family names

Bennifred

fabforty wrote: »

That would upset me too, but it is different. If your sister had used a similar name three years later, would you have been equally upset?

No, I don't think I would.
It was the feeling that in this case she'd been sneaky about it, and I wouldn't have wanted to use the same name after she had - it's an unusual name and would definitely have looked as though we'd copied.

gingin_2

Make-it-3 wrote: »

I was a bit miffed when my husband's work colleague chose the same name for their daughter just a month after ours was born. (Ours is fairly unusual - only just makes it into the top 200 names that year) and I couldn't help but wonder if they would have chosen that name if they hadn't got the idea from him.

Got to admit that if I ever had another daughter I'd give her the same name as my daughter's classmate. It's so unique it's obvious I'd be copying it from them but I doubt I'd make apologies for it, they are not super close and will probably drift away from each other in the future, I assume like your child and the other baby. It's just a name and that's how names do reach the top 200 lists - because the fall in and out of popularity with parents.

My SIL chose a virtually identical name to my daughter, in their Kiwi accent the vowels are pronounced very flatly so it sounds just the same. I admit it takes you aback at first but now I think it's either quite flattering or that it just didn't occur to her. I have never asked but I have got the impression that my inlaws did/do have a small issue with it as they often make little adjustments to the name that the parents don't but they are too nice to make anyone feel bad about it.

peachyprice

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

BTW, I know a couple where both mum and dad are called Lee. Spelling may be different, but they are known as He-Lee and She-Lee. Simples.

My mum and I have the exact same name and it was also the name my Nan was known by by her immediate family.

All the girls for the last two generations have the same middle name, that is also the name of one of my aunts.

What a terrible, thoughtless family we are going round using the same names others have already used :rotfl:

Savemesomemoneyplease

I think it is relevant how close you are with families members. I'd never dream of naming a child the same name as my brother, or any of my cousins, we are all close.

However, I would like to name a son a name which my second cousin has (but I rarely see) and give him my dad or brothers name as a middle name. Not necessarily naming them after, they have great names and I know they'd love it! My partner has the family name as a middle name but his family will have to rely on his brother as I'm certainly not using it!!

jenhug

My friend is one of five sisters, all of them share the same first name! Four of them are known by their middle names, but my friend is the only one that uses her first name. Now that is odd!

Scrapaholic

I think it'd be odd to call sons or daughters the same first name , there are lots to choose from! My mam had a first cousin and her daughter is a year older than me , we have the same first name . Never thought that she might have been miffed and nothing was said, as far as I know . Wondering if it's a modern day thing ? Our GD has an unusual name and I've only heard of one other person with her name . I told our friends what she'd be called , they had a GD a month before ours was born and their DD called her baby a very similar name . Our DD would have been upset if they'd chosen the same name and I'd have been in trouble for telling them . I know no one can own a name but I kind of understand why people feel a bit possessive ! However ,OP , just think that they must have really liked the name .

orangeslimes

I don't think it should be a big deal - you don't own the name.(might be confusing - but especially if you don't really speak to your sister it doesn't really matter)

I know of a family where there were 2 sons who each had the same name as their father, but spelt differently...and one daughter who had the same name as her mum - I think that's a bit odd - but think they all went by different nicknames anyway.

Apparently my name was a bit of a sore point for my aunt too, because it was the name she wanted to call her first daughter and I got given it a few months earlier (however she hadn't told my mum this), but I also think if my aunt had given my cousin the same name as me it wouldn't have mattered really.

Yorkie1

My Dad has a cousin in Canada.

I, and the cousin's daughter, have the same name (even the same spelling). I don't think anyone has a problem with it.

Soleil_lune

I think you are being over-sensitive OP, as many people in families use names that siblings and cousins have used.

I have 4 Davids and 3 Pauls in my extended family, all in their 40s and 50s, so it was definately the done thing in the 60s and 70s to 'poach' other names in the family!

Although, in the last 20-25 years, many of my extended family have had kids and given them chav names, so there would be no chance of me copying them!

I definately wouldn't discuss any name I was thinking of calling my daughter with anyone though.

gunsandbanjos

jenhug wrote: »

My friend is one of five sisters, all of them share the same first name! Four of them are known by their middle names, but my friend is the only one that uses her first name. Now that is odd!

Wow that's weird? So you have 5 children and call them all Susan for example?