, fast forward 2 years and the only boys name we both like is Stanley.
Do you think we can legitimately use this despite it being DS2's middle name?
Keep thing 'yeah, of course' then think I might find it wierd if a friend did the same. Honest opinions please.

Felix, Oscar and Luis/Joshua/Arthur/Otis/Jacob/Gregory/Isaac?

I love Stanley - was my dear dad's middle name. BUT think it's a shame to re-use it, and also don't think it "goes" with your other DS names.... doesn't flow?

Congrats BTW

Thanks all for the suggestions. The problem is not necessarily that I or DH do not like any other names, it's just that we don't agree on many names. Seriously....... Stanley is probably the ONLY one.
He wants something traditional (think Sam, Jack etc) whereas I tend to the more unusual without being totally made up. For example, I want Milo and he has vetoed that at every turn.
I totally promise that there is currently no other alternative to Stanley......!

Thanks again though - really appreciate hearing everyone's view.

OP, I think Milo goes well with Felix & Oscar.

love the name stanley

do not see why there should be a problem - you have loved the name for a while and are feeling braver now. go for it - why on earth not?

i'm so glad to see this thread. I have a 3 week old boy on my lap who doesn't have a name yet!

I am in the same boat - my love for my 4 yr old dc1's middle name has grown (edward). I would love to use it as a first name for ds2, but i worry about ds1 resenting his brother being given 'his' name, even if it is a name he is not 'publicly' using it.

The other part or me thinks he'll never use it and sharing it is a lovely bond (or am i just trying to justify it!).

So, please keep posting opinions - as I hope to have some guidance too.

My alternatives are George, Samuel

and as of this afternoon ...I started wondering if I could name ds2 Edmund instead altho dh will need some convincing

I have to name him soon it's getting embarrassing to tell people we STILL do not have a name.

I'm stuck in rut!!!! and urgently need help

also my bro and his wife are keen to use whichever names we don't choose for their first born due in May. Oh The pressure and potential for name regret feels enormous!

btw i hope you don't mind me chipping in and hope this is adding to, rather than hijacking the thread

will post this then consider your dilemma!

hi mrs mc, if i was in your situation i would feel ok about re-using stanley as a first name, at least you have given your child two exclusive/individual names - oscar and george - so he has a name and an alt. of his very own.

We picked a complete compromise name for DS2 instead of going with DS1's middle name. It's taken me 4 months to get used to the name we chose, but have never regretted not re-using DS1's middle name. I felt DS2 would get enough hand-me-downs from his big bro, without having a name to boot! Hi JenJam, I remember your original post, I think 3 weeks in you just need to go with Edward if nothing comes close and your beautiful son doesn't look like anything else!!

hi fanfare I feel like a complete fwit not making a decision. we have been calling him roly mole since his birth and it has stuck - far better than being known as 'The Baby'. what did you call dc2 and what is dc1's middle name?

jenjam - name him roland and then you can continue with roly!
Or edgar if you're just looking for something to shorten to ed.
Edmund conjures up blackadder images for me, but I do know a rl baby one, and one soon gets used to it and forgets the tv connection a bit.

I can't see anything wrong with it. On a day to day basis, middle names are fairly irrelevant.

If you like the name, use it. I don't see why ds2 would be offended, surely it just means that you really love that name so much you wanted 2 of your boys to have it.

Well, Roly is a name in its own right Ironically our compromise name for DS2 was Edward (a lovely name, I was just never sure it was "him", but he has certainly grown into it). DS1's middle name is James. I imagine you have already considered (and rejected) Elwood as a similar sounding name (if not similar type of name) to Edward? Really though, if you think you would regret not using Edward then use it.

Can I just say, having fretted over this as you are now and with the benefit of hindsight, what other people think is actually not important and I now wonder why I worried about that aspect of it (ironic as we have all been on Mumsnet asking for opinions on this dilemma!). Telling people the name and seeing their reaction (raised eyebrows or otherwise) lasts such a brief moment, but it is you and your DC who live with the name! I think this is one where you just have to go with your gut instinct!