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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Help, think I've given my baby the wrong name!

43 replies

RubiMama · 14/06/2010 12:13

DD is 5 weeks old and we've named her Rosa. Little sister to Ruben. Even though I love the name Rosa, and I do think it suits her it is eally bugging me that I chose two names with the same initial letter and I don't like the way they sound together. I'm finding that I'm avoiding saying them together, i.e. calling them the children rather than Ruben and Rosa, and when people ask me both their names I just don't feel quite right and I'm always wondering if people think it sounds silly.

So, MN jury, am I getting my knickers in a twist about nothing, or should I be couageous enough to tell family and friends we've changed our minds and Ruben's little sister is Laila which was our other top choice - which I also think suits her.

OP posts:

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coffeefestival · 14/06/2010 12:19

The names sound fine together IMO

Prinpo · 14/06/2010 12:26

Personally, I prefer not to have the same first initial but I know plenty of people who don't mind, without it becoming a twee sort of theme, IYSWIM. I think it's purely a matter of preference.

Both names are beautiful but if you feel unsure now, which you clearly do, then I would bite the bullet and make the change. She's very young (some parents won't have even registered the birth yet) and if you change it now then 3 months from now everyone will be used to it.

belgo · 14/06/2010 12:26

Both lovely names, stick with them.

Original poster

RubiMama · 14/06/2010 12:28

And with Laila, it's not just a case of being a second choice name to avoid the 2 R's, I do really love it am a bit haunted by the sound of Ruben and Laila, can't get it out of my head. Also think it's maybe better name to see you through all stages of life, Rosa maybe a bit more girlie? Oh come and guide me wise mnetters!

OP posts:

belgo · 14/06/2010 13:02

Laila and Rosa are both the same in terms of girliness in my opinion. If you want to change it, it is fairly simple to do so up until the age of one in the UK.

crumpette · 14/06/2010 13:23

Rosa is a stunning, classic name. I like it much more than Laila, which is seems to me to be a little more 'of the moment'. I think the initials being the same is inconsequential because you have a boy and a girl, so there will be no confusion with mail etc. Rosa is gorgeous. If it's any consolation, I don't call my DS by his first name yet (age 5 months) because it doesn't quite sound right to me, but I know that in time I will use it more and more. Unless you really decide you don't like Rosa, stick with it

Rockbird · 14/06/2010 13:29

Both lovely names and I can't see a problem with the same initial. But, if it's really bugging you then change it. She's so little, it won't make any difference to her.

nearly30 · 14/06/2010 14:18

I feel a bit like this - I like both my dds' names individually, but they don't go together brilliantly. We've considered changing dd2, but haven't got the guts to in case we regret it. I think you have to think of your children as individuals and if Rosa suits her then stick with it.

If it helps, I prefer Rosa!

clarabellarocks · 14/06/2010 14:28

I love Rosa and think it sounds lovely together with Ruben.

polkadottytotty · 14/06/2010 21:52

I love Rosa too (don't particularly like Laila) and think it works fine with Ruben.
Both lovely names IMO, but if it is really going to bug you then I would change it.

hellymelly · 14/06/2010 21:56

I also have two with the same first initial,and I do think it can sound a bit twee,which is why dd2 was six weeks and still unregistered,but in the end we did name her something we thought suited her,even though it was rather more similar to her sister's name than we would have liked.My thinking is that you are only linked with your siblings for a relatively short time,so it doesn't matter much in the long run.

Gaston · 14/06/2010 21:58

To choose, I prefer Rosa, and we all have these doubts about names, the doubts go away! Really they do!
You must have loved the name to choose it !?
If the doubts are really bugging you, then maybe it's you , not the names, bacause they are fine !!!!! Choose the name you love most!
Don't worry about how it sounds next to other names/siblings etc that worried me and came to NOWT ! really go with your heart, please xxx

randomimposter · 14/06/2010 22:08

Rosa MUCH nicer. No issue IMO with same initial, but then my elder 3 siblings are all Gs....

bluemango · 14/06/2010 22:14

I really like Rosa and would stick with it. I'm hopeless though, I'm always wondering about changing my LO's names!

I do like Laila, but Ruben and Laila together reminds me of Rubella...

LynetteScavo · 14/06/2010 22:19

Stick with Rosa.

funnysinthegarden · 14/06/2010 22:21

they are fine R&R? No problem

funnysinthegarden · 14/06/2010 22:22

btw who said you had to call your kids at the same time? They are individuals......

marriednotdead · 14/06/2010 22:23

Leave it as it is, Rosa sounds lovely and goes well with Reuben.
My dcs have the same first initial but as I have 'one of each' I didn't regard it as an issue (and it never has been).
Used to have a neighbour with 6 dcs who all had the same initials though - what happens when they are still at home and are old enough to have correspondence

Haliborange · 14/06/2010 22:24

If it doesn't feel right then change it while she is still small, but maybe give it a few more weeks. I always feel a bit funny about my DC's names in the beginning.

I do find the same initial thing a bit twee, but that's because I know whole families where everyone (parents included!) has the same initial. Reuben and Rosa are both nice names so it doesn't sound as though you only picked them for the initial, as some people seem to.

zozzle · 14/06/2010 22:30

Like both but prefer Rosa.

funnysinthegarden · 14/06/2010 22:32

eh?? Op didn't want to know which name you liked BEST. Just whether they were right for her children

CoteDAzur · 14/06/2010 22:37

At least Ruben and Rosa are both Jewish names so there is consistency there.

It sounds odd of a Ruben (Jewish) and a Laila (Muslim) to be siblings.

liliputlady · 14/06/2010 22:42

I think Rosa is lovely and don't think having the same initials matters one bit - a lot of people would choose to do that. And they are individuals - will be seen as a pair for a very tiny proportion of their life really.

DinahRod · 14/06/2010 23:11

I'm going against the grain, I like Ruben and Laila more, they are both melodic to my ear. And having made a mistake with dd's name, I know what you mean about hesitating to it. Fortunately dh has no such doubts and has enough assurance for both of us that her name is right. And as time has gone on I have got used to it.

But siblings names don't have to come as a matching pair (my first two have biblical first names, the 3rd won't) and if you like Rosa more than Laila, stick with Rosa.

My mother was one of 4 siblings ALL with exactly the same initials (first, middle and surname). It might sound completely daft - my gps were in every other way sane - but it just was never an issue for my mother or any of her siblings.

PosyPetrovaPauline · 14/06/2010 23:15

i think Rosa is really beautiful and do understand what you say about the initial sound

with two children it sounds fine - if you have another - no R !

I really would stick with it but having said that I did change my babies name after about 7 weeks as it was not working
( can advise about that if you decide - it was fine btw)

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